China's TCM to adopt uniform code of practice

China's State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine intends to make changes and standardize the industry. Officials admit there are challenges, including the will to adopt a uniform code of practice and a lack of knowledge and training. But they say standardization is necessary to boost the damaged reputation of TCM both at home and abroad.

At the clinic where Chinese herbalist Luo Bin practices, it's all about quality. The clinic tailors to both a local and international clientele. Traditional Chinese Medicine is practiced alongside Western medicine.

"We use the best of both worlds. This way, it's easier for Westerners to accept TCM." Luo said.

Luo says the clinic's business model is becoming more popular. It's all about quality control. Herbs are carefully assessed for pesticides and other contaminants.

One challenge for the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Officials say it's hard to trace the sources of contamination.

Moving forward, the Administration drafts a blueprint. The first step is to define standardization.

"We will face many difficulties, including the will to adopt a uniform system. We have many practitioners but few have the knowledge about standardization. We also need lots of training." Zha Dezhong with State Administration of TCM said.

But the immediate challenge is re-assuring Western countries that herbs from China are safe.

Skepticism currently reigns. The UK banned most imports of TCM products, after tainted samples were found from China's most prominent manufacturer Tong Ren Tang.

"It's ridiculous. TCM has been practiced for thousands of years. In London alone, there are thousands of practitioners. Could you imagine the impact? We must do something." TCM doctor Wei Yajun said.

Chinese health officials say promoting TCM internationally is a top priority. Skepticism has been fueled by a lack of scientific evidence proving TCM's efficacy. The push for standardization aims to make TCM comprehensible to the West.

Reporter: "As Chinese herbs become a popular alternative medicine for the international community, health officials say it's more important to ensure their quality and safety. As part of an initiative for standardization, they say it's critical to monitor the soil where herbs are grown."

The challenge now is to prevent the use of tainted raw materials commonly used in herbal concoctions.