460428Wholesale of drugs and pharmaceuticals (excl. Chinese drugs and herbs)
藥物批發(中成藥及中草藥除外)
IRD business nature helper
Business Registration wording for this activity
The business nature on your Business Registration Certificate is limited to 60 English characters printed over two 30-character lines, and 30 Chinese characters. Test your wording below.
52/60 charactersFits the certificate
12/30 characters
Certificate preview
Business Registration Certificate
商業登記證 (layout preview)
Nature of business 業務性質
The IRD prints the English business nature across two lines of 30 characters. Text that cannot break cleanly at a word boundary gets wrapped or truncated on the printed certificate.
Compliance and incorporation playbook
Licences and regulatory approvals
Activities under this code trigger the following licensing regimes. Emerhub prepares and files each application on your behalf.
Wholesale Dealer Licence (and Pharmacy / Authorized Seller of Poisons registration)
Department of Health (Drug Office) and Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong
A company dealing in any poison or pharmaceutical product by way of wholesale must first obtain a Wholesale Dealer Licence under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138), with additional permits required for antibiotics and dangerous drugs. Retail sale of controlled medicines from a pharmacy requires registration of the premises as an Authorized Seller of Poisons under the personal control of a registered pharmacist. Premises must be commercial or industrial with adequate lockable storage, and a person-in-charge must be approved by the Pharmacy and Poisons (Wholesale Licences) Committee.
- Processing time
- Department of Health performance pledge: application processed and approved within two months if all required documents are submitted and storage facilities are satisfactory
Official sourceVerified 2026-07-14
Offshore profits claim feasibility
MediumWhile some wholesale activities can be conducted offshore, the nature of pharmaceuticals often requires local licensing and compliance with Hong Kong regulations. Additionally, contracts are frequently negotiated with local entities, making it less likely to qualify for offshore treatment.
Profits Tax Return deadlines under the Block Extension Scheme
With Emerhub as your tax representative, the filing deadline for the Profits Tax Return (BIR51) extends far beyond the standard one month, depending on your accounting year-end. A 31 December year-end extends the filing to August of the following year.
| Year-end | IRD code | Without representative | With Emerhub as tax rep |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 April to 30 November | N | Within 1 month of return issue | No block extension: early May of the following year |
| 1 December to 31 December | D | Within 1 month of return issue | Mid-August of the following year |
| 1 January to 31 March | M | Within 1 month of return issue | Mid-November of the same year |
Inland Revenue Department, Block Extension SchemeVerified 2026-07-14
Standing compliance calendar
These obligations apply to every Hong Kong company regardless of industry. Each fact links to its primary government source.
Two-tiered profits tax
Incorporated businesses pay 8.25% profits tax on the first HKD 2 million of assessable profits and 16.5% on the remainder. Only one entity within a group can elect the two-tiered rates.
Inland Revenue DepartmentVerified 2026-07-14
Annual Return (Form NAR1)
A private company delivers its Annual Return to the Companies Registry within 42 days of each anniversary of incorporation. Emerhub prepares and files the NAR1 as part of company secretary service, so the deadline never reaches your calendar.
Companies RegistryVerified 2026-07-14
Business Registration Certificate renewal
Every business carries a valid Business Registration Certificate from the Inland Revenue Department, renewed on a 1-year or 3-year cycle. Emerhub handles the renewal filing and keeps the certificate current.
Inland Revenue DepartmentVerified 2026-07-14
Significant Controllers Register
Every Hong Kong company keeps a Significant Controllers Register identifying persons with more than 25% ownership or control, available for law-enforcement inspection at its registered office. A designated representative must be appointed; Emerhub acts as designated representative for client companies.
Companies RegistryVerified 2026-07-14
Company secretary requirement
Every Hong Kong company appoints a company secretary resident in Hong Kong. A corporate secretary must hold a Trust or Company Service Provider (TCSP) licence. Emerhub is a licensed TCSP and acts as company secretary for client companies.
Companies RegistryVerified 2026-07-14
MPF enrolment for employees
Employers enrol every Hong Kong employee aged 18 to 64 employed for 60 days or more in an MPF scheme. Employer and employee each contribute 5% of relevant income, capped at HKD 1,500 per month each. Emerhub administers MPF enrolment and monthly contributions under its payroll service.
Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes AuthorityVerified 2026-07-14
Annual audit with SME reporting exemption
Every Hong Kong company files audited financial statements; there is no small-company audit exemption as in Singapore. Small private companies meeting any two of revenue at or below HKD 100 million, assets at or below HKD 100 million, or 100 or fewer employees qualify for the reporting exemption and prepare simplified accounts under the SME Financial Reporting Standard, which lowers audit preparation cost. Emerhub structures client accounts under the reporting exemption wherever the criteria are met.
Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622), s.359Verified 2026-07-14
This classification includes
- contraceptives, wholesale 避孕藥物批發
- drugs (non-Chinese type), wholesale 藥物(非中藥)批發
- drugs and pharmaceuticals, wholesale 藥物批發
- drugs for agricultural use, wholesale 農藥批發
- drugs for animal husbandry use, wholesale 畜牧藥物批發
- insecticides, wholesale 殺蟲劑批發
- pharmaceuticals, wholesale 藥物批發
- vitamins, wholesale 維他命藥品批發
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a license to wholesale drugs?
Yes, you must obtain a license from the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong to wholesale drugs and pharmaceuticals.
What types of drugs can I wholesale?
You can wholesale non-Chinese drugs, pharmaceuticals, vitamins, and insecticides, but not Chinese drugs or herbs.
Are there specific tax implications?
Profits from wholesale activities are subject to Hong Kong profits tax unless qualifying for offshore treatment, which is generally limited.
Incorporate in Hong Kong
Starting a wholesale of drugs and pharmaceuticals (excl. chinese drugs and herbs) business in Hong Kong?
Emerhub incorporates your company, registers the business nature above with the IRD, files every licence application, and runs your company secretary and compliance calendar. You provide the documents; Emerhub handles every government interaction.
Start incorporation with Emerhub