World Health Organization - Herbal medicines have always played an important role in human health. There are great differences among countries in the definition and categorization of herbal medicines: a single medicinal plant may be defined as a food, a functional food, a dietary supplement or a herbal medicine depending on the regulations applicable in each country. This makes it difficult for national drug regulation.

Requirements and methods for research and evaluation of the safety and efficacy of herbal medicines are more complex than for conventional pharmaceuticals. A single medicinal plant may contain hundreds of natural constituents and an analysis would be impossible in practice in the case of mixed herbal medicines.

The general lack of knowledge about herbal medicines and appropriate evaluation methods are factors that delay the creation or updating of national policies, laws and regulations. In order to meet these challenges WHO has conducted a global survey on national policies and regulation of herbal medicines. The results are stored in a global data base. Information is listed under 21 structural indicators intended to assess the policy and regulatory situation.

A report of the survey has been published. Sixty-one per cent of countries now have a registration system for herbal medicines, showing that progress has been made over recent years. The report contains a great deal of information, including regulatory status, requirements, number of products, and quality control measures existing in each country. The survey also identifies difficulties, including lack of research data, appropriate control mechanisms and lack of training.

Reference: World Health Organization. National policy on traditional medicines and regulation of herbal medicines. report of a global survey. Geneva, May 2005.