The local production of pharmaceutical products started in the Ottoman Empire from the 1850’s onwards in the pharmacies of Istanbul. No information is available as to when the first production and marketing licence was issued and the procedures followed for its obtention. However, a licence given in 1913 to pharmacist Mehmed Muhiddin, owner of ‘Yeni Türkiye’ Pharmacy in Istanbul for the depilatory powder ‘Rusma Muhiddin’ throws some light on the subject. This brief article provides an analysis of the said licence document and the official procedures applied in the early 20th century Ottoman State for the issuance of licenses for pharmaceutical products. Keywords :