The Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan, today (May 7) met with the Director of the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), Ms Jiao Hong, at the Central Government Offices. They also signed two co-operation agreements in relation to the regulation of drugs and the Chinese Medicines Herbarium.
 
     Speaking at the signing ceremony, Professor Chan said, "The Food and Health Bureau (FHB) and the NMPA have signed a Co-operation Agreement on Regulation of Drugs and a Co-operation Agreement on Construction, Research and Management of Chinese Medicines Herbarium to enhance communication and co-operation on the regulation of drugs, medical devices and Chinese medicines with a view to safeguarding public health in Hong Kong and the Mainland."
 
     During the meeting, Professor Chan spoke to Ms Jiao on the feasibility of collaboration between the FHB and the NMPA in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the NMPA jointly promote the development of the Greater Bay Area by signing the Co-operation Agreement on Regulation of Drugs. The Government of the HKSAR looks forward to attracting local and multinational pharmaceutical and biomedical and health technology companies to apply for registration of new pharmaceutical products in Hong Kong and to introduce medical devices to Hong Kong. We encourage these companies to expand their business in Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area, benefiting patients in need in the two places," she said.
 
     Professor Chan also suggested strengthening exchanges and co-operation on Chinese medicines between Hong Kong and the Mainland at the meeting. She said, "The Government of the HKSAR is actively planning the establishment of the permanent Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI), which includes the setting up of the Chinese Medicines Herbarium to collect Chinese medicinal materials and the specimens of the animals and plants from which they derived. The herbarium will be opened to the public, the trade and international research institutions. The Mainland has long been supporting the development of Chinese medicines in Hong Kong including exchanges in the area of developing standards for Chinese Materia Medica as well as providing human resources and technical support to the GCMTI. With the signing of Co-operation Agreement on Construction, Research and Management of Chinese Medicines Herbarium, Hong Kong and the Mainland will formulate a systematic Chinese Materia Medica specimen collection programme with a view to improving the collection of the Chinese medicines herbarium of the two places."
 
     The Permanent Secretary for Food and Health (Health), Ms Elizabeth Tse, and the Director of Health, Dr Constance Chan, also attended the meeting and signing ceremony today.

Ends/Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Issued at HKT 14:50

NNNN