Hong Kong Department of Health: Actively promoting the simplification of approval arrangements for the registration of traditional oral Chinese medicine in Hong Kong for listing in the mainland, further promoting medical cooperation in the Greater Bay Area.

On April 28th, the Hong Kong Department of Health stated that they will continue to promote and strengthen the registration process for traditional Chinese medicine in order to assist industry professionals in understanding the necessary information and technical requirements under the new arrangement. This will help more qualified Hong Kong registered traditional oral Chinese medicine products to successfully enter the mainland market, and promote the development of the Chinese medicine industry in Hong Kong. Since the simplification of the registration process for traditional external Chinese medicine products from Hong Kong and Macau was implemented in 2021, 13 Hong Kong registered traditional external Chinese medicine products have been successfully listed in mainland China. As of today, there are approximately 8200 registered Chinese medicine products in Hong Kong, with around 5000 oral medicines that have been on the market for 15 years or more, and about 200 have obtained the Chinese medicine production quality management standard certificate. Dr. Lam Man-kin, Director of the Hong Kong Department of Health, said, "The SAR government appreciates the approval of the central government and the support of the National Medical Products Administration in expanding the simplified registration process for Chinese medicine from external to oral use. The Department of Health has maintained close contact with relevant mainland units and actively assisted in research work for the mainland authorities, as well as participated in discussions on policy formulation and simplification of registration requirements. This new measure will greatly simplify the review process and shorten the approval time, providing a more convenient pathway for the Hong Kong Chinese medicine industry to enter the vast mainland market, further facilitating Hong Kong Chinese medicine manufacturers to expand into the mainland market, promoting the development of the Chinese medicine industry, and achieving another milestone in realizing the goals outlined in the 2024 Policy Address of the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on promoting medical cooperation in the Greater Bay Area! In order to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, Hong Kong, China will continue to leverage its advantages in outstanding medical and health services, the fusion of Chinese and Western cultures, and being an international metropolis, and play a leading role in becoming a gateway for Chinese medicine to go global, and fulfill the role of being a super connector."