What Changed
- Promulgation of the second batch of GBA Chinese Medicines Standards on August 31, 2026, covering seven additional items and updated General Rules.
- Ongoing international standard setting through HKCMMS citations in 28 ISO documents and drafting support for WHO's International Herbal Pharmacopoeia in June 2026.
- Initiation of Action 6.2 under the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint to form a dedicated working group and study core competencies for CM professionals.
On October 7, 2026, the Secretary for Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Professor Lo Chung-mau, provided a written reply to Legislative Council Question LCQ21 regarding efforts to align the Chinese medicine (CM) industry with national and international standards.
The response detailed updates regarding the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Chinese Medicines Standards (the Standards). Jointly established by drug regulatory authorities from Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao via an Expert Committee, the Standards serve as technical reference standards rather than statutory replacements for HKSAR or Mainland Chinese legal standards. Following the first batch released on October 29, 2024 (covering seven items and General Rules), a second batch was promulgated on August 31, 2026. This second batch covers seven additional items—including Bajitian, Guizhi, and various formula granules—alongside revised General Rules.
In parallel, the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI) under the Department of Health (DH) continues developing the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HKCMMS). To date, GCMTI has published 12 volumes covering 357 Chinese herbal medicines. These standards have achieved international recognition, being cited in 28 International Organization for Standardization (ISO) documents and over 420 journal articles. Furthermore, DH's Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office supported the World Health Organization (WHO) in June 2026 in Hong Kong to assist in drafting the first volume of the International Herbal Pharmacopoeia.
Regarding the regulation and professionalization of CM personnel, the reply highlighted measures under the Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint. Action 6.2 of the Blueprint proposes establishing a dedicated working group to bring together Mainland and local stakeholders to discuss continuing education and development. The government is also utilizing the Chinese Medicine Development Fund to research core competencies for CM sector personnel, laying the groundwork for future regulation and professional development frameworks.
Who May Be Affected
Chinese medicine manufacturers, pharmaceutical traders, healthcare professionals, and regulatory bodies in Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, and Mainland China.
Cross-Border Context
Establishes unified technical quality benchmarks across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and supports international standardization efforts with ISO and WHO.
What to check next
- Future batch releases of GBA Chinese Medicines Standards by the Expert Committee
- Formation and outputs of the dedicated working group on CM professional development under Action 6.2
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. Consult the official text and obtain advice appropriate to your circumstances where needed.