On 28 November 2001, a delegation from China State Administration for Traditional Chinese Medicine (SATCM) met officials from the Pharmaceuticals Regulatory Framework and Market Authorizations Unit of the European Union in Brussels.

 

The Chinese delegation was headed by SATCM deputy director professor Li Zhenji and accompanied by Mr. Dong Zhilin, president of Pan- European Federation of TCM Societies (PEFOTS) and Dr. Zhu You-Ping,member of PEFOTS Herbal Medicine Commission, and Mr. Li Xie, third secretary for trade of the Chinese Mission to the European Union.They met three representatives from the EU Pharmaceuticals Regulatory Framework and Market Authorizations Unit: Mr. Philippe Brunet, head of the unit, Mrs. Clara Martinez Alberola, deputy head of the unit and another official in charge of herbal medicine.

 

The two sides first introduced each agency's functions. EU officials then introduced the requirements for the registration of traditional herbal medicines in EU countries - Traditional Use Directive for herbal medicines, which is now at its third revision. China is very concerned about this latest development and its impact on the use of Chinese herbal medicines in Europe. Prof. Li introduced the situation of traditional medicine in China. He particularly emphasized the unique system of theory and practice of traditional Chinese medicine and the equal status it enjoys together with modern medicine in China. EU officials listened with great interest to prof. China and EU discussion on herbal medicine legislation Li's introduction and showed their awareness of China's concern on the impact of EU herbal medicine legislation for Chinese herbal medicine in Europe.

 

The two sides agreed that EU Pharmaceuticals Regulatory Framework and Market Authorizations Unit will inform SATCM of the new development in herbal medicine legislation. The Chinese delegation invited representatives of the EU Pharmaceuticals Regulatory Framework and Market Authorizations Unit to visit China next year to see themselves the development of herbal medicine in China and the integrated approach of traditional and modern medicine in China.

 

For PEFOTS, this meeting provided a good opportunity to learn more about the European pharmaceutical regulatory organization and the application procedures. This will help PEFOTS to formulate its strategy for the development of Chinese herbal medicine in Europe in terms of herbal medicine regulation