Foreword
Summary
Keywords
Abbreviations
1.0 Introduction
2.0 Objectives of the Workshop
3.0 Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Network Session
3.1 Introductory Presentations
3.2 Working Groups Presentations
3.3 Focal Points Presentations
3.4 Short Comment on Working Groups’ and Focal Points’ Presentations
3.5 Network Elections and Workplan 2006
3.5.1 Election of the Network Chairman of Board and Secretariat
3.5.2 Work-plan for the Network 2006 – Initial Comments
4.0 Link Between Producer and European Consumer Session
4.1 Introduction
4.2 European Union Legislation and Regulations to the Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Industry and Consumer Rights
4.3 Experiences from Maltese and Danish Herbal Medicine Companies with special references to North Africa, Near and Far East
5.0 Concluding Remarks and Recommendations
6.0 Program of the Workshop
7.0 List of Participants
8.0 Annex – Presentation on CD

Foreword

AARINENA Statement at the Opening Session for the Medicinal & Aromatic Plant Workshop, Malta 7-9 November, 2005

Presented by Dr. Ibrahim Hamdan, AARINENA Executive Secretary

Distinguished Participants and Guests,

It gives me a great pleasure to address this meeting on behalf of the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA).

As you are aware, agriculture is the dominating factor in the economics of most countries in the Near East and North Africa region, where about 60% of the population lives in rural areas and dependent on agriculture for their livelihood. Agriculture Development could be enhanced by effective and efficient exchange of knowledge and information. Stakeholders in agricultural research and development in this region have major problems in obtaining accurate and timely information. Modern information and communication technologies through cooperative regional research networks could help in information exchange among all stakeholders.

AARINENA was established in 1985 at the recommendations of the 14th and 16th FAO Regional Conferences to contribute to the enhancement of agricultural and rural development in the region through fostering agricultural research and technology development, while at the same time sustaining and further improving the productive capacity of the natural resource base.

Technical cooperation networks have become an increasingly important means of action and are initiated and established by AARINENA with the support of GFAR. These networks have become a generic model for the establishment of functional mechanisms for collaboration and enhancement of communication and exchange of experiences among different countries in one region and/or different regions of the world.

During the past three years, AARINENA in collaboration with FAO, GFAR, IPGRI and ICARDA has established four commodity crop Regional Networks on Date-Palm, Cotton, Olive and Medicinal & Aromatic plants.

AARINENA Executive Committee in its last meeting recommended the establishment of two other Regional networks one on Water Use Efficiency and the other on Biotechnology Applications.

The Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Network was established in September 2004 as a partnership among all the different bodies and stakeholders in each of the participating member countries that are involved in any manner through out the overall medicinal & aromatic plants chain, starting from cultivation and production to processing, marketing and research.

I do hope that during the Network Session in this meeting, the country member focal points will elect the chairman of the board for the Network in order to revitalize the network activities and to prepare the plan of work for the next two years to be presented to the next AARINENA 10th General Conference, May 2006 at Sana’a-Yemen.
I am also hopeful that your meeting during the following sessions will provide the necessary information to Link between Producers and the European Consumers.

Before concluding my statement, I would like to recognize here the important role played by Dr. Mohamed Zehni for the establishment of AARINENA when he was the Director of the Research Division at FAO. I am glad that he kindly accepted to participate in this meeting and Chair one of the sessions. I would like also to recognize Prof. Scicluna-Spiteri who has hosted AARINENA Executive Committee in Malta, September 2000 and who also agreed to participate in this meeting.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the University of Malta for hosting this meeting and to thank GFAR for their support. Special thanks to Drs. George & Everaldo Attard for their valuable role in providing the local logistics and the organization of this meeting.

I wish you a successful and productive meeting.
Thank you

Summary

Following the establishment of the MAP network by AARINENA, in September 2004, network meetings were anticipated to take place on a yearly basis. This year, 2005, AARINENA organised the MAP network annual meeting in Malta under the hospice of the University of Malta. This event was divided into two principle sessions: the MAP Network functions and the annual meeting, and the MAP Industry session.

The MAP Network meeting was aimed at the re-organisation of the working groups and functions of focal points. This was an attempt to strengthen the network and hence making it more efficient and productive.

The workshop was organised with the aim of familiarising the participants with the European Union rules and conditions of agricultural practices, manufacturing and marketing leading to better quality assurance to the European consumer.

