Removing the bottleneck of quality testing: Opening the way for Quang Nam medicinal herbs to go far

With unique advantages in soil, climate and indigenous genetic resources, Quang Nam is in the process of becoming a national pharmaceutical industry center, with Ngoc Linh ginseng as the main crop. However, to conquer the international market, the province's pharmaceutical industry must overcome bottlenecks in quality control, traceability and technological-legal ecosystem.

Many small and medium-sized enterprises face difficulties in the process of producing deeply processed products from medicinal herbs when they have to conduct product inspection themselves at high costs. Illustration photo: PHAN VINH

Difficult to develop products

In the context of the market's increasingly high requirements for transparency in quality and origin, many businesses in Nam Tra My and Tay Giang are still stuck in the "safe zone" with rudimentary products.

Mr. Riah Cuong - Production Director of Truong Son Xanh Agricultural and Pharmaceutical Cooperative (Tay Giang) said that in recent years, the unit has produced many products from medicinal herbs such as Codonopsis pilosula, Morinda officinalis... but most of them are only in raw form such as extract, honey, tea, dried. These products are still sold stably through traditional channels but the economic value is not high.

“Any medicinal plant production unit is interested in producing deeply processed products because this is an inevitable process to increase the value of the product. However, in the highlands, we face many difficulties, especially capital.

A batch of deeply processed goods, if sold to processing units, will not bring much profit because the costs of testing, transportation, packaging, market development... are very high. If the market is not clearly defined, there is a high possibility of losing capital" - Mr. Cuong said.

Ms. Ho Thi Thuy Ngan - Director of Ngoc Linh Nam Tra My Forestry Joint Stock Company said that the unit is preparing to launch two deep-processed product lines, but still has to produce very small quantities to explore the market, because of high testing costs and lack of support in accessing modern distribution channels. Bringing products to large chains or e-commerce is beyond the capacity of small businesses.

Meanwhile, Sam Sam Company Limited - a unit with a diverse product ecosystem is also "bearing" the entire testing cost, each time up to tens of millions of VND.

Mr. Nguyen Duc Luc - Director of the company and Chairman of the Quang Nam Ngoc Linh Ginseng Association said: “Inspection is a vital factor for a deeply processed product in the market. Products that want to go far must have a clear growing area, specific active ingredient content, and a standard production process. But small businesses like us are having to take care of everything from A to Z, while there is no local testing system to support us.”

Need to invest synchronously in technology and law

While the potential of raw material areas, soil, cultural identity and community support have gradually converged, the biggest bottleneck preventing the Quang Nam medicinal herbs industry from breaking through lies in the technology and legal ecosystem.

According to Mr. Tran Ut - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, to realize the project of becoming a national medicinal herbs center, Quang Nam needs to quickly standardize the entire production chain, from varieties, growing area codes, production processes, traceability to establishing geographical indications and intellectual property protection mechanisms.

“Currently, Quang Nam does not have a laboratory for testing medicinal herbs that meets national standards, while businesses have to send samples to Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City for analysis, which increases costs, prolongs time, and sometimes misses market opportunities,” said Mr. Ut.

In reality, the lack of independent testing centers forces local businesses to fend for themselves in every step, from research, production to quality certification, while specialized organizations can participate in support.

Mr. Luong Trong Khoa - Director of Vinapanax Vietnam Ginseng Joint Stock Company (Ho Chi Minh City) commented: "No small business has enough resources to build from a lab to a raw material area, and then take care of the entire legal and commercial system.

There needs to be standardized seed centers, independent inspection centers, and especially specialized support service infrastructure so that businesses can start production right from a standardized platform. Otherwise, they will only be stuck selling domestically with a few civilian products, making it difficult to reach the large market.

Mr. Ho Quang Buu - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that within the framework of the National Medicinal Materials Industry Center Project approved by the Prime Minister, Quang Nam is promoting many component projects, including the establishment of research, training and application centers for biotechnology to serve the medicinal materials industry.

“The province has determined that, in addition to investment capital, the prerequisite is to establish a synchronous technology ecosystem, including a digital data system on indigenous medicinal herbs, a research - training - inspection network, a technology transfer center, intellectual property protection services, and especially a mechanism to connect with the international market. Only then can products from Quang Nam participate in the global value chain,” Mr. Buu emphasized.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/go-nut-that-kiem-nghiem-chat-luong-mo-loi-cho-duoc-lieu-quang-nam-vuon-xa-3157147.html