Regional Workshop on WHO Good Manufacturing Practices for Herbal Medicines

• Distinguished Delegates

• Partners and Colleagues

• Ladies and Gentlemen 

A very good morning to you all. I am pleased to inaugurate this Regional Workshop on WHO Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Herbal Medicines. On behalf of WHO, I extend a warm welcome to all participants from our Member States, and to our esteemed technical experts and partners. 

Traditional medicine, including herbal products, has a rich heritage in South-East Asia. Its widespread use reflects deep cultural roots and broad community confidence. Reflecting this reality, the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Centre is being established in India, in Jamnagar, Gujarat. I thank the Government of India for their support in setting up this knowledge centre which will serve the world. 

The global demand is substantial and growing. More than 80% of the world’s population, in over 170 countries, currently use some form of traditional medicine. According to one analysis1, the commercial market is projected to reach almost $360 billion by 2032. 

Clearly, there is a significant responsibility on us to ensure the quality, safety, and efficacy of these products. Beyond a technical concern, this is a matter of public trust and well-being. 

Many of our Member States have made admirable progress in integrating traditional medicine into national health systems. Bhutan, India, and Thailand have taken important steps to incorporate traditional medicine products into their pharmacovigilance systems, and I commend them for this. 

Nonetheless, ensuring consistent quality remains a challenge—particularly in the context of manufacturing standards. This is where WHO Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) play a vital role, guaranteeing quality and safety from production to patient. 

GMP is critical in protecting consumers, and in building confidence among both health professionals and the public. It provides structured guidance for all aspects of manufacturing—including raw material handling, process control, documentation, and final product testing. Implementing GMP is not simply a regulatory requirement, it is a public health imperative. 

This workshop is a part of WHO’s ongoing regional initiative to strengthen regulatory capacity and quality assurance for traditional medicine. Since 2015, the Regional Traditional Medicine Programme has supported Member States in identifying priorities, developing policy guidance, and building capacity. Notable among these has been our work on pharmacovigilance, and the successful regional training on laboratory-based quality control in 2022. 

This workshop is a direct response to requests from both regulators and industry stakeholders for more practical and hands-on training. It represents our shift from policy dialogue to implementation support. 

I am pleased that this is an in-person workshop, as face-to-face, practical learning remains one of the most effective ways to build aptitude in this domain. 

The curriculum is comprehensive, and an important feature is the field exposure planned for Days 3 and 4. You will visit two centres that embody the best practices in manufacturing and post-harvest processing of herbal products. 

We are fortunate to be joined by experts and specialists from WHO and leading institutions in the region. Their insights, drawn from both regulatory and operational experience, will be invaluable. 

My thanks go out to the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), and its regional institute in Mumbai. Their strong technical and logistical support in organizing this workshop is appreciated.