G/LIC/N/2/HKG/7  
 
8 August  2016 
(16-4237) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English  
 
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER A RTICLE 5  
HONG KONG, CHINA 
The following communication, dated 22 J uly 2016 , is being circulated at the request of the 
delegation of Hong Kong, China.  
_______________  
 
Pursuant to Article 5 of the  Agreement on Import Licensing Procedures, Hong Kong, China hereby 
notifies the full implementation of an automatic licensing system, i.e. Pharmaceuticals Licence 
Application and Movement Monitoring System (PLAMMS), on 1 July 2016 for application of import  
licence for the purpose of re -exporting pharmaceutical products and medicines which are not 
required to be registered under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordin ance (Cap 138, the Laws of 
Hong Kong) (hereunder refer as unregistered pharmaceutical products).  The  communication on 
parallel implementation of PLAMMS and manual system circ ulated on 6 February 2015, 
i.e. G/LIC/N/2/HKG/6, is hereby superseded.  
(a) List of products subject to licensing procedures  
Pharmaceutical products and medicines as defined by sectio n 2 of the Pharmacy and Poisons 
Ordinance.  
(b) Contact point for information on eligibility   
 Drug Import/ Export Control Unit, Drug Office, Department of Health, 3/F Public Health 
 Laboratory Ce ntre, 382 Nam Cheong Street, Shek Kip Mei, Kowloon, Hong Kong.  
(c) Administrative body for submission of applications  
See Item (b).  
(d) Date and name of publication where licensing procedures are published  
 Since 30 June 2016, changes to the automatic licensing system and procedures have been 
 published and made avai lable in the following Department of Health Drug Office websites:  
 http://www.drugoffice.gov.hk/eps/do/en/doc/guidelines_forms/Trade -app-
ie.pdf?v=ggn6filaoa9lw2ec7syvi ; 
 http://www.drugoffice.gov.hk/eps/do/en/doc/guidelines_forms/ie -guidance -notes -
e.pdf?v=zg60wp0o40mj3qevobt 9; 
 http://www.drugoffice.gov.hk/eps/do/en/doc/guidelines_forms/Form3_(EN).pdf?v=kholhfp0
1hs17jznz5mi ; 
 http://www.drugoffice.gov.hk/eps/do/en/doc/guidelines_forms/Form6_(EN).pdf?v=7l7varq9
t8chgxeis5rk9 ; 
 http://www.drugoffice.gov.hk/eps/do/en/doc/guidelines_forms/Guidance_Notes_application
_of_IE_for_UPP(re -export) -Annex_4.pdf?v=bj8vtbtvvnbg68vvx6r ; and  G/LIC/N/2/HKG/7  
 
- 2 - 
 
   http://www.drugoffice.gov.hk/eps/do/en/doc/guidelines_forms/PLAMMS_User_Guide.pdf?v=
5duo381 . 
(e) Indication of whether the licensing procedure is automatic or non -automatic ac cording to 
definitions contained in Articles 2 and 3  
 Before 7 January 2015, non -automatic (manual) import licensing procedures were used to 
process applications for the importation of all pharmaceuti cal products and medicines.  
In order to enhance monitor ing of the import of unregistered pharmaceutical products and 
medicines for re -export purposes, an automatic licensing system called PLAMMS was first 
implemented on 7 January 2015 and was operated in parallel with the manual system as 
transitional arrangem ent.  In this regard, a communication was circulated on 
6 February  2015 to notify Members.  
 With effect from 1 July 2016, importation of unregistered pharmaceutical products and 
medicines for re -export purposes can no longer be processed by the manual syst em and 
instead, must be processed by the PLAMMS automatic licensing system.  Applicants are 
required to register as users of PLAMMS and to apply for enlisting their unregistered 
pharmaceutical products and medicines in the system before making the import 
applications.  When an application to import an enlisted product is made, the application will 
be processed through the built -in automatic evaluation and checking system, including on 
validity of the applicant 's trader licence, to ascertain compliance with the legal requirements 
before the import licence is issued.  Once the application is approved, the import licence can 
be printed out from the applicant 's computer.  
(f) In the case of automatic import licensing procedures, their administrative purpose  
The a dministrative purposes of the PLAMMS are:  
- To provide an electronic method to facilitate the applicants who have fulfilled the 
administrative requirements to apply for import licence of unregistered pharmaceutical 
products and medicines for re -export pur pose; and  
- To enhance the monitoring of the import and export of unregistered pharmaceutical 
products and medicines for prevention of illegal diversion into the local market.  
(g) In the case of non -automatic import licensing procedures, indication of the  measure being 
implemented through the licensing procedures  
Not applicable.  
(h) Expected duration of the licensing procedure if this can be estimated with some probability, 
and if not, reason why this information cannot be provided  
The expected duration of  automatic licensing procedure is within the same working day upon 
completion to input all the necessary application details for the unregistered pharmaceutical 
products enlisted in the automatic system.  
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