The Fourth Guangdong Forum on the Revitalization of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine was successfully held in Qingyuan.

On October 11, 2020, coinciding with World Traditional Chinese Medicine Day, the Fourth Meeting of the Guangdong Forum on the Revitalization of Chinese Veterinary Medicines was held in Qingyuan.

    Invited to attend the meeting were leaders and experts including Qu Yuanyuan, Chief Veterinary Officer of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs; Jiang Wenhong, Director of the Veterinary and Slaughter Management Division; Yu Qiunan, Deputy Director of the same division; Lin Haidan, Director of the Guangdong Center for Agricultural Product Quality and Safety; Xiao Tian’an, Deputy Director; Xu Zhihong, Director of the Institute of Animal Health at the Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences; Professor Xu Jianqin of China Agricultural University; Associate Professor Shi Jun of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University; Professor Liu Hanru of Southwest Agricultural University; Professor He Yongming of Foshan University of Science and Technology; Professor Qiu Shenben of Guangdong Vocational and Technical College of Science and Trade; and Professor Shi Dayou of South China Agricultural University. Also in attendance were industry leaders such as Huang Xiaojian, President of the Guangdong Animal Health Products Association; Li Yuelong, Secretary-General; Professor Guo Shining, Secretary-General of the Guangdong Forum on the Revitalization of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine; Wu Li, Chairperson of the Committee on Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine of the Guangdong Society of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine; and representatives from participating organizations, including Yan Zhenchi, Deputy Plant Manager of the Animal Health Products Plant at Guangdong Wens Dahua Nong Biotechnology Co., Ltd.; Liang Qijia, Chairman of Guangdong Gaoshan Animal Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Chen Ping, General Manager of Guangdong Guangmu Animal Health Products Co., Ltd.; Zeng Meiju, General Manager of Guangdong Kerun Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Jiang Shunjin, Vice President of Guangdong Rongda Bio‑Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; Liang Tianfa, General Manager of Zhongshan Tiantian Animal Health Technology Co., Ltd.; and Rao Guowen, General Manager of Guangdong Tianshan Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. The meeting was hosted by Guangdong Kerun Biopharmaceutical Co., Ltd., the rotating chair unit of the forum.

Chief Veterinary Officer, Qu Yuanyuan

Director Jiang Wenhong

Deputy Director Yu Qiunan

Director Lin Haidan

Deputy Director Xiao Tian’an

    The Guangdong Forum on the Revitalization of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine is a non‑profit, grassroots organization voluntarily established and jointly initiated by numerous enterprises and institutions across Guangdong Province. Operating under the support and guidance of the Guangdong Animal Health Products Association and the Professional Committee of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine of the Guangdong Society of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, the forum is guided by the theme “Inheriting and Innovating, Collaborating for Development” and the goal of “Ensuring Food Safety and Enhancing Farming Efficiency.” Its mission is to explore new approaches to the development of the traditional Chinese veterinary medicine sector, promote the effective use of such products, foster research and innovation in this field, and advance industry-wide exchanges and overall industrial growth. This conference, themed “Comprehensive Development and Utilization of Natural Plants,” will provide a platform for exchange and discussion.

Chairman Huang Xiaojian presided over the meeting.

In his address, Huang Xiaojian, President of the Guangdong Animal Health Products Association, first expressed his gratitude to Guangdong Kerun for its dedicated efforts and meticulous arrangements in hosting this conference, and extended a warm welcome to the distinguished leaders and experts in attendance. He expressed his hope that, through this event, participants would engage in in-depth exchanges, build consensus, and further advance the development of the traditional Chinese veterinary medicine industry in our province.

Professor Guo Shining chaired the lecture session.

