DH's GCMTI publishes Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards Volume 12
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"The 13 newly added CMM include Agastaches Herba, Ailanthi Cortex, Akebiae Caulis, Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, Armeniacae Semen Amarum, Campsis Flos, Chrysanthemi Flos, Olibanum, Panacis Majoris Rhizoma, Paridis Rhizoma, Sinomenii Caulis, Uncariae Ramulus cum Uncis and Vladimiriae Radix. As a well established market for CMM, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region places great emphasis on their quality and safety. The DH launched the HKCMMS project in 2002 to establish reliable, comprehensive and internationally recognised reference standards for commonly used CMM. These standards serve as a reference for the Chinese medicine sector and laboratories in verifying the authenticity of CMM, thereby ensuring their quality and safety, and facilitating trade in Chinese medicine. Thanks to the increasingly comprehensive coverage of CMM in the HKCMMS, its application has expanded across multiple segments of the Chinese medicine industry, including the wholesale and retail of Chinese herbal medicines, as well as quality control in the manufacturing of proprietary Chinese medicines," the Assistant Director of Health (Chinese Medicine), Dr Edmund Fong, said.
He added that the HKCMMS project is co-ordinated by the GCMTI. The GCMTI's building, which commenced phased operations on December 11, houses specialised laboratories and advanced testing equipment, strengthening the technical support for HKCMMS development. The new International Collaboration and Training Centre will offer high-quality venues for HKCMMS-related meetings, training, and technology transfer activities, facilitating the promotion of the HKCMMS at local, regional, and international levels.
The HKCMMS sets out the names, sources, descriptions of the CMM, as well as methods of identification (including microscopic identification, thin-layer chromatographic identification, gas and high-performance/ultra high-performance liquid chromatographic fingerprinting), tests, extractives and assays. The criteria for selecting the CMM for research include the following:
* common usage in the local community;
* international concern in respect of their safety and quality;
* high economic value in the local market; and
* priority being accorded to the CMMs listed in Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 of the Chinese Medicine Ordinance.
The research for HKCMMS Volume 12 was conducted by universities and research institutions from Hong Kong, and the Chinese Mainland. An international advisory board comprising local, Chinese Mainland and overseas experts also advised on the research principles, methodologies, parameters and analytical methods of the HKCMMS. The Government Laboratory developed analytical methods for determining heavy metals, pesticide residues and mycotoxins, and participated in interlaboratory verification. In addition, the National Medical Products Administration, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission provided valuable advice and support to the HKCMMS project.
The DH will continue its effort in publicity and training to actively promote the practical application of the HKCMMS, such as arranging briefing sessions for the Chinese medicines trade as well as representatives of laboratories to update them on HKCMMS Volume 12 and the latest research developments of the HKCMMS project.
All Volumes of the HKCMMS have been uploaded to the website of the Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office of the DH for public access.
Ends/Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Issued at HKT 12:00
Issued at HKT 12:00
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