Where do I check if a medicine is registered in Hong Kong?
Use the Drug Office's Search Drug Database (opens in a new tab), which lists registered pharmaceutical products. The Drug Office is part of the Department of Health.
The Drug Office FAQ (opens in a new tab) says you can verify a product by entering particulars such as its English product name or its Hong Kong registration number. It also says the registration number should be labelled on the sales pack.
Last updated: October 2026 · Last checked: 19 October 2026.
What are the steps to search the Drug Office database?
The database has a basic search box and an Advanced Search panel. These steps follow the fields shown on the Drug Office page:
- Open the Search Drug Database on the Drug Office website.
- Type the product or drug name into the search box, or open Advanced Search.
- In Advanced Search, enter the HK Registration No. (after the HK- prefix), the Product/Drug Name, the Active Ingredient or the Certificate Holder.
- For several ingredients, choose Match all or Match either one, then run the search.
- Open the result and compare the registration number and certificate holder with the product's sales pack.
What do Hong Kong registration number prefixes mean?
An HK- number means a registered pharmaceutical product; other prefixes point to proprietary Chinese medicines. The Department of Health (opens in a new tab) says the number consists of HK- followed by five digits and must appear on sales packs.
| Prefix | What it indicates | Who to ask |
|---|---|---|
| HK-XXXXX | Registered pharmaceutical product (medicine) | Drug Office, Department of Health |
| HKP-, HKNT-, HKC- | Proprietary Chinese medicine | Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office |
Which law requires medicines to be registered in Hong Kong?
Pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138), according to the Drug Office's guide to medicine registration (opens in a new tab).
The same guide says Chinese herbal medicines and proprietary Chinese medicines are regulated separately under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549), overseen by the Department of Health's Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office. The Drug Office FAQ adds that it is unlawful to sell unregistered pharmaceutical products.
Need help marketing a clinic or health brand in Hong Kong?
Product registration is only one of the checks a health advertiser faces in Hong Kong; claims in the ad itself are also regulated. Try the Hong Kong medical ad checker, or see how shakalakaa handles aesthetic clinic marketing in Hong Kong.