WHO and China Advance Cooperation on Herbal Medicine Standards

The World Health Organization (WHO) convened an online workshop on September 23, 2026, for Working Group 2 of the International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (WHO-IRCH). The meeting focused on quality control, standardization, and sustainability of herbal medicines and was organized by China's National Institutes for Drug Control (NIDC) under the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA).

Approximately 80 participants from 18 WHO-IRCH member states attended to exchange regulatory and technical experiences and identify areas for further cooperation. The workshop was opened with remarks from NMPA officials and WHO-IRCH Chair Dr. Sungchol Kim.

"China’s experience and continued engagement offer valuable opportunities for knowledge sharing and international cooperation," Dr. Kim stated. Experts discussed practical approaches to evaluating herbal medicine quality, botanical identification, laboratory testing, and regulatory oversight. Regulators and technical experts from Uganda, Sri Lanka, the United States Pharmacopeia, and China shared their experiences.

The workshop supports the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034 by strengthening member states' regulatory capacity and promoting appropriate standards for herbal medicine quality and safety. The outcomes will inform the ongoing work of Working Group 2 and discussions at the upcoming 17th WHO-IRCH Annual Meeting in December 2026.