********************************************

    The Department of Health (DH) announced today (July 4) that the research on reference standard of eight commonly used Chinese herbs had been completed and the results published.

    A department spokesman said the results of the reference standards and details of the test methods were set out in the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HKCMMS) Volume 1.

    As Chinese herbs are the raw materials for proprietary Chinese medicines (pCm), the HKCMMS not only help safeguard the quality of pCm, they would also be the cornerstone for further research on Chinese Materia Medica.

    "In view of the global trend in the use of Chinese medicines, a well established standard on
Chinese herbs with international recognition, including the limits of heavy metals and pesticide residues, could promote herbal trade in the international market," the spokesman said.

    The study was commissioned by the department with the purpose of providing recommendations on the safety and quality reference standard of commonly used herbs in local market. It was conducted by the Hong Kong Baptist University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. An international Advisory Board (IAB) comprising experts from local, Mainland and overseas was appointed to advise on the principles, methodologies, parameters and analytical methods. The Government Laboratory developed analytical methods for determination of heavy metals, pesticides
residues and mycotoxins, and participated in inter-laboratory validation. The State Food and Drug
Administration assisted in collection and authentication of the specimens.

    The eight herbs (nine species) are commonly used in Hong Kong. They are Cortex Moutan, Cortex Phellodendri (Cortex Phellodendri Amurensis and Cortex Phellodendri Chinensis), Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Radix Astragali, Radix Ginseng, Radix Notoginseng, Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae and Rhizoma Alismatis.

    The standard for the eight herbs will be put into use for a 12-month trial period starting from September, 2005.

    The department will issue letters to Chinese medicines trade associations, wholesalers and manufacturers of Chinese medicines, representatives of laboratories, inviting them to briefing sessions on August 19 and 30.

    The HKCMMS sets out the name, source, and description of the eight herbs, methods of identification (including microscopic identification, physiochemical test, thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatographic fingerprinting).

    Contents of the tests included examinations of heavy metals, pesticide residues, mycotoxins (aflatoxin), foreign matter, ash and water content, extractive and assay in the herbs concerned.

    The HKCMMS Volume 1 is now available for sale at the Publication Sales Section of the Information Services Department on 4th floor, Murray Building, Central. Details of the publication in English and Chinese have also been uploaded on the department's website (http://www.info.gov.hk/dh).

    Public enquiries and comments on the HKCMMS can be directed to the HKCMMS Office on 32nd floor, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai. E-mail address is hkcmmso@dh.gov.hk, and the fax number is 2123 9566.

Ends/Monday, July 4, 2005
Issued at HKT 16:11

NNNN