The setting of reference standards for 41 Chinese Materia Medica (CMM) commonly used in Hong Kong are expected to finalized at the Ninth Meeting of the International Advisory Board (IAB) on Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HKCMMS).
The four-day meeting, kicked of on Monday, being attended by over 70 overseas, Chinese mainland and local experts. At the meeting, the IAB will review and endorse the research work of the current phase for 41 CMM. It will also evaluate the current state of research and discuss future research directions.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Hong Kong's Director of Health Constance Chan said, "Over the past years, with the valuable advice of our renowned international experts and the concerted efforts of our collaboration partners, we have already established reference standards for 236 CMM and the HKCMMS have become well recognised reference standards in the field of Chinese medicine testing and certification.
"In order to bring about wider international recognition of the HKCMMS, with support from IAB members, Hong Kong's Department of Health (DH) has started to pursue research collaboration with research institutions beyond Hong Kong and to enhance the regional and international collaboration."
The IAB was established in early 2002 to give advice on the principles, methodologies and analytical methods for the development of the HKCMMS. It comprises renowned experts from Chinese mainland, Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Japan, Thailand, Britain and the United States, in addition to local experts.
It is also responsible for the selection of institutions to take up the required research work, including laboratory analysis and selection of target herbs, and to render assistance in setting up the content of the HKCMMS.
