CM/Res.838 (XXXVI)
RESOLUTION ON TRADITIONAL MEDICINE
AND AFRICAN MEDICINAL PLANTS – JOINT PROJECT (J.P.27)
The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity, meeting in its Thirty-sixth Ordinary Session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 23 February to 1 March, 1981,
Recalling resolution CM/569 (XXIX) of the Twenty-ninth Ordinary Session in Libreville, Gabon, on the Scientific, Technological Research and Development Activities of the OAU Executive Secretariat of Lagos (STRC),
Noting with satisfaction the work carried out by the Secretariat of the OAU through the STRC and the Inter-African Committee on Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plants as expressed in the report of this Committee (CM/1099 (XXXVI)),
Considering that in the developing countries in general and OAU countries in particular, huge potential resources in medicinal plants with tested therapeutic value are being excessively exploited by foreign pharmaceutical firms or by their local agencies, and this at lower prices in comparison with the large profits they make out of these plants after simple processing outside our countries,
Considering that, within the OAU Member States, rules and regulations exist on forest protection,
Considering the scanty means that are available to these states for the immediate establishment of national manufacturing industries,
Considering that local processing of these medicinal plants into basic pharmaceuticals could be a source of income to the African people:
WELCOMES the plan for implementation of the activities of the Inter -African Committee on Traditional Medicine and Medicinal Plants to the year 2000, in line with the Plan of Action of Antananarivo, Madagascar;
RECOMMENDS:
the creation at the level of the General Secretariat of the OAU of an index of medicinal plants available in the Member States, and which will serve as raw materials for pharmaceutical industries;
the harmonization and the reinforcement of rules and regulations on forest protection and their application to the medicinal plants that are classified as special products;
the study and the harmonization of their delivery prices in the Member States;
REQUESTS UNIDO and WHO to continue to co-operate with the OAU in launching a scheme of processing and industrialization of medicinal plants and providing mobile laboratories and technical assistance to some African countries in this respect;
REQUESTS the OAU Secretariat, with the financial and technical assistance of the FAO and UNIDO, to establish Seed Banks for medicinal plants in appropriate locations;
REQUESTS Member States of OAU to make plans to utilize medicinal plants and traditional medicine in each country and bring about legislation as to the use in such preparation in their countries.