According to a report in the Times of Oman, the medicinal plants focal points of the Indian Ocean Rim Association's Regional Centre for Science and Technology Transfer (IORA-RCSTT), recently held their first meeting in Salalah in the Sultanate of Oman, to promote research and understanding of medicinal plants.

One of the recommendations that came out of the meeting was the proposal to commercialize more plants and medicinal herbs to all twenty IORA member states.

It was also decided to form a committee to develop standards and specifications for the use of medicinal plants and herbal medicine.

The IORA Medicinal Plants and Herbal Medicine Standards Committee will be chaired by Dr Anil Kumar Tripathi of India’s CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants with members from Oman, Malaysia, Iran, Thailand, Seychelles, Sri Lanka and Egypt, all of which are expected to name their focal person who will form part of the committee. (Special Reporter)(KH/SI)