• To provide basic principles and applicable standards for interested countries and areas in the Region to develop a national policy and programmes on herbal medicines;

• to guide interested countries and areas in the Region to develop measures for promoting the appropriate use of herbal medicines, appropriate to their own situations;

• to facilitate information exchange on the appropriate use of herbal medicines among policy-makers, researchers and drug administrators; and

• to ensure the safe and effective use of herbal medicines by practitioners and consumers.