Professor Xu Jianqin

Professor Xu Jianqin of China Agricultural University and Chairperson of the Strategic Alliance for Technological Innovation in the Chinese Veterinary Medicine Industry delivered a report titled “Prospects for the Application of Natural Plant Feed Ingredients” at the conference. Professor Xu analyzed the current state, demands, and challenges facing the livestock sector, and offered her views on how to better develop the veterinary medicine industry within the broader industry context. She noted that China’s livestock and poultry farming market is vast; however, constrained by over‑intensive production practices and outdated farming technologies, disease outbreaks remain a major issue, while food safety concerns stemming from antibiotic residues occur with alarming frequency. In accordance with requirements from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, effective January 1, 2020, all growth‑promoting drug‑based feed additives—except those derived from traditional Chinese medicine—were phased out, quality standards for drug‑based feed additives used solely for growth promotion were revoked, and approval numbers for related veterinary drugs and import registration certificates were canceled. The call to ban antibiotics in feed has thus been sounded, with natural plants (traditional Chinese herbs) emerging as a particularly suitable alternative to antibiotics. Professor Xu then provided an in-depth interpretation of the important standard document, “General Requirements for Natural Plant Feed Ingredients.” The standard first clarifies the basic forms in which natural plants may be used in feed, categorizing them into three primary types: dried natural plant materials, ground natural plant materials, and crude extracts of natural plants, each defined scientifically. Addressing the confusion surrounding product classification prevalent in the market, the standard establishes clear categories and definitions for natural plant feed ingredients, comprehensively refining and elevating their technical specifications. It also sets forth standardized labeling requirements for specific identifiers on such products. Professor Xu emphasized that, following the ban on antibiotics in feed, natural plant feed ingredients hold significant promise. Among various alternatives to antibiotics, traditional Chinese herbs have garnered the strongest support. She further highlighted the efficacy and functions of several animal health products derived from natural plants that are both food and medicine.

Associate Professor Shi Jun

Associate Professor Shi Jun, Director of the Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Sciences at the School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, delivered a report titled “Current Status, Challenges, and Strategies in the Research of Formulations of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicines.” Associate Professor Shi Jun outlined the origins of traditional Chinese medicine and the historical development of veterinary medicine and the discipline of Chinese veterinary pharmacology, providing a detailed explanation of the dosage forms used in Chinese veterinary medicine. He stated that Chinese veterinary medicines generally face challenges such as outdated production processes, substandard quality, and limited R&D and innovation capabilities, underscoring the urgent need to enhance the controllability and standardization of product quality. Regarding the development of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine, he put forward the following recommendations: He stated that the future market growth will hinge on pet medicines that are safe, effective, and non-irritating—shifting from a focus on large livestock to small and medium-sized livestock, poultry, and exotic species such as birds, fish, and insects; from individual‑based treatment to group‑ or intensive‑scale prevention and control; from a combined approach of prevention and treatment to one that prioritizes prevention; and from disease‑focused management to a dual emphasis on both disease control and enhanced production performance. Accordingly, he also recommends that the industry establish unified standards for Chinese veterinary medicinal preparations, vigorously advance the modernization of Chinese veterinary medicine, intensify research and development of green veterinary drugs, and refine and innovate dosage forms. Furthermore, it should develop Chinese veterinary medicines and functional recovery agents that enhance host immunity, prevent and treat mixed infections, and improve microcirculation.

General Manager Zeng Meiju

Deputy Factory Director Yan Zhenchi

Chairman Liang Qijia

General Manager Chen Ping

Vice President Jiang Shunjin

General Manager Rao Guowan

General Manager Liang Tianfa

Chairman Wu Li

At the meeting, chaired by Secretary-General Li Yuelong, participating experts and industry representatives discussed the impact of the new GMP implementation on Chinese veterinary‑medicine enterprises, as well as strategies for better addressing the dual challenges posed by the COVID‑19 pandemic and African swine fever, along with the effects of policies such as the ban on antibiotic use in feed.

Professor Qiu Shenben

Director Xu Zhihong

Professor Liu Hanru

During the exchange, industry leaders—including Chief Veterinary Officer Qu Yuanyuan, Director Jiang Wenhong, Deputy Director Yu Qiunan, Director Lin Haidan, and Deputy Director Xiao Tian’an—addressed policy-related questions raised by enterprises. They encouraged medium-sized veterinary‑medicine companies in our province to further strengthen quality management, enhance talent development, deepen collaboration with research institutions and universities, increase investment in scientific research, and bolster market promotion to build strong brands, thereby contributing to the high‑quality development of the province’s animal husbandry sector through superior products and services.

Professor Xu Jianqin presented General Manager Zeng Meiju with the plaque designating his organization as a member of the Zhongguancun Chinese Veterinary Medicine Industry Technology Innovation Strategic Alliance.

Group photo at the conference