The Chinese medicine trader licensing system and the import and export control of Chinese medicines will take effect January 11, to boost traders' standard and safeguard public health.

Under the licensing system, traders retailing or wholesaling Chinese herbal medicines and manufacturers or wholesalers of proprietary Chinese medicines must obtain a licence from the Chinese Medicine Council's Chinese Medicines Board.

The maximum penalty for non-compliance is a 100,000 HK dollar fine and two years' jail.

Meanwhile, the import and export control of more than 36 types of Chinese herbal medicines and proprietary Chinese medicines under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance will also be implemented.

Director of Health and Chinese Medicines Board Chairman Lam Ping-yan said the move will strengthen control of Chinese medicines and better combat the illegal use of the business.

It will also improve monitoring of Chinese medicines imported into and exported out of Hong Kong.

As of December the board had issued 7,000 Chinese medicines trader licences and transitional certificates.

Licences are issued subject to the applicants' compliance with legal requirements on premises, hygiene, storage, facilities and personnel qualifications.

Liang Tao, CRI News, Hong Kong