By Erica James-King, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
AS THE international trade in medicinal plants grows in volume and value, new legislation is coming to protect Jamaican plants and their medicinal properties from being plundered by foreign entities, or individuals who might not have the best interest of the island at heart.
To this end, the newly established Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO) has been mandated by the government to lead the process of promulgating appropriate legislation for new plant varieties and concerns relating to plants found in Jamaica. This move aims to protect the natural and cultural legacy of Jamaicans and the traditional use of their herbs and spices.
Pointing to this new legislative project with which JIPO is involved, Dr. Jean Dixon, Perma-nent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Science and Techno-logy, explained that JIPO "will ensure that our plant varieties are given intellectual property protection and that in releasing the potential of the industry, the legacy of our people's knowledge and the traditional use of these products are recognised."
While declining to say when the new legislation would come into effect, the Commerce Ministry is stressing that intellectual property protection, is a necessary safeguard for our plants and plant-derived chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, fragrances, flavours and colour ingredients.
Dr. Dixon is further cautioning major players in the herbal and health sectors: "I really believe we have to work hard to get the intellectual property legislation in place and to have a good public education programme on the need for that protection. If we don't protect we can loose the value that goes with that kind of business (herbal medicinal
industry)."
Other requisite measures being touted in the development of the herbal medicinal industry are research and documentation.
"With the development of this industry we see ourselves as making a significant contribution to the global delivery of health-care and the body of research in support of good health."
Reports from the Commerce Ministry are that, so far, local researchers and tertiary institutions have documented some 800 endemic species of flowering plants and ferns with potential pharmaceutical properties. Of the top 120 plants with medicinal properties now recognised internationally, 86 are to be found in Jamaica.
Despite its potential, developing countries like Jamaica face several challenges in developing a viable and sustainable medicinal herb industry. Citing financial constraints and a lack of vision in the expansion of the medicinal herb industry, Dr. Dixon is pointing to the need for intra-regional commercial partnerships, which facilitate the production and marketing of certain plants and plant-derived chemicals.
"I don't think the industry is organised well enough and I don't think we have seriously focused on it, as an area that could provide sustainable development in rural areas," argued the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology.
Meanwhile, a pilot project (The Natural Products Project) to explore Jamaica's potential in the herbal industry was established in 1986 and, according to the government, the programme is still on-going with major inputs from the Scientific Research Council (SRC) and the Natural Products' Institute of the University of the West Indies.
Word from State Minister for Agriculture, Errol Ennis, is that the "SRC is currently compiling a database to include market prices, the plants from which essential oils have been extracted, and their yields."
Mr. Ennis also told The Gleaner, "Currently, the Natural Products' Unit is conducting research in the area of local plant extracts, which contain bio-active compounds of potential value to the nutraceutical industry. Extracts being analysed include ginger, turmeric and rosemary."
The Junior Agriculture Minister's comments come amidst reports from international health experts who estimate that the global trade in medicinal plants now exceeds $1 billion per year and is poised for an escalation in earnings.
According to a recent survey conducted in member states of the European Union, 1,400 herbal preparations are used widely. It is estimated that on a yearly basis, Europe alone imports 400,000 tonnes of medi-cinal plants with an average market value of $1 billion from Africa and Asia. The US trade in medicinal and herbal plants totals US$1.6 billion.
