Markets for certified Chinese medicinal and aromatic plants

162 Pages·2016·1.48 MB·English

SUSTAINABLE SOURCING:
MARKETS FOR CERTIFIED CHINESE
MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
In collaboration with
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SUSTAINABLE SOURCING:
MARKETS FOR CERTIFIED CHINESE
MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS

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SUSTAINABLE SOURCING: MARKETS FOR CERTIFIED CHINESE MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS
Abstract for trade information services
ID=43163 2016 SITC-292.4 SUS
International Trade Centre (ITC)
Sustainable Sourcing: Markets for Certified Chinese Medicinal and Aromatic Plants.
Geneva: ITC, 2016. xvi, 141 pages (Technical paper)
Doc. No. SC-2016-5.E
This study on the market potential of sustainably wild-collected botanical ingredients originating from the
People’s Republic of China with fair and organic certifications provides an overview of current export trade in
both wild-collected and cultivated botanical, algal and fungal ingredients from China, market segments such
as the fair trade and organic sectors, and the market trends for certified ingredients. It also investigates
which international standards would be the most appropriate and applicable to the special case of China in
consideration of its biodiversity conservation efforts in traditional wild collection communities and regions,
and includes bibliographical references (pp. 141–142).
Descriptors: Medicinal Plants, Spices, Certification, Organic Products, Fair Trade, China, Market
Research

English
For further information on this technical paper, contact Mr. Alexander Kasterine ([email protected])

The International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United
Nations.
ITC, Palais des Nations, 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland (www.intracen.org)
Suggested citation: International Trade Centre (2016). Sustainable Sourcing: Markets for Certified Chinese
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, International Trade Centre, Geneva, Switzerland.

This publication has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this
publication are the sole responsibility of the consultants and can under no circumstances be regarded as
reflecting the position of the European Union. This technical paper has not been formally edited by the
International Trade Centre.

Digital image on the cover: © Zhang Ke, © Zhang Ke, © A. Timoshyna / TRAFFIC, © Li Jiangliang
© International Trade Centre 2016.
ITC encourages the reprinting and translation of its publications to achieve wider dissemination. Short
extracts of this technical paper may be freely reproduced, with due acknowledgement of the source.
Permission should be requested for more extensive reproduction or translation. A copy of the reprinted or
translated material should be sent to ITC.
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Contents
Acknowledgements vii(cid:3)
Acronyms viii(cid:3)
Executive summary x(cid:3)
Introduction 1
Chapter 1 Product description 3
1.(cid:3) Customs and trade statistics classification 4(cid:3)
2.(cid:3) Medicinal and aromatic plants, extracts and oils listed in China Trade Data 5(cid:3)
3.(cid:3) CNCA organic certification categories for Chinese MAPs 16(cid:3)
4.(cid:3) ‘Fair’ standards included in this study 18(cid:3)
Chapter 2 Export trade data 21
1.(cid:3) China and World: 2013 total MAP export values and volumes 23(cid:3)
2.(cid:3) China Trade Data: 2013 Chinese MAP export values and volumes by item 25(cid:3)
Chapter 3 Standards developed for the management of MAP wild collection 35
Background 35
Voluntary Sustainability Standards 35(cid:3)
Chapter 4 Standards developed for certification of sustainably farmed MAPs 41
1(cid:3) Ecological sustainability standards applicable to farmed MAPs 41(cid:3)
2(cid:3) Economic and social sustainability standards applicable mainly to farmed crops 41(cid:3)
Chapter 5 Situation for Chinese MAP ingredients with sustainability certifications 45
1(cid:3) Chinese organic inspection and certification organizations 45(cid:3)
2(cid:3) Situation for organic wild certification in China 45(cid:3)
3(cid:3) Situation for fair trade certification in China 48(cid:3)
4(cid:3) Situation for FairWild Standard (FWS) in China 50(cid:3)
5(cid:3) Producers and exporters of fair-certified MAPs by country and species 53(cid:3)
6(cid:3) Portion of organic MAP trade that is also fair certified 54(cid:3)

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Chapter 6 Market and buyer requirements for organic and fair ingredients 63
1(cid:3) Fair trade and FairWild labelling 63(cid:3)
2(cid:3) Exporting MAP ingredients to the United States 63(cid:3)
3(cid:3) Exporting certified organic MAP ingredients 64(cid:3)
Chapter 7 Certified Chinese MAPs with export market potential 65
Chapter 8 Buyers and trade promotion 67
1(cid:3) Processors, distributors, traders of MAPs with fair trade certifications 67(cid:3)
2(cid:3) Consumer product brands with organic and fair labelled products 69(cid:3)
3(cid:3) Organic and fair trade MAP ingredients promotion 71(cid:3)
4(cid:3) Organic and fair finished products promotion 72(cid:3)
Chapter 9 Conclusions and recommendations 75
Annexes
Annex I Organic inspection and certification organizations in China 77
Annex II Chinese producers and traders of certified organic MAPs 80
Annex III Checklist of certified organic wild Chinese MAPs 86
Annex IV 2013 certified organic MAP quantities of two Chinese control bodies 92
Annex V Producers of fair certified MAP ingredients globally 96
Annex VI Number of fair certified MAP articles by country 119
Annex VII Number of fair-certified producers by country 120
Annex VIII MAPs listed in Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China 121
Annex IX List of Interview Partners 139
References 141
ITC series on sustainability market guides 143

