On January 6, 2020, National Health Commission (NHC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) issued the “Announcement on the Pilot Work on the Management of 9 Substances such as Codonopsis pilosula that are both Traditional Foods and Chinese Medicinal Material”. The 9 substances include codonopsis pilosula, cistanche, dendrobium candidum, american ginseng, astragalus membranaceus, ganoderma lucidum, cornus officinalis, gastrodia elata and eucommia ulmoides leaves.

Different from the past, the 9 substances can’t be produced in all regions. Carrying out the pilot work on the production and operation of the 9 substances is needed.

To regulate the pilot work, the provincial Health Commission and the Provincial Administration for market regulation need to put forward specific pilot programs and submit to NHC and SAMR for approval after being approved by the provincial people’s government. If approved, the provincial Health Commission should issue the pilot programs and carry out the pilot work.

Finally, according to the implementation of the pilot work in different regions, NHC and SAMR will study and demonstrate the feasibility of including the 9 substances into the list of “homology of medicine and food”.

It has been a year and a half since the announcement issued, Foodmate has summarized the progress of the pilot work of the 9 substances in different regions for your reference.


Ⅰ. The provinces have carried out the pilot work plan

1. Alxa, Inner Mongolia

In May,2021, according to the comments approved by the Health Commission of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and the Market Supervision and Administration Bureau of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the Alxa League Leading Group held the meeting of “Pilot Work of Food and Drug Substance Management of Cistanche”. Thirteen enterprises are identified to product cistanche as both traditional food and Chinese medicinal material in Alxa League in this study.

2. Guizhou

In August,2020, Guizhou Provincial Health Commission and other five departments issued the “Pilot Program for Management of Dendrobium candidum, Ganoderma lucidum and Gastrodia elata in Guizhou Province, which is both traditional food and Chinese medicinal material”. The program requires that the enterprises intends to carry out the pilot work needs to report to the Administration for Market Regulation. On the basis of the total amount, if the on-site inspection of the enterprise meets the requirements, the list of the enterprises will be announced to the society after being confirmed by the Administration for Market Regulation of Guizhou Province and Guizhou Provincial Health Commission.

3. Yunnan

On June 12,2020, the general office of NHC issued the “Letter on Yunnan Province’s Opinions on the Pilot Management of the Substance that are both Traditional Food and Chinese Medicinal Materials”, and agreed the “risk monitoring plan for gastrodia elata, dendrobium candidum and ganoderma lucidum carrying out the pilot work”.

4. Gansu

On December 3,2020, Gansu Provincial Health Commission and the Administration for Market Regulation of Gansu Province issued the “Notice on the Pilot Work Plan for the Production and Operation of Both Traditional Food and Chinese Medicinal Materials such as Codonopsis, Astragalus and Cistanche in Gansu Province”, and officially carried out the pilot work of the production and operation of codonopsis pilosula, astragalus membranaceus and cistanche. At present, 9 cities including Lanzhou, Tianshui, Longnan, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Jiayuguan, Baiyin and Dingxi, are selected as piolt areas.

5. Guangxi

On January 21,2021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Health Commission and other departments issued the “Pilot Program for Substance Management of Dendrobium candidum, Ganoderma lucidum and Eucommia ulmoides Leaves in Guangxi, which is both traditional food and Chinese medicinal materials”. The program requires that the enterprises intend to carry out the pilot work need to report to the market supervision department. If qualified after examination, the list of the enterprises will be announced to the society after being confirmed by the Administration for Market Regulation of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Health Commission of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region .
At present, only 13 enterprises who can product Cistanche in Alxa League of Inner Mongolia are announced to the society.


Ⅱ. The provinces have prepared relevant work but the pilot work plan hasn’t been issued

1. Hubei

On March 24,2020, Hubei Provincial Health Commission issued the “Notice about declaring management pilot work of 9 substances both as traditional foods and Chinese medicine, such as Codonopsis pilosula”. The notice said that, Hubei Provincial Health Commission collected the areas or the companies for planting or intending to product the 9 substances, including codonopsis pilosula, cistanche, dendrobium candidum, american ginseng, astragalus membranaceus, ganoderma lucidum, cornus officinalis, gastrodia elata and eucommia ulmoides leaves.

The local health commissions should collect the relevant information and submit it to the food office of Hubei Provincial Health Commission before March 31, 2020. Hubei Provincial Health Commission should compile the pilot work plan and the risk monitoring plan, and submit the report to the Hubei Provincial Government jointly with the Administration for Market Regulation of Hubei Province for approval.

After approved, the pilot work plan is needed to be submitted to NHC for final approval.

2. Hunan

On April 28, 2020, Hunan Provincial Health Commission and the Administration for Market Regulation of Hunan Province issued the “Notice on declaring management pilot work of 9 kinds of materials both as traditional foods and Chinese medicine, such as Codonopsis pilosula” and started to declare. The local health commissions should collect the relevant information and submit it to the food office of Hunan Provincial Health Commission before May 15, 2020.

Hunan Provincial Health Commission and the Administration for Market Regulation of Hunan Province should compile the pilot work plan, and submit the report to the Hubei Provincial Government for approval.

After approved, the pilot work plan is needed to be submitted to NHC and SAMR for final approval.

Up to now, the pilot work plan in Hunan hasn’t been issued.

3. Guangdong

In Feburery, 2021, “Pilot Program for Management of 6 substances both as traditional food and Chinese medicine such us codonopsis pilosula” was submitted to Guangdong Provincial Government and agreed to be submitted to NHC and SAMR for approval. The pilot program hasn’t been issued so far.

4. Ordos City, Inner Mongolia

On May 4, 2021, Health Commission of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region issued the “Reply of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Health Commission on the implementation of the pilot work of Ordos City on management of Cistanche, which is both traditional food and Chinese medicinal material”, and agreed the pilot work of Cistanche could be carried out in Ordos City according to the “Pilot Program for Material Management of Cistanche in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which is both traditional food and Chinese medicinal material”. The contents of the pilot work plan involving the supervision, production and operation shall be subject to the approval of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Market Supervision and Administration Bureau.

The above is the progress of the pilot work of the 9 substances which are both traditional food and Chinese medicinal material in different regions. The company intends to start a relevant business needs to pay attention to the progress. Welcome to contact us if you have any questions or needed.