The rules and regulations pertaining to the sales and marketing of medicinal plants framed by the government of Tamil Nadu need to be viable for boosting and conserving these rare species, according to a project report by the Centre for Traditional Medicines and Research (CTMR) to be submitted to the state government today.

The study, based on the project, carried out by CTMR in different wholesale crude drug markets of Tamil Nadu reveals that over 320 species of plant parts are traded for manufacturing traditional systems of medicines, phyto-pharmaceuticlas, semi-synthetic drugs, cosmetics, bio-pesticides .etc as against 960 species reported to be traded in the whole of India.

The Centre has conducted a survey among traders and producers of medicinal plants, legal experts and forest officials for a comprehensive report for the project, says Dr Thirunarayanan, Secretary of CTMR.

The report says that while there is a definite need to promote industry and trade based on medicinal plants, equal importance should be given for conservation and sustainable utilization of products. For this a pragmatic regulatory approach is required. The ban on trade or collection of raw drugs will only lead to some clandestine business.

The Centre suggests that the international laws including CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species ) and domestic rules being issued from time to time by DGFT and Ministry of Environment and Forest, and promotional schemes for exports of the Ministry of Commerce may be helpful in this direction.

While briefing about the project, the Secretary of the Agency said, "There are some mal practices going on in the market. The number of species mentioned for Tamilnadu does not include the species that are collected from the wild and used by locals, and they are even not traded in the crude drug markets. The Indian Systems of Medicine manufacturing sector consumes about 220 plant parts, while close to top 50 medicinal plant parts are exported from Chennai and Tuticorin ports".

The project suggests that some practical issues need to be resolved for proper implementation of the regulations. The key considerations of regulations are protection of plants and their habitats, providing adequate training for sustainable collection of only the permitted list of species, maintain 'no collection period', authentication of quality, safety and efficacy, increase the natural plant population in natural habitat etc.

There should be transparent trade practices and facilitation for traders alongside the restriction. According to CTMR, Tamilnadu has been a pioneer state in the cultivation of medicinal plants in a very organized way particularly of Senna, Gloriosa, Coleus, Passiflora, Vinca etc. Many times these plants are cultivated based on oral buy-back assurances and occasionally with formal contracts and third party guarantee for Banks.

But the current experiences have not been very comfortable either for the companies or for the farmers due to various reasons. The experience of the bankers, who provided funding, as loan has also not suitable due to drifting by farmers and contracted companies. Therefore it is essential to have a regulation to provide Institutional support to contract farming, says the report.

Besides, registration of sponsoring company, recording of Contract Farming Agreement, time bound dispute resolution mechanism and indemnity to farmers land are to be made in force.