The first traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) manufactured in the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin and pre-authorized for the "Production Supervised by Macao" label, Shao Yao Gan Cao Granules, has been approved for market release by the Macao Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau.

This rapid approval in Macao was made possible through the innovative Macao Registration and Hengqin Manufacturing model.

Under Macao's pharmaceutical registration regulations, any registered drug seeking to add the "Production Supervised by Macao" label must submit additional documentation to the regulator. To help enterprises complete product registration more easily while reducing registration time and operational costs, the Commerce Services Bureau of Hengqin, in collaboration with the Macao Quality Brand Promotion Center, moved swiftly to streamline the process.

A representative from China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, the product's owner, said the cooperation exemplifies effective government-enterprise collaboration in advancing innovation in traditional Chinese medicine. The company has already commissioned the registration and trial production of four additional formulas, which are currently under Macao's review.

Shao Yao Gan Cao Granules trace their origins to the Eastern Han Dynasty classic Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders by Zhang Zhongjing. Widely used in clinical TCM, the formula is known for nourishing the blood, relaxing muscle tension, relieving pain, and is commonly prescribed for symptoms like muscle spasms and abdominal discomfort.