Keywords

MAP network, Technical working groups, Post harvesting, Socio-economic, Conservation, Use, Agricultural practices, Public awareness, Good Agricultural Practices, Manufacturing, Marketing, European consumer.

Abbreviations

AARINENA: Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa
GFAR: Global Forum on Agricultural Research
IOA: Institute of Agriculture
UOM: University of Malta
MAP: Medicinal and Aromatic Plant
IPGRI: International Plant Genetic Resources Institute
GAP: Good Agricultural Practices
GMP: Good Manufacturing Practices
HACCP: Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point
EU: European Union

1.0 Introduction

The Workshop on “The Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Industry: The Link between Producer and European Consumer” was held in Malta between the 7th and 9th of November 2005 at the Corinthia Jerma Palace Hotel, Marsascala, Malta. The local logistics and organisation was hosted by the University of Malta (UOM), Institute of Agriculture (IOA). The international organisation was under the care of the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA) and sponsored by the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR).

The participants included scientists and diplomats from agricultural institutions in nine AARINENA member states. These participants form the Regional Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Network, that was established in September (30th) 2004, during a kick-off meeting held in Cairo, Egypt. The initial members were Egypt, Malta, Jordan, Sudan, Oman, Morocco, Syria and Yemen. Following the 2004 Cairo meeting, considered as the MAP Network Consultation Meeting, in November 2005, the first annual meeting of its kind was organised. In this meeting, a new institution from Iran joined the network bringing the number of members to nine participating countries. This meeting was also coupled with a workshop dealing with the commercial potential of MAPs within the European Union.

2.0 Objectives of the Workshop

The main objective of the workshop was basically the annual general meeting of the network, which involves the presentation of Working groups’ and Focal points’ reports and the election of the new Chairman and Secretariat for the Network.

The second objective was the organisation of a workshop setup with different speakers from European Union member states, to highlight the importance of the MAP markets and the expectations of the European consumer vis-à-vis the medicinal plant and herbal products.

3.0 Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Network Session

3.1 Introductory Presentations

The introductory section of this session was fundamental; in order to give the participants the basic information required maintaining a healthy and efficient network; effective networking and exchange of information, and the structure and function of each component within an AARINENA network. This session was chaired by Dr. Everaldo Attard and the two speakers were Dr. Kheder Durah and Dr. Ibrahim Hamdan.
Effective networking does not solely involve annual meetings, which are after all, important occasions to meet the actual members of a network. In the broad sense, networking involves the utilisation of modern information technology to give a better access to information and to communicate by the most efficient way. Such tools include electronic mails, databases and internet browsing. These types of activities take place usually at the International level. However, these are sometimes utilised nationally, where modern information technology is applied by experts in collaboration with the farming community. Dr. Durah described clearly how the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI), has managed to create a website for the Asian MAP network, with botanical, ethno botanical, phytochemical and pharmacological information related to medicinal plants in the region. He also explained how IPGRI created a new modelling tool, called the Genetic Resources Information System (GRIS) that is capable of capturing information from any plant genetic database and converts the data to the standard format used in GRIS.

Dr. Hamdan illustrated the structure of an AARINENA network, with special reference to the MAP Network. Essentially, each AARINENA network is managed by a Coordinating Board. This board is made up of representatives (NGOs, Private Sector, Research Institutions and Universities) from the participating countries. These are the so-called Focal Points. In line with the aims of the network, working groups are created to tackle important issues. The functions of the board, secretariat, focal points and working groups were highlighted. The exact roles of the four working groups (section 3.2) were also discussed.

3.2 Working Groups Presentations

The four working groups are namely Post Harvest and Processing Technologies, Socio-economic and Commercialisation, Conservation and Sustainable Use, and Agricultural Practices. The session was chaired by Dr. Mohamed Al-Nusairi from Yemen.

The coordinator for the first working group, Post Harvest and Processing Technologies, was Dr. Feras Q. Alali from Jordan. Dr. Alali described how his working group has been involved in the development of projects, participation in Post Harvest workshops and the development of the Jordanian National MAP Network. Special reference was made to a Post-Harvest meeting held in Anatalya (Turkey) during 24-25 March 2005. It was stressed that from nine concept notes developed, only three were selected and brought to the attention of AARINENA, GFAR and FAO. He described, in general, the so-called concept notes that are necessary in the setting up or running of the MAP Network.

