Dear Mr EDMUNDS,

        Thank you for your email on 22 May 2017.

        We are liaising with relevant department(s) to follow up your
request for information and will give you a reply in due course.

Yours sincerely,
(Ms Peggie NG)
for Secretary for Food and Health

From:        Scott Edmunds <[FOI #159 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Food and Health Bureau <[Food and Health Bureau request email]>,
Date:        22/05/2017 23:13
Subject:        Freedom of Information request - Proprietary Chinese
medicine bear bile register

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Food and Health Bureau,

Can I have access to Information about proprietary Chinese medicine
products which contain ingredients from bear gall bladders and are
currently registered and sold in Hong Kong. In 2014 you released the
following list, so can I have your most up-to-date version of this data:

[1]http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...

Yours faithfully,

Scott Edmunds

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #159 email]

Is [Food and Health Bureau request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Food and Health Bureau? If so, please contact us using this form:
[2]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...
2. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
3. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

Dear Mr EDMUNDS,

        Subsequent to our interim reply dated 31 May 2017, this Bureau
needs more time in liaising with relevant department(s) to consolidate the
information requested.  A substantive reply will be given to you as soon
as possible.

Yours sincerely,
(Miss Catherine CHAN)
for Secretary for Food and Health

From:        Scott Edmunds <[FOI #159 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Food and Health Bureau <[Food and Health Bureau request email]>,
Date:        22/05/2017 23:13
Subject:        Freedom of Information request - Proprietary Chinese
medicine bear bile register

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Food and Health Bureau,

Can I have access to Information about proprietary Chinese medicine
products which contain ingredients from bear gall bladders and are
currently registered and sold in Hong Kong. In 2014 you released the
following list, so can I have your most up-to-date version of this data:

[1]http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...

Yours faithfully,

Scott Edmunds

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #159 email]

Is [Food and Health Bureau request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Food and Health Bureau? If so, please contact us using this form:
[2]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...
2. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
3. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

Dear Mr EDMUNDS,

        Thank you for your email on 22 May 2017 requesting information
about proprietary Chinese medicines (pCm) products which contain
ingredients from bear gall bladder.  Enclosed please find the requested
information for your retention.

        According to the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549) (CMO), all
pCms must be registered with the Chinese Medicines Board (CMB) under the
Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong before they can be imported,
manufactured or sold in Hong Kong.  The CMB requires that all applicants
for pCm registration should comply with the CMO and their pCms should
fulfill the requirements of other laws in Hong Kong, including the
Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap.
586).

        The CMB only accepts the use of bear gall bladders as active
ingredients of pCm products for therapeutic purpose, but not for health
protection purpose.  The CMB will continue to closely keep in view
international developments about the medicinal value and use of bear gall
bladders, and continue to require the medicine traders concerned to comply
with the CMO and other laws in Hong Kong.

        Should you have any queries concerning the registration of pCms,
please contact Mr. LEUNG of the Department of Health at 3904 9165.

Yours sincerely,
(Ms Peggie NG)
for Secretary for Food and Health

From:        Enquiry FHB/FHB/HKSARG
To:        [FOI #159 email],
Date:        09/06/2017 18:35
Subject:        Code on Access to Information - Proprietary Chinese
medicine bear bile register

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Mr EDMUNDS,

        Subsequent to our interim reply dated 31 May 2017, this Bureau
needs more time in liaising with relevant department(s) to consolidate the
information requested.  A substantive reply will be given to you as soon
as possible.

Yours sincerely,
(Miss Catherine CHAN)
for Secretary for Food and Health

From:        Scott Edmunds <[FOI #159 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Food and Health Bureau <[Food and Health Bureau request email]>,
Date:        22/05/2017 23:13
Subject:        Freedom of Information request - Proprietary Chinese
medicine bear bile register

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Food and Health Bureau,

Can I have access to Information about proprietary Chinese medicine
products which contain ingredients from bear gall bladders and are
currently registered and sold in Hong Kong. In 2014 you released the
following list, so can I have your most up-to-date version of this data:

[1]http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...

Yours faithfully,

Scott Edmunds

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #159 email]

Is [Food and Health Bureau request email] the wrong address for Freedom of Information requests
to Food and Health Bureau? If so, please contact us using this form:
[2]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...
2. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
3. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

Dear Mr EDMUNDS,

        Thank you for your email on 27 June 2017.

        We are liaising with relevant department(s) to follow up your
request for information and will give you a reply in due course.

