 |
 |
| |
 |
|
 |
| |
| for the Herbal Industry had
its origins in consultations with industry and government representatives aimed at laying
the groundwork for the safe use of natural health products. With the support of the
Canadian On Farm Food Safety (COFFS) program, the National Herb and Spice
Coalition set out to build a HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) model for
the herb and spice industry. During the development of the HACCP model, the technical
working group identified plant identification as one of the two most critical components of
the Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) that needed to be developed for the industry.
Proper plant identification is one of the keys to the development of an industry based on
the safe use of high quality natural health products. |
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
 |
that would be embraced by producers and
collectors means creating a practice that is both effective and workable for the
production end of the value chain. To this end, a plant identification working group was
created with representatives from industry, government, and educational institutions to
provide advice on developing the practice. Parallel to this process, the consultants to the
project began a search for published and unpublished literature as well as existing
protocols related to plant identification. Little material was located that addressed in any
detail the process for plant identification, especially a practice focused on the production
end of the value chain where it is believed that the least costly and most effective
intervention can occur. |
|
|
|
| |
| is largely the result of the efforts of the working
group to answer two key questions: “how can we create a high degree of certainty that
plant materials will be properly identified at the production end of the value chain?” and
“what practices can we recommend that will be workable for producers and collectors?”.
In the end, the task of the working group has been to create a framework for plant
identification that can be built on and adapted as needed. As such, this practice should
be viewed as a ‘living’ practice that will continue to evolve as circumstances warrant. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
described in this document is strictly a recommendation. Participation in, and use of, the practice is voluntary. However, with new Natural Health Product regulations having gone into effect on January 1, 2004 in Canada, participants along the value chain for these products will have more at stake in ensuring their products are safe and of high quality. Accurate and traceable plant identification verification through-out the value chain will play a key role in ensuring the safety and legitimacy of the natural health products industry within Canada and around the world.
This practice should only be used by acknowledging its creation by Saskatchewan Herb and Spice Association/National Herb and Spice Coalition. |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
