By Dr. Michael Hammes MD, Germany, May 22 2012
The Standardization Administration of China (SAC) has applied for a process to develop standards for Traditional Chinese Medicine at the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). In 2009 the TC (Technical Committee) 249 has been created under the provisional title of „Traditional chinese medicine“. The sectretary Mr. Yuandong Shen is situated in Shanghai.
At present TC 249 has 23 participating countries and 9 observing countries.
Participating countries are:
- Australia ( SA )
- Austria ( ASI )
- Canada ( SCC )
- Finland ( SFS )
- France ( AFNOR )
- Germany ( DIN )
- Ghana ( GSA )
- India ( BIS )
- Israel ( SII )
- Italy ( UNI )
- Japan ( JISC )
- Korea, Republic of ( KATS )
- Mongolia ( MASM )
- Netherlands ( NEN )
- Norway ( SN )
- Singapore ( SPRING SG )
- South Africa ( SABS )
- Spain ( AENOR )
- Thailand ( TISI )
- Tunisia ( INNORPI )
- USA ( ANSI )
- Viet Nam ( STAMEQ )
Observing countries are:
- Barbados ( BNSI )
- Hong Kong, China ( ITCHKSAR ) (Correspondent member)
- Ireland ( NSAI )
- Lithuania ( LST )
- New Zealand ( SNZ )
- Poland ( PKN )
- Sweden ( SIS )
- Switzerland ( SNV )
- United Kingdom ( BSI )
The chairperson of ISO TC 249 is Dr David Trevor Graham from Australia. A Chairman Advisory Group (CAG) has been established. Dr. Graham appointed seven experts as the ISO/TC249 CAG members:
Prof. Marilyn Allen (USA)
Dr. Ramon Calduch (Spain)
Prof. Chen Kaixian (China)
Prof. Seung Hoon Choi (Korea)
Dr. Michael Hammes (Germany)
Prof. Yoshiharu Motoo (Japan)
Prof. Chris Zaslawski (Australia)
Liaison organizations of ISO TC 249 are:
- World Federation of Acupuncture and Moxibustion Societies (WFAS)
- World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS)
- World Health Organization
ISO TC 249 has established 5 Working groups:
- ISO TC 249/WG 1 Quality and safety of raw materials used in TCM, chaired by LIU Liang
- ISO TC 249/WG 2 Quality and safety of manufactured TCM products, chaired by Hans RAUSCH
- ISO TC 249/WG 3 Quality and safety of acupuncture needles, chaired by HUANG Longxiang
- ISO TC 249/WG 4 Quality and safety of TCM medical devices other than acupuncture needles, chaired by KIMYong-suk and CHOI Sun-mi
- ISO TC 249/WG 5 Informatics of TCM, chaired byWANG Kui and KANG Sungkeel
In addition, a Joint Working Group is being established with ISO TC 215 for handling items of common interest in informatics.
Further information can be obtained at: