Recently, traditional herbal medicines are not considered very reliable, due to the quality of the ingredients. According to the statistics from Hanoi's Bach Mai Hospital there are some 20 emergency cases of herb-infused alcohol poisoning each year. A strictly controlled medicinal business process is urgently required.
According to research from the National Institute of Medicinal Materials, 90% of traditional medicine on the market are imported from China without labelling or point of origin. In an inspection by the National Institute of Drug Quality Control, 60% of herbal drugs sold by state-owned oriental medicine clinics were not of sufficiently high quality. 20% were mixed with fake herbs and other material.
Biotrade is a model of growing and trading goods and services derived natural sources in accordance with environmental, social and economic sustainability standards.
With financial support from the European Union and the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operation, the model is being implemented in 17 provinces and cities across the country. Nam Dinh is one locality that has completed Biotrade standards.
Bio trade not only provide standards, but products that follow bio trade standards are traceable and will have the opportunity to enter difficult markets.