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Tables

Table 1. Medicinal and aromatic plants and extracts listed in China Trade Data 6
Table 2. Chapter HS 1211 medicinal plants listed in Chinese Taipei Tariff Schedule 13
Table 3. CNCA list of organic certification categories for Chinese MAPs 16
Table 4. 2013 exports of medicinal and aromatic plants, extracts, gums, resins and oils; China
and world total / volume (kg) / value (US$) 24
Table 5. Data excerpt: summary of wild-collection status 28
Table 6. 2013 China exports of medicinal and aromatic plants and extracts / HS code /
commodity description / botanical name(s) / volume (kg) of China exports / value (US$)
of China exports / wild-collected (W) or cultivated (C) 28
Table 7. 2013 China exports of TCM finished products in measured doses or packed for retail
sale 33
Table 8. FairWild standard principles and criteria for collection operations 37
Table 9. Hectares worldwide of certified organic MAP production (farmed and wild-collected) 56
Table 10. Estimated percentage organic of fair certified products 58
Table 11. Selected certified organic import HS codes for MAPs in the HTSUS 58
Table 12. United States 2013 tea leaf imports, total / organic / organic + fair 60
Table 13. United States 2013 ginger rhizome imports, total / organic / organic + fair 60
Table 14. Labelling and marking rules of fair certification and labelling initiatives 63
Table 15. Chinese MAPs with highest export market potential if certified organic & fair / cultivated
(C), wild-collected (W), wild-collected but also cultivated (W/C), cultivated but also wild-
collected (C/W) 66
Table 16. Selected processors, distributors and traders of fair certified MAP ingredients 67
Table 17. Selected herbal + natural product brands with products containing fair certified
ingredients 69

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Acknowledgements
This paper was prepared by Josef Brinckmann under the supervision of Alexander Kasterine (Head, Trade
and Environment Programme at ITC) and Anastasiya Timoshyna (Medicinal Plants Programme Leader at
TRAFFIC) as a joint activity of ITC Trade and Environment Programme and the project DCI-
ASIE/2012/305-831 ‘Engaging the private sector in sustainable management of medicinal plants – the
multiplier effect’, funded by the EU-China Environmental Governance Programme. The paper is published
as part of an ongoing ITC series entitled Sustainability Market Guides.
ITC and the author gratefully acknowledge the support of Jörn Berger of Organic Service GmbH for his
collaboration on the analysis of Chinese wild crops with organic certification. We also thank the various
standards-setting organizations and inspection and certification organizations that provided information for
this study, especially EcoCert, Fairtrade Foundation, Fair Trade USA and FairWild Foundation.
ITC extends its appreciation to the cooperation and support of Zhou Fei, Head of the TRAFFIC office in
China, Chenyang Li, TRAFFIC’s Project Manager for the ‘European Union-China Environmental
Governance Programme Project on Harvesting of Wild Medicinal and Aromatic Plants’ (EGP MAPs),
Zhang Ke, TRAFFIC’s Project Officer for the EGP-MAPs project, and Bryony Morgan, Executive Officer of
FairWild Foundation Secretariat/TRAFFIC’s Medicinal Plants Programme Officer.
We thank Serge Adeagbo and Franco Iacovino for providing graphic and printing support and Natalie
Domeisen, Jennifer Freedman, Hyesu Cho, Evelyn Seltier, Ellen Holtmaat and Mixtli de la Peña Gimenez
(all ITC) for editorial and production support.

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Acronyms
AQSIQ State Administration of Quality, Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
CCC Standard Classification of Commodities of Chinese Taipei
CCCCS Commodity Classification for China Customs Statistics
CIF Cost Insurance Freight; means the price includes cost, freight and insurance
CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora & Fauna
CN Combined Nomenclature; EU coding system for classifying products for customs and
statistical purposes
CNCA National Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China
CNY Chinese yuan (renminbi)
COMTRADE United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database
CQM China Quality Mark Certification Group
ECBP EU-China Biodiversity Programme
EDQM European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EU)
EFSA European Food Safety Authority
EGP MAPs EU-China Environmental Governance Programme Project on Harvesting of Wild Medicinal
and Aromatic Plants
EMA European Medicines Agency
ESR Equitable, Solidaire, Responsible Standard (EcoCert France)
FDA Food and Drug Administration (United States)
FiBL Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (Switzerland)
FFL Fair for Life Standard
FLO Fairtrade International
FOB Free on Board – means the price only includes the cost of the item. Seller arranges for
transport of the goods, preparing goods for shipment and loading the goods onto the vessel
FTUSA Fair Trade USA
FWF FairWild Foundation
FWS FairWild Standard
GACP Good Agriculture and Collection Practice
GAP Good agriculture practice
GATS Global Agricultural Trade System database
GMO Genetically modified organism
GMP Good manufacturing practice
HS Code Harmonized system tariff code
HTSUS Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States
IFOAM International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
IMO Institute for Marketecology
ITC International Trade Centre
ITC Indian Trade Classification (Department of Commerce, Government of India)
MAPs Medicinal and aromatic plants
NESOI Not Elsewhere Specified or Included
NGO Non-governmental organization
NOP National Organic Program (regulated by USDA)
OSP Organic system plan
PPRC Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China
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