Yvonne mentioned that the test the herbs for pesticides. I was wondering how this was completed, are they looking at a specific chemical marker to say that "x" pesticides are present? for example, the pesticide Seven would have chemicals like Carbary, malathion and myclobutanil, which are often looked at by HPLC. Is the test based on the pharmacopeia analytical testing? I.e. every lab would be using a harmonized test procedure to ensure that the results from each lab are comparable? Therefore, if a company claims that they have tested their product in accordance with the herbal pharmacopeia this product would have be tested for pesticides? I am very familiar with USP, EP, and JP pharmaceutical pharmacopeias. Where they have monographs and laid out test procedures for a specific drug or supplement, is it safe to assume that the herbal pharmacopeia is the same or as least similar? Typically, although the USP, EP, and JP have similarities there are still some different testing that is needed and are not harmonized completely. I did not realize that there was a pharmacopeia for herbs, this is very intriguing to my analytical chemistry mind.

David said: It is the Chinese Pharmacopoeia which includes herbs used in TCM, they have their own standards, and it is probably not harmonized with anyone else.