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Herbal remedies need to be regulated - WHO
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2004-02-12

Geneva - The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday issued guidelines for ensuring the safety and efficacy of the multibillion-dollar herbal medicines market amid reports that some products are tainted with toxic substances. The guidelines, intended for national regulatory bodies, lay out the best techniques for growing and harvesting medicinal plants used for various ailments or weight loss, as well as the clear labelling of the contents of any product. Herbal medicines represent an estimated $60-billion (about R413-billion) a year global market, about 20 percent of the overall drug market, according to the United Nations agency. Yet only China, Japan and the European Union have regulations for medicinal plants. It is not a binding guideline for any country, but it is a model or sort of checklist which they can use to make their own national regulations, Hans Hogerzeil, acting director of WHO's essential drugs and medicines department, told a news briefing. In Africa, up to 80 percent of the population depends on traditional medicine for primary health care. In China, herbal preparations account for up to 50 percent of total consumption.(Source: Reuters, February 10 2004 on www.iol.co.za)

Geneva - The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday issued guidelines for ensuring the safety and efficacy of the multibillion-dollar herbal medicines market amid reports that some products are tainted with toxic substances.

The guidelines, intended for national regulatory bodies, lay out the best techniques for growing and harvesting medicinal plants used for various ailments or weight loss, as well as the clear labelling of the contents of any product.

Herbal medicines represent an estimated $60-billion (about R413-billion) a year global market, about 20 percent of the overall drug market, according to the United Nations agency. Yet only China, Japan and the European Union have regulations for medicinal plants.

It is not a binding guideline for any country, but it is a model or sort of checklist which they can use to make their own national regulations, Hans Hogerzeil, acting director of WHO's essential drugs and medicines department, told a news briefing.

'It is not a binding guideline for any country' The United States Food and Drug Administration in December issued a consumer alert on the safety of dietary supplements containing ephedra, also called Ma huang, a natural substance.

The adrenaline-like stimulant, used for weight loss or to boost sports performance, can have dangerous effects on the heart.

In Africa, up to 80 percent of the population depends on traditional medicine for primary health care. In China, herbal preparations account for up to 50 percent of total consumption.

In Europe, North America and other industrialised areas, more than 50 percent report using complementary or alternative medicine at least once, according to WHO.

There is also an enormous industry now where huge amounts of leaves and traditional medicines are being shipped from various exporting countries - China, India, Pakistan - to many other countries. Somebody has to regulate that, at least their safety, Hogerzeil said. (Source: Reuters, February 10 2004 on www.iol.co.za)

Link \//\//

To download pdf document 
http://www.who.int/medicines/library/trm/medicinalplants/agricultural.shtml

WHO guidelines on good agricultural and collection practices (GACP) for medicinal plants, 2004, 133 pages [E], ISBN 92 4 156250 1, Swiss francs 50.--/US $45.00, In developing countries Sw.fr. 35.00, Order no. 1150556
To order this publication, please contact: 
World Health Organization, Marketing and Dissemination, 1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland. 
Fax: + 41 22 791 4857, e-mail: bookorders@who.int

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