ASEAN traditional medicine producers urged to follow GMP standards

BANGKOK, November 2 (TNA) - Producers of traditional medicines in Thailand and other nine member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have been urged to ensure safety, efficacy and quality of their products, in the lead-up to the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by 2015. As ASEAN earlier agreed to promote traditional medicine as an alternative and affordable source of health care for a total of some 600 million population regionwide, Dr. Anchalee Chuthaputti, Deputy Director of the Institute of Thai Traditional Medicine (International Cooperation), under the Ministry of Public Health, said on Friday that the forthcoming establishment of the AC could certainly affect over 1,000 local producers of traditional medicines, as only 20 per cent of them produce their products based on an internationally-accepted standard, entitled the Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Dr. Anchalee cautioned that those who failed to abide by the GMP guidelines could face problems when distributing their products in the upcoming ASEAN Single Market, suggesting policy makers of each ASEAN member country to, therefore, work together to support local producers by putting in place harmonized standards, appropriate quality control systems and common regulations. According to the senior Thai official, ASEAN member countries should start with ensuring quality herbs or other raw materials grown or produced accordingly to good agricultural practice and open central herbal markets throughout the region to supply quality raw materials for producers of the traditional medicines. (TNA)