한약재 품질관리의 개선방향

In order for stable demand-supply and regularity of distribution, "The regulations for management of demand-supply and distribution of medicinal herbs" were established on 1995. Therefore, the medicinal herbs of good quality have been controled to be distributed in the market. However, to be wide of the purpose, the standardized sound distribution system was caused due to the governmental control on demand-supply to protect domestic farmers who produce the material for medicinal herbs, which results in the over distribution of non-standardized or illegally imported medicinal herbs. In addition, because of the distribution of faulty or poor medicinal herbs, there are chances of affecting bad effects on public health. The standardized medicinal herbs cover 514 different kinds in total, of which 69 products are specified to be standardized in the oriental medicine product companies. Also, in order to protect farmers who produce the materials for medicinal herbs, the amount of imported materials are regulated in normal times. The 14 different materials for medicinal herbs, which are allowed to be imported to a certain amount only when the shortage of goods or sudden rise of prices is to happen, are frequently introduced into domestic market as food not as medical usage, and the origin of those illegally changes to home cropped one for the distribution in the market. In addition, the system of distribution are to be disordered and the condition for the distribution of medicinal herbs of good quality can not be made since they illegally changes the usage of the materials for medicinal herbs from their original one and can not be regulated by the domestic laws.