GAP production of TCM herbs in China.

In this paper, we briefly review international Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) regulations related to traditional Chinese medicine herbs (TCM herbs) and the background of the drafting process and the implementation of GAP for TCM herbs in China. We also have summarized progress and achievements since the implementation of GAP for TCM herbs in 2002. Up to 2010, a total of 99 GAP bases were formally adopted by GAP certification. They cover 22 provinces/municipalities, and 49 species of TCM herbs are currently cultivated in these GAP bases. Finally, we discuss the main problems in GAP implementation for Chinese crude drugs and put forward some suggestions to tackle them.