Yours sincerely,
(Ms Peggie NG)
for Secretary for Food and Health

From:        Scott Edmunds <[FOI #159 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Food and Health Bureau <[Food and Health Bureau request email]>,
Date:        27/06/2017 21:50
Subject:        Re: Code on Access to Information - Proprietary Chinese
medicine bear bile register

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Food and Health Bureau,

Thanks for your reply about proprietary Chinese medicine (pCm) products
which contain
ingredients from bear gall bladder.  As a follow up, I would like to ask
the following two questions:-

1. What is the name of the country of origin of bear bile products sold in
Hong Kong?

2. Given that the border between the Hong Kong SAR and the People's
Republic of China is considered an international border by the Parties to
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES), please can you further inform me of what measures are
in place to ensure that the relevant international laws and regulations of
CITES are complied with as regards the importation of bear bile products
into Hong Kong? To my knowledge there exists no domestic bear farming
industry in Hong Kong, and both bear species used in the Traditional
Chinese Medicine trade are listed on Appendix 1 of CITES, which prohibits
international trade in any products derived from these species.

Yours faithfully,

Scott Edmunds

-----Original Message-----

Dear Mr EDMUNDS,

        Thank you for your email on 22 May 2017 requesting information
about proprietary Chinese medicines (pCm) products which contain
ingredients from bear gall bladder.  Enclosed please find the requested
information for your retention.

        According to the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549) (CMO), all
pCms must be registered with the Chinese Medicines Board (CMB) under the
Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong before they can be imported,
manufactured or sold in Hong Kong.  The CMB requires that all applicants
for pCm registration should comply with the CMO and their pCms should
fulfill the requirements of other laws in Hong Kong, including the
Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap.
586).

        The CMB only accepts the use of bear gall bladders as active
ingredients of pCm products for therapeutic purpose, but not for health
protection purpose.  The CMB will continue to closely keep in view
international developments about the medicinal value and use of bear gall
bladders, and continue to require the medicine traders concerned to comply
with the CMO and other laws in Hong Kong.

        Should you have any queries concerning the registration of pCms,
please contact Mr. LEUNG of the Department of Health at 3904 9165.

Yours sincerely,
(Ms Peggie NG)
for Secretary for Food and Health

From:        Enquiry FHB/FHB/HKSARG
To:        [FOI #159 email],
Date:        09/06/2017 18:35
Subject:        Code on Access to Information - Proprietary Chinese
medicine bear bile register

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Mr EDMUNDS,

        Subsequent to our interim reply dated 31 May 2017, this Bureau
needs more time in liaising with relevant department(s) to consolidate the
information requested.  A substantive reply will be given to you as soon
as possible.

Yours sincerely,
(Miss Catherine CHAN)
for Secretary for Food and Health

From:        Scott Edmunds <[FOI #159 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Food and Health Bureau <[Food and Health Bureau
request email]>,
Date:        22/05/2017 23:13
Subject:        Freedom of Information request - Proprietary Chinese
medicine bear bile register

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Food and Health Bureau,

Can I have access to Information about proprietary Chinese medicine
products which contain ingredients from bear gall bladders and are
currently registered and sold in Hong Kong. In 2014 you released the
following list, so can I have your most up-to-date version of this data:

[1][1]http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...

Yours faithfully,

Scott Edmunds

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #159 email]

Is [Food and Health Bureau request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests
to Food and Health Bureau? If so, please contact us using this form:
[2][2]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3][3]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1.
[4]http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...
2.
[5]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
3. [6]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #159 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[7]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...
2. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
3. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers
4. http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...
5. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
6. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers
7. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

hide quoted sections

Dear Mr EDMUNDS,
Thank you for your email on 27 June 2017.  Enclosed please find the
requested information for your retention.
According to the available information, among the 7 pCm products which
contain ingredients from bear gall bladder, 5 of them are sold in Hong
Kong and their country of origin are as follows:

Product Trade Mark Product Name of Registration Country
Registration Name Holder/Applicant of
No. Origin
1. HKP-01658 GOLD DOOR KINSHINTAN ENG AN TRADING CO JAPAN
2. HKP-01869 NV KINSHINTAN ENG AN TRADING CO JAPAN
3. HKP-01872 DELIGHT KINSHINTAN ENG AN TRADING CO JAPAN
4. HKP-00774 CHUAN JIANG LARYNGITIS KULIN MEDICAL MANUFACTORY China
PAI KULIN PILLS (O/B HONOUR ESSENCE
BRAND TRADING LIMITED)
5. HKC-05784 HUI SHENG CHINEOC HONG KONG HUI SHENG China
DNNG MEDICAL LIMITED

While the border between the Hong Kong SAR and the Mainland of China is
not considered as an international border by the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES),
we have been implementing the same border control for CITES-listed species
under the local legislation named the Protection of Endangered Species of
Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap 586) (the Ordinance).  The Ordinance
regulates the import, export, re-export as well as possession of
CITES-listed species.  

The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices, according to
the degree of protection they need.  Appendix I includes species
threatened with extinction.  Trade in specimens of these species is
permitted only in exceptional circumstances.  Appendix II includes species
not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be
controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.
 Appendix III contains species that are protected in at least one country,
which has asked other CITES Parties for assistance in controlling the
trade.