The second speaker was Dr. Mohamed Safwat (Egypt) dealing with the Socio economic aspects and commercialisation. The coordinator of this working group was Dr. Enas El- Sadek, who was unable to attend. Dr. Safwat emphasised the efforts of the Egyptian delegation in the setting up of two project proposals, namely, the promotion and extension of organic farming for medicinal and aromatic plants and the recycling of agricultural and agro-industrial wastes especially medicinal and aromatic plants. These two projects deal with the socio-economic aspects and commercialisation of medicinal plants. The first project deals with the improvement of MAP production with the aim to improve the quality of life of the farming community. The second deals with the reduction of agricultural and agro-industrial wastes by recycling and hence reducing the negative impact on the environment.

There was another change in working group coordination, that of the Conservation and Sustainable Use. The post of Dr. Aouragh El-Hachmi was handed over to Dr. Mohamed Boutfirass. With this position, Dr. Boutfirass dealt with the availability of human resources needed for the four working groups and focal point. He explained the current situation of the MAP activities occurring in Morocco. The main outcome of the research carried out was the documentation of the current status of MAPs in Morocco. Measures taken include the initiation of a MAP conservation programme, testing of technological and management options, increasing the awareness of value-added MAPs and strengthening of national and regional/international networking.

The last working group, (Agricultural Practices) represented by Sudan, was coordinated by Dr. Awatif Ahmed M. A. Siribel. She is also the focal point for Sudan. Apart from the background information on Sudan’s agricultural development throughout the recent decades, Dr. Siribel described the current constraints of the MAP industry in Sudan. These mainly include:

• the dependence of wild plant collection with no MAP cultivation practices,
• the lack of information on the socio-economic benefits derived from the MAP industry,
• scarce information on market potential and international trading possibilities,
• lack of links between producer, industry, distributors and consumers, and
• lack of legislation that are required for good agricultural and manufacturing practices.

Following these constraints, the speaker gave a comprehensive list of possibilities to improve the quality of the MAP industry and to enhance the international role of Sudan in the MAP field.

3.3 Focal Points Presentations

This session dealt with the presentation of country reports by six focal points, namely Dr. Mohamed Safwat (Egypt), Dr. Everaldo Attard (Malta), Dr. Musa Fayyad (Jordan), Eng. Safaa Al-Farsi (Oman), Dr. Fatemeh Sefidkon (Iran), Dr. Suhail Maghoul (Syria) and Dr. Mohamed Al-Nusairi (Yemen). The country reports for Morocco and Sudan were previously presented in the Working Groups’ session.

The first country report was presented by Dr. Mohamed Safwat, focal point for Egypt. Dr. Safwat discussed how the Egyptian working groups’ representatives and focal point, were managed and showed clearly that a team work should be established within each member state in order to conduct as much activities as possible. The team was called the Egyptian Federation of Medicinal Plants Associations. Current statistics of the global MAP industry were also highlighted.

The focal point for Malta, Dr. Everaldo Attard, discussed the local constraints facing the production, processing and marketing of MAPs. It was concluded that the three fields are limited primarily due to the small area of production, small number of pharmaceutical companies and limited consumer population. The main bottle neck in this cycle is the processing of MAPs. He also highlighted the role of the Institute of Agriculture, as the main tertiary agricultural educational unit that is working in several research projects, education of the general public and under-/post-graduate students and collaboration with industry. The entry of Malta within the European Union provides new challenges and opportunities to the Maltese MAP Industry.

Dr. Musa Fayyad, as the focal point for Jordan, discussed the establishment of the national MAP network team and its involvement in projects at the national level dealing with conservation studies (in-situ/ex-situ). He discussed also the involvement of different local stakeholders, including the Governmental sector, private sector, pharmaceutical industry, NGOs and the Jordanian MAP team. The private sector refers to the farming community and the agricultural industry, while the pharmaceutical industry is more involved in the extraction of pharmacologically-active metabolites from harvested plants. NGOs (such as Erada) play an important role in conservation and the cultivation of MAPs. He concluded that more collaboration is needed to improve the local export potential of MAPs.

In the fourth focal point presentation, Eng. Safaa Al-Farsi, the representative for Oman, illustrated the agro climatic regions of the country; namely,

• the Northern Province (Jebel Akhdar, Batinah Coastal plain, Dahira plains, Interior Oman, Sharqiya plains) and
• the Southern Province (Najd, Dhofar Jebel, Salalah plain).

These areas provided a vast diversity of MAPs. As a result, the several activities have been undertaken primarily aimed at acquiring more information of the plants present and the collection and conservation of germplasm especially in the Northern part of Oman.

