Zhongshan City is emerging as a biomedical centre, with plans and policies supporting the growth of healthcare and pharmaceutical industries. The city is building biopharmaceutical parks to attract companies and encourages collaboration with Hong Kong and Macao, including cross-border partnerships with firms and universities. Zhongshan also supports SMEs and young entrepreneurs starting businesses in the city.

Cross-border trade and cooperation still going strong in the booming medical device sector, according to senior figures across the industry.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a temporary order placing seven benzimidazole-opioids in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act.

Special Provisions for Supervision and Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Production, released by the National Medical Products Administration on 8 September, apply to the production, supervision and administration of Chinese medicine decoction pieces and formula granules, proprietary Chinese medicine and herbal extracts. These new rules will enter into force on 1 March 2026.

Guangzhou has established a strong base for the biomedicine industry and evolved into a core city for its development in the GBA. The International Medical Industry Innovation Center (IMIIC) and Scientific and Technological Innovation Service Platform at the Guangdong Medical Valley (GDMV) have been proactively co-operating with foreign countries in importing technology and resources to grow business at home and abroad. This development has brought about new opportunities for Hong Kong industry players wishing to expand the Mainland market.

Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority and Hong Kong’s Department of Health have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in enhancing public health protection and medical innovation. Signed on 13 August 2025, the MoU covers aspects such as regulating drugs and medical devices, advancing tobacco control, enhancing regulatory capacity, and supporting training efforts.

On 10 September, the State Council announced its in-principle approval of the Implementation Plan for Strengthening Primary Healthcare Services. The plan is aimed at improving the development layout and facilities of primary-level healthcare institutions and enhancing the capacity of basic public health and medical services.

On 15 September, the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration (GDMPA) and the Health Commission of Guangdong Province jointly announced measures for the administration of catalogue of Hong Kong and Macao-registered drugs and medical devices for urgent clinical use in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s nine Mainland cities.

Foreign and domestic medical device facilities – including any Mainland China or Hong Kong facilities – that do not properly renew their registrations with the FDA can be locked out of the U.S. market. Renewals for such facilities are due each year.

On 21 August, the State Council announced that it had approved in principle a plan to accelerate opening up and innovation across the entire biopharmaceutical industrial chain in the China (Jiangsu) Pilot Free Trade Zone.