Clipping Board » Medical Affairs and Administration ─ Medical system, pharmaceuticals, and medical community-related reports
2009/08/24 13:23 Central News Agency (CNA Reporter Chen Qingfang, Taipei, August 24, 2009)
The Department of Health under the Executive Yuan will implement the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for single-ingredient traditional Chinese medicines on September 1. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) merchants argue that grinding herbs into powder will frequently violate the law, not only stifling their livelihoods but also infringing on consumer rights. They plan to organize a strike and protest on Dihua Street on the 26th.
Lin Yixin, Chairman of the Committee on Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy under the Department of Health, attempted to defuse tensions in advance, stating that the regulation is based on drug safety control. It stipulates that "large-scale grinding" of single-ingredient herbs must be handled by GMP-compliant manufacturers, while small-scale grinding—such as TCM shops grinding ginseng or fritillary bulbs for customers—is exempt.
According to the Committee on Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, nearly 50% of the domestic TCM grinding market is shared by 10 relatively large-scale grinding factories, eight of which are TCM shops that also operate grinding businesses. These businesses will face significant impacts.
However, Chen Yuli, Secretary-General of the National Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Merchants' Associations, today questioned Lin Yixin, asking why small-scale grinding of single-ingredient herbs is allowed while large-scale grinding is not. "What kind of logic is this?" he asked. "Where is the guarantee for public drug safety?"
Chen Yuli argued that Western medicine clearly distinguishes between raw materials and finished drugs, but TCM is different—both single-ingredient and compound formulations can be used. Starting September 1, it remains unclear whether single-ingredient powdered herbs will be classified as "raw materials" or "drugs" under the Department of Health's regulations. This ambiguity severely affects the livelihoods of TCM merchants and, consequently, consumer rights.
As planned, the National Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Merchants held a press conference this afternoon to voice their protests. Chen Yuli stated that if the Department of Health does not provide an appropriate response, they will take to the streets the day after tomorrow, and TCM shops on Dihua Street will also go on strike for a day.
Source: http:/ / tw. stock. yahoo. com/ ne……/ url/ d/ a/ 090824/ 1/ 1n5t1. html
9/1 Herbal Powder GMP: Herbal Merchants Plan Street Protests
The Department of Health under the Executive Yuan will implement the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for single-ingredient traditional Chinese medicines on September 1. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) merchants argue that grinding herbs into powder will frequently violate the law, not only stifling their livelihoods but also infringing on consumer rights. They plan to organize a strike and protest on Dihua Street on the 26th.
Lin Yixin, Chairman of the Committee on Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy under the Department of Health, attempted to defuse tensions in advance, stating that the regulation is based on drug safety control. It stipulates that "large-scale grinding" of single-ingredient herbs must be handled by GMP-compliant manufacturers, while small-scale grinding—such as TCM shops grinding ginseng or fritillary bulbs for customers—is exempt.
According to the Committee on Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, nearly 50% of the domestic TCM grinding market is shared by 10 relatively large-scale grinding factories, eight of which are TCM shops that also operate grinding businesses. These businesses will face significant impacts.
However, Chen Yuli, Secretary-General of the National Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Merchants' Associations, today questioned Lin Yixin, asking why small-scale grinding of single-ingredient herbs is allowed while large-scale grinding is not. "What kind of logic is this?" he asked. "Where is the guarantee for public drug safety?"
Chen Yuli argued that Western medicine clearly distinguishes between raw materials and finished drugs, but TCM is different—both single-ingredient and compound formulations can be used. Starting September 1, it remains unclear whether single-ingredient powdered herbs will be classified as "raw materials" or "drugs" under the Department of Health's regulations. This ambiguity severely affects the livelihoods of TCM merchants and, consequently, consumer rights.
As planned, the National Federation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Merchants held a press conference this afternoon to voice their protests. Chen Yuli stated that if the Department of Health does not provide an appropriate response, they will take to the streets the day after tomorrow, and TCM shops on Dihua Street will also go on strike for a day.
Source: http:/ / tw. stock. yahoo. com/ ne……/ url/ d/ a/ 090824/ 1/ 1n5t1. html