ISO Committee Tackles TCM Standards

THE HAGUE, Netherlands Representatives from 14 countries attended the second plenary meeting of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Technical Committee 249 (TC249) on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) May 2 to 4, in The Hague, Switzerland. Focus was on structural issues, such as formation of working groups of experts for key areas of interest under TC249, including raw materials, manufactured products, medical equipment, and informatics. Also discussed were projects on ginseng seeds and seedlings; acupuncture needles; and a coding system for herbal ingredients. Other activities will be considered and can be proposed by any of the members of or liaisons to TC249.

While provisionally established as "Traditional Chinese Medicine" when the TC was formed in 2009, TC249 still has no official title. The working title provisional and contested, because despite its origins in China, this form of medicine has been modified and influenced by other countries.

Michael McGuffin, president of the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA), served as the head of U.S. delegation. "Even though no conclusion has been reached on a final title, a good sense of cooperation has started to develop among the various participants in TC 249," he said. "From the perspective of the United States, the main focus now will shift to actual work projects, and we will be soliciting ideas for any topic where the creation of an International Standard may serve the herbal industry and herb consumers."

Other members of the U.S. delegation included: Jane Wilson of NSF International, liaison for the U.S. technical advisory group; Eric Brand, Blue Poppy Herbs; Christine Chang, KPC Herbs; John Scott, Golden Flower Herbs; and Marilyn Allen, American Acupuncture Council. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the U.S. member body to ISO, and NSF International serves as the ANSI-accredited U.S. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Administrator for TC 249.

TC249 was formed in response to a request by the Standardization Administration of China (SAC) for ISO to address "standardization in the field of TCM, in terms of basis, application, administration and the related technical fields, such as terminology, diagnosis and treatment methods, manipulation standards, training standards, quality standards of appliance and equipment, and production and usage standards of Chinese herbal medicines and their test methods, etc."