Nearly 180 delegates from health food and traditional medicine management agencies and observers from the business community in ASEAN member countries gathered in Hanoi on July 29 for their 13th meeting.
On addressing the two-day meeting, Vietnam’s Health Minister Nguyen Quoc Trieu stressed that the event is an opportunity for ASEAN countries to gain a better understanding of the management and production of health foods and traditional medicines in member nations.
It is also a chance to find partners to develop and promote this sector in the region, he added.
With a population of nearly 86 million, Vietnam has made a significant contribution to the food and pharmaceutical industries, said Trieu, adding that the increasing presence of health foods and traditional medicines in Vietnam in recent years have helped to diversify the market.
The harmonisation of regulations and standards for these products in the region is one of Vietnam ’s Health Ministry’s top priorities, he stressed.
The Minister called for investment and assistance from other ASEAN countries so Vietnam can produce high quality products at reasonable prices.
During the two-day meeting, the participants will discuss demands for technical harmonisation, guidance on good manufacturing practices (GMP), accurate data and comprehensive labelling for health foods and traditional medicines.
From July 26, a series of symposiums on health foods and traditional medicines have been held, discussing ASEAN draft documents on GMP for health foods and the production of traditional medicines, processing plants, developing a training programme on GMP for the region and a plan to draw up a legal framework for ASEAN./.
On addressing the two-day meeting, Vietnam’s Health Minister Nguyen Quoc Trieu stressed that the event is an opportunity for ASEAN countries to gain a better understanding of the management and production of health foods and traditional medicines in member nations.
It is also a chance to find partners to develop and promote this sector in the region, he added.
With a population of nearly 86 million, Vietnam has made a significant contribution to the food and pharmaceutical industries, said Trieu, adding that the increasing presence of health foods and traditional medicines in Vietnam in recent years have helped to diversify the market.
The harmonisation of regulations and standards for these products in the region is one of Vietnam ’s Health Ministry’s top priorities, he stressed.
The Minister called for investment and assistance from other ASEAN countries so Vietnam can produce high quality products at reasonable prices.
During the two-day meeting, the participants will discuss demands for technical harmonisation, guidance on good manufacturing practices (GMP), accurate data and comprehensive labelling for health foods and traditional medicines.
From July 26, a series of symposiums on health foods and traditional medicines have been held, discussing ASEAN draft documents on GMP for health foods and the production of traditional medicines, processing plants, developing a training programme on GMP for the region and a plan to draw up a legal framework for ASEAN./.