Dr. Fatemeh Sefidkon, the focal point for Iran, gave a comprehensive presentation of Iranian ethnobotany, with special reference to world-famous Iranian herbalists/physicians (Ali Ibn Rabbam Al-Tabari, Zakaria Razi, Abu Raihan Biruni, Abu Ali Sina, Mansoor Heravi, Zinn-ol-Abedin Esmail Jorjani, Hakim Tonekaboni). She also illustrated the exponential growth for MAP export, especially coriander seeds, sisymbrium, cumin, gums, glycyrrhiza seeds and extract, astragalus, henna and zizyphus and others. There are approximately eighteen herbal medicinal companies in Iran, manufacturing between 2 – 23 products. Dr. Sefidkon guided the audience, virtually through the National Botanical Garden. The medicinal plants and by-products research division is mainly concerned with the collection and identification of medicinal plants, their cultivation and phytochemical analysis.

The focal point for Syria, Dr. Suhail Maghoul, illustrated the phytodiversity of the country with special reference to MAPs. The MAP division of the General Commission for Scientific Agricultural Research (GCSAR) undertakes the following activities: conservation of MAPs in the wild, and the collection, classification and documentation of MAPs. At the national level, it was suggested that an integrated project should be carried out in order to:

• survey the wild plants,
• collect plants and adapt cultivation practices, and
• extract active constituents.

Two other important issues on the agenda include the organisation of courses (long or short term – on the management of biodiversity and the establishment of a local gene bank for MAPs.
The final presentation was given by Dr. Mohamed Al-Nusairi, the focal point for Yemen. He described the main stakeholders involved in some way or another with MAPs. These include the Agricultural Research and Extension Authority (AREA), collaborating institutions, Faculty of Agriculture (Sana’a), key farmers, and NGOs (Samah Farmer Cooperative). The selected species for Yemen include Henna (Lawsonia inermis), coriander, cumin, nigella aloe and dragon tree (Dracaena cinnabari). Dr. Al-Nusairi discussed the difficulties in the various areas dealing with MAPs, and the way these were counteracted or solved. For example, a local germplasm supply system was set up among the rural communities to counteract the lack of germplasm for MAPs. Another example is the setup of participatory surveys on the uses, constraints and opportunities with communities and other stakeholders. Emphasis was made on the commercialisation of local products such as henna as a hair dye, and capacity building for researchers and the farming community. In Yemen, the main problem is the link between producer and consumer. He concluded that this could be overcome by the establishment of herbal association.

3.4 Short Comment on Working Groups’ and Focal Points’ Presentations

The Working Groups and Focal Points presentations were highly informative, reflecting the current status of MAPs in each country and progress executed between September 2004 and September 2005.

The Working Groups’ reports lacked the coordination component. They should be more suitably considered as country reports as no reference to other countries other than that hosting the Working Group was mentioned throughout the presentations. On the other hand, the Focal Points’ presentations were too much based on local activities, without taking into account the themes of the four working groups.

This gives the impression that the working group coordinators and focal points were all working within the network, on an individual basis. Moreover, this is not just the opinion of a single person, but of the whole group which actually participated in the presentation of the reports. As a consequence, in section 3.5.2, more networking and collaboration was promised by all members of the MAP Network.

3.5 Network Elections and Work plan 2006

3.5.1 Election of the Network Chairman of Board and Secretariat
Dr. Hamdan presented the terms of reference and functions of the MAP network, Chairman of Board and Secretariat. Floor was open for Nominees of the two posts namely Chairman of Board and Network Secretariat.
The group elected the following:
• Dr. Mohamed Safwat from Egypt as Chairman of the Board
• Dr. Mousa Fayyad from Jordan as MAP Network Secretary.

The participants discussed the current working groups structure and responsibilities and approved the following:
1. Post Harvesting Work Group in Jordan
2. Socio-economic aspects and Commercialisation in Malta
3. Conservation and sustainable Use in Morocco
4. Agricultural Practices in Sudan

3.5.2 Work-plan for the Network 2006 – Initial Comments
The MAP Network Members discussed the working plan and agreed to the following outputs for 2006:

1. Drafting of concept notes, at least one per working group, before February 2006.
2. Building the capacity of NARS in the area of MAPs through provision of technical advice and training on MAP operations
3. Increased support to conservation, use of MAPs through public awareness strategy (website*, brochure and poster) targeted at policy makers in order to attract new members to AARINENA.
4. Empowering/Strengthening of local communities to better use of MAPs so as to improve the livelihoods, through provision of MAP information systems that document, analyse and share traditional knowledge and socio-economic studies on MAPs. IPGRI GRIS can be used as modelling tool to establish this system.
5. Establishing contact lists for MAPs.

