Foreign and domestic food and medical device facilities – including any Hong Kong or mainland Chinese facilities – that do not properly renew their registrations with the FDA can be locked out of the U.S. market. Renewals for both types of facilities are due by the end of this year.

The growing role played by advanced technology in ageing societies was prominently on display at the AGE-WELL conference in Edmonton.

Tackling the challenges and learning the lessons of ageing societies globally was high on the agenda at Canada’s AGE-WELL event.

Many attendees at Seoul’s HIMSS APAC expo had one eye on expanding into other Asian markets, with Hong Kong quite firmly in their sights.

Helping the elderly treat their long-term ailments at home was the aim of many of the high-tech exhibits at this year’s Houston Abilities Expo.

Ensuring senior citizens can remain active community members was the central concern of many exhibitors at the Houston Abilities Expo.

While growing affluence got a mention, most Pharmed & Healthcare Vietnam exhibitors cited market size as prompting their participation.

Market size, rising healthcare spending and a shift to more elderly demographic buoyed attendance at the Pharmed & Healthcare Vietnam event.

On 21 October, the National Medical Products Administration and the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine jointly issued an announcement supporting research and development (R&D) on alternatives to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) materials derived from rare and endangered plants and animals. At present, the policy focuses on alternatives for pangolins, antelope horns, bezoars, bear bile powders and caterpillar fungi. R&D outcomes can be registered as scientific and technological TCM achievements and may be recommended for supporting funds. The authorities also intend to strengthen collaborative innovation between the TCM industry and the academic, research and medical sectors.

On 26 September, the National Health Commission, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration announced a set of administrative measures to regulate research activities initiated by medical and healthcare institutions in relation to the aetiology, diagnosis and treatment of diseases but not for the purpose of registering products such as drugs and medical devices. The authorities have also outlined mechanisms for the inception and completion of such research projects, their scientific and ethical review, and the disclosure of research information. The measures came into effect on 1 October.