Speeches

LC: Speech by SFH on proposed resolution under Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in moving a motion on the proposed resolution on the Pharmacy and Poisons (Amendment) (No.2) Regulation 2015 under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance in the Legislative Council today (March 18):

Mr President,

I move that the motion under my name, as printed on the Agenda, be passed.

Currently, we regulate the sale and supply of pharmaceutical products through a registration and monitoring system set up in accordance with the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance. The Ordinance maintains several Schedules, including a Poisons List, under the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations. Pharmaceutical products put under different parts of the Poisons List and different Schedules are subject to different levels of control in regard to the conditions of sale and keeping of records.

For the protection of public health, some pharmaceutical products can only be sold in pharmacies under the supervision of registered pharmacists and in their presence. For certain pharmaceutical products, proper records of the particulars of the sale must be kept, including the date of sale, the name and address of the purchaser, the name and quantity of the medicine and the purpose for which it is required. The sale of some pharmaceutical products must be authorised by prescription from a registered medical practitioner, dentist or veterinary surgeon.

Arising from an application for registration of one pharmaceutical product, the Pharmacy and Poisons Board proposes to add the following substance to paragraph 8 of the Fifth Schedule to the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations:

(i) Bilastine

The container of a medicine containing the above substance, its salts or its compounds with any other substance is not required to be labelled with the warning statement prescribed in that paragraph.

For amendment regulations concerning the adding of the above one substance to the Fifth Schedule to the Pharmacy and Poisons Regulations, we propose them to take immediate effect upon gazettal on March 20, 2015 to allow legitimate and early sale of the relevant medicines.

The Amendment Regulation is made by the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, which is a statutory authority established under the Ordinance to regulate pharmaceutical products. The Board comprises members engaged in the pharmacy, medical and academic professions. The Board considers the proposed amendment necessary in view of the potency, toxicity and potential side effects of the medicine concerned.

With these remarks, Mr President, I hope members could support the motion.

Thank you.

Ends/Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:23

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