More than 30 representatives from the World Health Organisation Regional Office for the Western Pacific, drug regulatory authorities and research institutions in the region attended a meeting on harmonisation of herbal medicines in Hong Kong today.

Organised by the Department of Health, the two-day 7th Standing Committee Meeting of the Western Pacific Regional Forum for the Harmonisation of Herbal Medicines discussed and reviewed the latest progress on regulation of herbal medicines.

Tomorrow the committee's subcommittees will report on their work on standardisation, quality assurance and information, and adverse drug reaction of herbal medicines.

The forum's objective is to protect and promote public health by recognising and developing standards and technical guidelines aimed at improving the quality, safety and efficacy of herbal medicines.

Its members include Hong Kong, the Mainland, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Vietnam. Canada also takes part as a special member.