Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
DH continues to step up enforcement actions against illegal use of pharmacy logo and title with approach of Chinese New Year holidays—————————
Last year, seven limited companies and a proprietor of a retailer, all of which were not pharmacies, were convicted of displaying a logo resembling the prescribed form of a pharmacy at their premises and were fined from $3,500 to $10,000. Two other limited companies, which were also not pharmacies, committed the same offence and were convicted and fined $5,000 and $32,000 respectively in January this year.
According to the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138), only persons authorised by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong as ASPs are allowed to conduct the relevant retail business of selling poisons at premises registered by the Board, including poisons listed in Part 1 and Part 2 of the Poisons List at Schedule 10 to the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations (Cap. 138A). Displaying a logo in the prescribed form of a pharmacy or a logo, which resembles the logo in the prescribed form at premises other than the registered premises of a pharmacy, or using the Chinese term “藥房” or the terms such as “pharmacy”, “dispensary”, or “drug-store” in connection with any business engaged in the retail sale of poisons, commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and two years’ imprisonment.
The use of a pharmacy logo or its title as stipulated by the Ordinance is applicable to all retailers, including those that are not licensed by the Board. The DH reminded non-pharmacy businesses to refrain from illegitimate use and will continue to collect intelligence through different channels. If any retailer is suspected of illegally displaying a pharmacy logo in the prescribed form or pharmacy title, the DH will follow up and carry out an investigation immediately and conduct joint operations with relevant departments when necessary.——————————————
To enable the public to identify registered pharmacies, the DH has formulated a label (see Annex 2) for identification of ASPs, and the labels have been sent to each pharmacy for display in a conspicuous position in the pharmacy. Members of the public and tourists can download the eHealth app from the website (app.ehealth.gov.hkIssued at HKT 12:30
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