Hong Kong and China deepen drug regulation and testing cooperation
Hong Kong's Director of Health and a delegation from China's National Institute of Metrology met to deepen cooperation on drug regulation and testing, particularly in Chinese medicine. They discussed expanding collaboration to biological products and establishing a new drug and medical device regula
The Director of Health of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Dr Lam Man-kin, met with a delegation from China's National Institute of Metrology (NIM) on 13 November 2026 to deepen cooperation on drug regulation and testing, particularly in the field of Chinese medicine.
Dr Lam said the city's first five-year economic and social development plan aligns with the national 15th Five-Year Plan, highlighting the aim to promote high-quality development of Chinese medicine. He noted that the 2026 Policy Address proposed measures including using the government's Chinese Medicine Testing Centre to set international standards and serve as a bridgehead for Chinese medicine to go global. He expressed hope for continued collaboration with mainland departments to advance the national 'Healthy China' strategy.
NIM has long provided professional guidance to the Department of Health on drug and Chinese medicine testing. Since signing a cooperation arrangement on Chinese medicine standard research and specimen banks in 2024, the two sides have deepened technical, talent and academic exchanges. In August 2026, NIM provided four weeks of biological product testing training for professionals from the Department of Health and the Government Laboratory, enhancing mutual learning and local testing work.
Dr Lam thanked NIM for its steadfast support. NIM and its designated testing institutions have participated in the 'Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Materials Standard' programme, setting reference standards for 36 types of Chinese medicinal materials. NIM has also designated multiple provincial-level testing bodies as recognised laboratories for Hong Kong's Chinese proprietary medicine registration applications and provided drug reference materials to assist quality control in the pharmaceutical industry. Dr Lam said he looked forward to expanding cooperation to areas such as biological agent testing.
Dr Lam also introduced the Drug and Medical Device Regulatory Management Centre, which the Department of Health will set up within the year. The centre will integrate regulatory functions for Western medicines, Chinese medicines and medical devices, enhancing scientific regulatory capacity and review and approval systems to help develop Hong Kong into an international medical innovation hub.
