The International Organization for Standardization’s Technical Committee on Traditional Medicine has issued a total of 149 international standards for traditional Chinese medicine.

China News Service, Shanghai, October 27 (Reporter Chen Jing) The reporter learned here on the 27th that the International Organization for Standardization Technical Committee on Traditional Medicine (ISO/TC249) has issued a total of 149 international standards for traditional Chinese medicine, and another 69 international standards for traditional medicine are under development.

These international standards cover areas such as Chinese medicinal materials, Chinese medicine products, Chinese medicine diagnostic terminology, diagnostic and treatment equipment and service processes, and provide important technical support for improving the quality and safety level of traditional medicine, promoting international economic and trade cooperation, and promoting the integration of traditional medicine into the global health system.

From October 26th to 27th, the 16th general meeting of the International Organization for Standardization Traditional Medicine Technical Committee (ISO/TC249) was held at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This conference is the first general meeting of ISO/TC249 members since its scope of work expanded from traditional Chinese medicine to global traditional medicine. It is of great significance for the planning of the international standardization development blueprint for global traditional medicine and the improvement of the committee's governance system. About 100 representatives from 17 national delegations and international organizations such as ISO Central Secretariat, ISO/TC215 (Health Informatics), ISO/TC83 (Sports and Leisure Equipment and Facilities), World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies, World Federation of Acupuncture Societies, "Belt and Road" Life Technology Promotion Alliance, International Council of Homeopathy and other international organizations attended the meeting.

Standardization is an important cornerstone for inheriting essence, keeping integrity and innovation, and is also the common language for traditional medicine to go global. Huang Luqi, deputy director of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, pointed out that it is necessary to adhere to the demand orientation, accelerate the layout of standards in key areas, focus on safety and quality, and give priority to the development of basic general, key technologies and urgently needed standards; adhere to openness and inclusiveness, deepen cooperation among member bodies; at the same time, absorb emerging technologies, and enhance the scientificity, practicality and forward-looking nature of the standard system. The State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine welcomes more traditional medicine systems to develop international standards on the ISO/TC249 platform.

Ji Guang, president of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said that the future of traditional medicine must be interdisciplinary. It must complement and learn from the advantages of modern medicine. It must also make good use of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, and life sciences to innovate knowledge expression, quality control, and efficacy evaluation. The cornerstone of all this is standardization. Standing at a new starting point of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the school, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine will continue to leverage its advantages in disciplines, scientific research and talents to contribute to the construction of ISO/TC249 and the development of global traditional medicine.

Shanghai regards standardization as an important support for improving traditional Chinese medicine service capabilities, scientific and technological innovation capabilities and international competitiveness. Lu Jiahui, deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission and deputy director of the Shanghai Municipal Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, said that relying on platforms such as ISO/TC249, we will actively promote the research and application of standards in the fields of international medical services, medical education, quality control, information data and smart diagnosis and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine, and promote the mutual transformation of scientific research results into clinical practice and standard setting.