The recommended practice for plant identification is focused strictly on the establishment of a practical, effective model for proper plant identification. It does not cover sustainable or ethical harvesting practices (except as ethics relate to providing the proper plant material to buyers), nor does it address toxicity issues or Good Manufacturing Practices as they relate to activities further up the value chain. If properly followed, these practices should, however, preclude misidentification of materials at the producer level. If misidentification is suspected higher up the chain, the use of unique lot or shipment numbers prescribed in this practice will allow for the traceability of the questionable material back to the supplier.

Given that no independent certification body for the identification of herbal plant material currently exists, the practice as it stands now is strictly voluntary and to a large degree based on the honour system. The practice also may not prevent deliberate adulteration of products further up the value chain. What the practice will do when properly followed is provide a higher degree of confidence to raw material buyers that the plant material they are purchasing has been accurately identified. The requirement to sign off on the certificate of authenticity should preclude deliberate attempts at deception to a large degree, though, as always, much depends on the buyer’s knowledge of the supplier. Putting a signature on the paper may also encourage a higher degree of diligence on the part of suppliers of material, knowing that an incorrect identification could be tied to them in the future. Taking the time to properly identify and sign off the certificate should also provide some additional piece of mind to suppliers. A supplier who felt wrongly accused of providing the wrong material, will under this practice have the ability to return to a sample of the shipment for confirmation of identity.