These research guidelines for evaluating the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines are intended to facilitate the work of research scientists and clinicians in this field and to furnish some reference points for the governmental, industrial and non-profit organizations that provide financial support for their work. It is hoped that these guidelines will be found general enough to enable each Member State to modify them to meet its own specific needs. It must be emphasized that these guidelines are offered as a summary of scientific standards governing various aspects of the study of herbal medicines. As such, they may be useful to the regulatory authorities who control the sale of these products and the governmental agencies and medical authorities who supervise their use in the health care system.