2024.10.22
To accelerate the sustainable development of traditional medicine, using new quality productive forces instead of wildlife-derived medicinal materials is an unavoidable trend.
World Animal Protection and Health News jointly launched the ‘Wildlife-friendly Medicine Network’ at the 2024 Health China Healthcare Industry Conference on 29 August 2024 in Shenyang, northeast Liaoning Province in China.
The initiative aims to encourage collaboration among pharmaceutical companies, industry associations, research institutions, doctors, and experts to explore humane and wildlife-friendly alternatives to wildlife-derived medicinal ingredients. Additionally, it seeks to promote the involvement of value chain enterprises in wildlife protection.
Dr. Evan Sun, Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection China, introduced the conflicts between protecting endangered medicinal animals, the development of the traditional medicine industry and the increasing demand for medicinal resources.
Sun explained: “The network is going to accelerate the research and use of substitutes for these willdfe ingredients to helping resolve the conflict between medicinal demands and wild animal protection.”
Yu Shishan, researcher from Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, pointed out that uncovering the pharmacological substances in endangered wildlife-derived medicinal materials and developing substitutes for these wildlife-based ingredients are major challenges in China's pharmaceutical field. His team has been dedicated to the research and development of wildlife-derived substitutes, including antelope horn, rhino horn, bear bile, and pangolins, etc.
Yu added that solving the supply issue of medicinal materials through captive breeding of wild animals is unrealistic, as some species are difficult to raise on a large scale. Moreover, the extraction of certain medicinal ingredients does not align with animal ethics. The successful development and use of substitutes for threatened medicinal materials, as well as accelerating the research of these substitutes, are necessary to alleviate the resource crisis and ensure the preservation and sustainable development of traditional medicine, but also a strategic choice to address international biodiversity conservation challenges and enhance the nation's responsible image.
Yang Guang, Deputy Director of the Conservation and Industry Research Division at the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Resource Center of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, introduced that China promotes the conservation and sustainable use of endangered medicinal resources through three management models.
“First, phase out using certain materials, such as tiger bones and rhino horns; Second, restricting the use of certain materials, for example musk and bear bile; Third, the regulation of usage procedures, including conducting resource assessments to largely achieve sustainable utilization of TCM resources.”
“Additionally, China has reduced the consumption of wild medicinal resources by developing cultivation and breeding for medicinal plants and animals, creating synthetic alternatives for endangered species, and advancing synthetic biology”, Yand said. “However, some challenges remain unresolved, including the development of alternatives, the lack of streamlined international trade policies for TCM, and insufficent research in areas.”
Yang Qiulan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Health News, stated that traditional medicine is an indispensable part of the healthcare industry. Green development forms the foundation for the high-quality advancement of traditional medicine. Strengthening the protection of endangered medicinal animals and accelerating the research and use of substitutes for endangered medicinal ingredients have become essential paths for enhancing the new productive capacity of the traditional medicine industry.
“As a mainstream news media outlet, Health News has the responsibility and obligation to promote knowledge related to animal protection and to carry out public oversight of illegal activities in accordance with the law,” Yang said.
Zhao Zhonghua, Country Director of World Animal Protection China, said: "Historically, the use of wildlife in medicine has never been a necessity, and it raises concerns about medical ethics. Respecting animals is the core of animal protection. We hope more companies will support the 'animal-friendly' concept and join the ‘Wildlife-friendly Medicine Network’ to provide sustainable green solutions for the protection of wildlife in traditional medicine."
World Animal Protection inaugurated the "Wildlife-friendly Medicine" initiative in 2019. Twenty-one healthcare enterprises and pharmaceutical industry associations have joined the initiative to abstaining from investing in, producing, selling, or endorsing products containing ingredients from endangered wildlife, while advocating for the adoption of eco-friendly alternatives such as herbal and synthetic solutions.
Some 5,230 clinicians have pledged not to prescribe or recommend pharmaceuticals and supplements containing wildlife ingredients, while advocating for humane alternatives for their patients during the campaign.
For those seeking information on substitutes for wildlife-derived ingredients, the organization also launched the "TCM Alternatives to Wild Animal Preparations" (TAWAP) website. The database currently catalogs 26 prevalent medicinal wildlife ingredients and offers plant- and mineral-based alternatives.
Notes to Editors:
To organise an interview or speak to a spokesperson, please contact: Global Media Manager, Peter Simpson Tel; +44 (0) 7803 051 848. Email petersimpson@worldanimalprotection.org
About World Animal Protection
World Animal Protection is the global voice for animal welfare, with more than 70 years’ experience campaigning for a world where animals live free from cruelty and suffering. We have offices in 12 countries and work across 47 countries. We collaborate with local communities, the private sector, civil society and governments to change animals’ lives for the better.
