The Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday that it would ban the import of uncertified Hong Kong-produced Chinese medicine starting on Sunday.
Lin I-hsin (
The GMP system ensures medicinal products meet standards of production and quality appropriate to their intended use, Lin added.
In view of the fact that Hong Kong has yet to implement the GMP system, the DOH had given it a one-year grace period and asked all imported medicine manufacturers to provide GMP certification before Sept. 30.
No Hong Kong manufacturers have applied.
Lin said that Chinese medicine from Hong Kong -- which includes the popular Po Chai line of pills -- will not be allowed into Taiwan starting on Sunday, adding that any Chinese medicine from Hong Kong already on the market here can continue to be sold until its expiry date.
Lin said that Hong Kong medicine manufacturers can still commission Taiwan's GMP medicine manufacturers to produce their products or apply for export permits after Hong Kong implements a GMP system that meets Taiwan's standards.
Lin urged store owners not to sell products that are not certified.
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