According to our record, bear bile products legally imported in the past
three years were of CITES Appendix II specimens.  Import of such products
is allowed under CITES and the Ordinance provided that a valid CITES
export (or re-export) permit issued by the exporting place has been
obtained and the shipment shall be inspected by an authorised officer upon
arrival in Hong Kong.

Should you have further queries, please contact Mr. LEUNG of the
Department of Health at 3904 9165.

Yours sincerely,
(Ms Peggie NG)
for Secretary for Food and Health

 

From:        Enquiry FHB/FHB/HKSARG
To:        [FOI #159 email],
Date:        06/07/2017 12:11
Subject:        Re: Code on Access to Information - Proprietary Chinese
medicine bear bile register

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Mr EDMUNDS,

        Thank you for your email on 27 June 2017.

        We are liaising with relevant department(s) to follow up your
request for information and will give you a reply in due course.

Yours sincerely,
(Ms Peggie NG)
for Secretary for Food and Health

From:        Scott Edmunds <[FOI #159 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Food and Health Bureau <[Food and Health Bureau request email]>,
Date:        27/06/2017 21:50
Subject:        Re: Code on Access to Information - Proprietary Chinese
medicine bear bile register

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Food and Health Bureau,

Thanks for your reply about proprietary Chinese medicine (pCm) products
which contain
ingredients from bear gall bladder.  As a follow up, I would like to ask
the following two questions:-

1. What is the name of the country of origin of bear bile products sold in
Hong Kong?

2. Given that the border between the Hong Kong SAR and the People's
Republic of China is considered an international border by the Parties to
the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES), please can you further inform me of what measures are
in place to ensure that the relevant international laws and regulations of
CITES are complied with as regards the importation of bear bile products
into Hong Kong? To my knowledge there exists no domestic bear farming
industry in Hong Kong, and both bear species used in the Traditional
Chinese Medicine trade are listed on Appendix 1 of CITES, which prohibits
international trade in any products derived from these species.

Yours faithfully,

Scott Edmunds

-----Original Message-----

Dear Mr EDMUNDS,

        Thank you for your email on 22 May 2017 requesting information
about proprietary Chinese medicines (pCm) products which contain
ingredients from bear gall bladder.  Enclosed please find the requested
information for your retention.

        According to the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (Cap. 549) (CMO), all
pCms must be registered with the Chinese Medicines Board (CMB) under the
Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong before they can be imported,
manufactured or sold in Hong Kong.  The CMB requires that all applicants
for pCm registration should comply with the CMO and their pCms should
fulfill the requirements of other laws in Hong Kong, including the
Protection of Endangered Species of Animals and Plants Ordinance (Cap.
586).

        The CMB only accepts the use of bear gall bladders as active
ingredients of pCm products for therapeutic purpose, but not for health
protection purpose.  The CMB will continue to closely keep in view
international developments about the medicinal value and use of bear gall
bladders, and continue to require the medicine traders concerned to comply
with the CMO and other laws in Hong Kong.

        Should you have any queries concerning the registration of pCms,
please contact Mr. LEUNG of the Department of Health at 3904 9165.

Yours sincerely,
(Ms Peggie NG)
for Secretary for Food and Health

From:        Enquiry FHB/FHB/HKSARG
To:        [FOI #159 email],
Date:        09/06/2017 18:35
Subject:        Code on Access to Information - Proprietary Chinese
medicine bear bile register

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Mr EDMUNDS,

        Subsequent to our interim reply dated 31 May 2017, this Bureau
needs more time in liaising with relevant department(s) to consolidate the
information requested.  A substantive reply will be given to you as soon
as possible.

Yours sincerely,
(Miss Catherine CHAN)
for Secretary for Food and Health

From:        Scott Edmunds <[FOI #159 email]>
To:        FOI requests at Food and Health Bureau <[Food and Health Bureau
request email]>,
Date:        22/05/2017 23:13
Subject:        Freedom of Information request - Proprietary Chinese
medicine bear bile register

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Food and Health Bureau,

Can I have access to Information about proprietary Chinese medicine
products which contain ingredients from bear gall bladders and are
currently registered and sold in Hong Kong. In 2014 you released the
following list, so can I have your most up-to-date version of this data:

[1][1]http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...

Yours faithfully,

Scott Edmunds

-------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a request under the Code of Access to Information facilitated via
the accessinfo.hk website.

Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #159 email]

Is [Food and Health Bureau request email] the wrong address for Freedom of
Information requests
to Food and Health Bureau? If so, please contact us using this form:
[2][2]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[3][3]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1.
[4]http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...
2.
[5]https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
3. [6]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #159 email]

Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[7]https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

If you find this service useful as an FOI officer, please ask your web
manager to link to us from your organisation's FOI page.

-------------------------------------------------------------------

References

Visible links
1. http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...
2. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
3. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers
4. http://gia.info.gov.hk/general/201406/11...
5. https://accessinfo.hk/en/change_request/...
6. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers
7. https://accessinfo.hk/en/help/officers

hide quoted sections