Yes. If your business covers wholesale of both Chinese herbal medicines (such as crude herbal medicines and prepared slices) and proprietary Chinese medicines (such as capsules, pills and medicinal oils), you may, and must, apply for both a wholesaler’s licence for Chinese herbal medicines and a wholesaler’s licence for proprietary Chinese medicines. Both licences are approved by the Chinese Medicines Regulatory Office (CMRO), but they are different licence categories. You may operate from the same business address and warehouse, but must demonstrate to the CMRO that you can effectively manage the two types of products separately and prevent confusion. Your Quality Management System and record-keeping system must also be able to manage and trace the movement of Chinese herbal medicines and proprietary Chinese medicines separately.
HONG KONG DRUG LICENSING
Can applications be made at the same time for the Chinese herbal medicine wholesaler and proprietary Chinese medicine wholesaler licences?
A complete explanation of the regulatory basis, Drew Tang’s recommendations and risk alerts. The original material dates from 2025; read it alongside the latest official requirements.
Original guide, 2025 edition: These FAQs are provided for topic-based reference and have not all been individually checked against current rules. Please confirm fees, personnel, renewal, changes and product requirements against the professional in-depth guide for the relevant licence type and the official requirements in force at the time.
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