The 7th World Congress of Chinese Medicine opens in Netherlands
English.news.cn, 1 October 2010

The 7th World Congress of Chinese Medicine (WCCM) opened in Netherlands, more than 800 experts and professionals from dozens of countries had attended. The theme of the two-day congress is clinical practice, scientific research and product development of Chinese medicine. Standardization of Chinese medicine is another focus of the congress. Popular presentations and lectures include "Technical requirement for registration of Chinese medicine in EU" and "Quality control of Chinese medicine."

Chinese drug standards rise
english.cri.cn, 2 October 2010

The Chinese Pharmacopoeia is a book issued by central government to control drug quality. In the new ninth edition, it has updated 70% of the former edition and recorded 4567 drugs, an increase of 40% from the last edition. An increased number of drugs are currently under supervision and drugs of low quality and low effectiveness will be eliminated. With regard to traditional remedies, it has adopted a Chinese medicine DNA fingerprint to identify herbs and formulas that can not be distinguished by the naked eye. The cost of drugs may rise after implementation of the changes, which could hit small manufacturers hard, larger companies whose drugs already meet higher standards should suffer little impact.

Let a hundred herbs bloom: new TCM park opens
Global Times, 4 October 2010

In Beijing, horticulturalists and devotees of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) will find something to enjoy at the newly opened herbal park in Dongcheng district, which is devoted to exhibit the mysterious herbs used by Chinese doctors since ancient times. Jia Yizhen, director of the residents committee of Haiyuncang community said that at first they tried having about 60 kinds, but some had difficulty in survival (due to the Beijing climate), so they just kept 30 plants in the 800-square-meter park. The garden is free all year round, and Jia and his staff are ready to lecture anyone interested in their herbs.

Chinese court sentences rhino horn smuggler to 12 years
Mongabay.com, 7 October 2010

A traditional Chinese medicine businessman has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for attempting to smuggle rhino horn from Vietnam to China. Last December, the Chinese man was arrested in Vietnam with two rhino horns worth over 100,000 US dollars. He confessed to authorities that he had repeatedly smuggled rhino horns from Vietnam to China. In England, an antiques dealer was recently sentenced to a year in jail for attempting to smuggle rhino horn out of the UK and into China.

China's blind masseurs take the first national certificate exam
English.news.cn, 13 October 2010

A total of 2790 blind and visually-impaired people across China have to take the first national certificate exam for blind masseurs. The exam was jointly organized by the ministries of health and human resources and social security, along with the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and China Disabled Persons Federation (CDPF). Those who passed would get an elementary-level professional certificate, qualifying them to provide therapeutic massage in health agencies or to open their own clinics. The exam is divided into two parts, medical knowledge and practical skills.

Singapore outlines demand for traditional medicine products
www.thegovmonitor.com, 14 October 2010

Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Minister of State for Trade and Industry and Manpower, spoke at the opening of the Traditional Medicine Expo 2010 that the demand for traditional medicine is rising, and the global market for traditional Chinese Medicine is expected to exceed US$107 billion by 2011. In Singapore, the imports of traditional medicine increased by 45% in the last two years, which went up from $1.1 billion in 2007 to $1.6 billion last year. As a Trade Hub for traditional medicine, the Spring Singapore and Singapore Polytechnic have jointly established the Food Innovation Resource Centre (FIRC) to help companies developing new and innovative products.

Traditional Chinese Medicine course ought to strategic emerging industries
stockmarketsreview.com, 14 October 2010

In China, Premier Wen Jiabao's government work report stressed that the transformation of economic development mode with great urgency, to vigorously promote the economy into innovation-driven, endogenous growth, development track. The development of Chinese medicine is intended to coincide with this. Therefore, this year's government work report also emphasized that to support and promote Chinese medicine, the development of the national pharmaceutical industry, and last year's State Council issued "on the pharmaceutical industry to support and promote the development of a number of opinions" and its profound meaning of this can be reflected in Glimpse.

Traditional Chinese medicine trial gets results against HIV/AIDS
Global Times, 19 October 2010

An ongoing three-year traditional Chinese medical trial has achieved breakthroughs in combating HIV/AIDS, Guang'anmen Hospital in Beijing announced. The conditions and immune systems of 565 AIDS patients were remarkably improved, with coughing and tiredness lessened since the trial began in 2008, according to the Beijing Daily. The hospital president Zhang Jie said that HAART is expensive and has strong side effects, leading to 10-15% of patients unable to rebuild their immune system after the treatment, Chinese medicine is cheap, almost free of side effect and can boost the immune system.

Compiled By:
Rose Tse, Integrated Chinese Medicine Holdings Ltd.