The Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau of Macao (ISAF) carried out a visit to Portugal in the second half of April. During the visit, the President of Macao's ISAF, Choi Peng Cheong, signed a memorandum of understanding for co-operation in the areas of medicines and medical devices with the President of the National Authority of Medicines and Health Products, I.P. (INFARMED) of Portugal.

Following the intention to sign a co-operation memorandum established with the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Lisbon during the ISAF's working visit to Portugal in October 2025, the delegation again met with experts and lecturers in the areas of natural medicines, translational pharmacy and supervision science from that institution, with a view to implementing the work foreseen in the co-operation memorandum.

During the meeting, topics were discussed pragmatically, including supervision and regulatory requirements, mechanisms for access of traditional Chinese medicines to the markets of Portugal and the European Union, quality and safety assessment of herbal medicines, regulation of advanced therapies, European legislation applicable to medicine access, and the joint training of qualified professionals. They also expressed the expectation that, with the future signing of the memorandum, it will be possible to deepen bilateral exchange and co-operation in the pharmaceutical sector.

(Source: Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau of Macao, 30 April)