CIMAP, IORA meet in March to set basic standards of medicinal plants

Last year, considering the vast potential of medicinal plants in the member nations, the IORA RCSST — Medicinal Plant Network (IORAMPNet) was established and held its first meeting at Oman in June. As per CIMAP officials, the meeting covered various issues around medicinal plants, such as policy making, regulation, technology transfer, commercialisation, import and export, etc.

“It was also felt that for smooth trade among the member countries, we need to set standards of the medicinal plants,” Tripathi said. A committee was then constituted for the same with Professor Tripathi as its chairman and focal points of Malaysia, Iran, Thailand, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Egypt and Oman as members.

“The mandate of the committee is to draft a document on minimum standard acceptable to all member states for commercialisation of value-added products of medicinal plants and related technology in the IORA region,” Professpr Tripathi said.

The second meeting of IORAMPNet is scheduled in Lucknow from March 18-19. The main focus of the meeting will be to prepare existing guidelines on quality requirements among member countries, prevailing regulatory requirements for registration of botanical products, etc, and subsequently, a document incorporating view points of all the members of IORA. All these are expected to be taken up by the concerned ministries of the member nations.

The annual herbal trade is estimated to be between USD 62-120 million.