*Web-site for MAPs and publishing it at AARINENA website (information to be concluded by end of December 2005).

4.0 Link between Producer and European Consumer Session

4.1 Introduction

For the sake of consistency, the presentations are hereby listed and discussed, according to the logical rather than chronological order.

4.2 European Union Legislation and Regulations in relation to the Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Industry and Consumer Rights

Dr. Antoine Vella, a lecturer at the Institute of Agriculture, University of Malta, highlighted the most important aspects of production and marketing and their influence on the consumer. The presentation was aimed at highlighting the good agricultural practices (GAP), good manufacturing practices (GMP) and hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) measures required to launch a safe product on the market. GAP, GMP and HACCP were discussed within the European framework. All systems should be monitored by record keeping and supporting documentation.

Another presentation dealing with EU legislation was that delivered by Dr. Marica Gatt, on the Phytosanitary legislation in relation to plants and plant products. Emphasis was made on Council Directive 2000/29/EC against harmful organisms to plants or plant products and against their spread within the community. The directive is intended for living plants, including plant parts, and seeds, and also to plant products that are either unprocessed or have undergone simple preparation. Aspects of phytosanitary control measures, protected zones and the registration of the importer, grower and exporter, were discussed.

Dr. Everaldo Attard discussed the legislation on the manufacturing and marketing of herbal medicinal products within the EU framework. The main Council Directive dealing with medicinal products for human use is Directive 2001/83/EC. More specifically 2001/83/EC deals with herbal medicinal products. The transposition of these directives into the Maltese Medicines Act was emphasised. The speaker concluded that although the EU legislation is still a new experience, more so when considering transposition into the national law, the strict requirements ensure a good final product that is aimed at the health and safety of the consumer.

The fourth presentation dealt with the compilation and presentation of project proposal within the EU-funded frameworks. Ms. Anthea Frendo, gave a comprehensive description of FP6 with specific importance to non-EU (third) countries’ participation. In fact, specific measures in support of International Cooperation were laid down, together with the instruments required for the selection of a project.

4.3 Experiences from Maltese and Danish Herbal Medicine Companies with special references to North Africa, Near and Far East

The first presentation was delivered by Dr. Charles Saliba, the director of the Institute of Cellular Pharmacology Ltd., Malta. Lately in Malta, several research work on MAPs is being carried out with the aim of producing new drugs and herbal medicine on the market. Two examples of production lines have been described. These are the extracts obtained from Padina pavonica and another extract from Opuntia ficus-indica (TEX-OE®). It was indicated how in vitro research, phytochemical analysis and in vivo research, are complementary to each other when it comes to the marketing of a herbal extract for human or veterinary use.

Dr. Kim Søholt Larsen, the R&D manager of Sprunk-Jansen Wellbeing, discussed the steps needed for the transformation of the Palestinian herbal medicine into high quality products of today. Emphasis was made on the thinking and scope behind the logo of the products. The success story of this company is an example of the direct connection between traditional medicine and modern herbal uses.

The final presentation was delivered by Dr. Bjørn Petersen, CEO of TCM Denmark. Although the main theme of Dr. Petersen’s presentation was on the introduction of Chinese herbal medicine into the European market, the experience is still valid to the North African and Near East countries. Difficulties in reaching certain standards (GAP, GMP) were highlighted. In conclusion, the Chinese experience is believed to be a tough task, due to the different cultural, social and scientific aspects.

5. Concluding Remarks and Recommendations

The concluding remarks were based on the work plan 2006 recommendations. To commit more the AARINENA participants, each task was assigned to one or more members. The remarks were drawn on the 9th November 2005.
The MAP Network Members discussed the working plan and agreed to the following outputs for 2006:

1. Formulation of a questionnaire (Dr. E. Attard) that covers the current projects and tools present in member countries, including information related to the four working groups (key points – strengths and weaknesses). This will lead to the drafting of concept notes, at least one per working group, before February 2006.
2. Building the capacity of NARS in the area of MAPs through provision of technical advice and training on MAP operations [Dr. F. Alali/ Dr. M.Fayyad]
3. Increased support to conservation, use of MAPs through public awareness strategy (website [Dr. F. Sefidkon]*, brochure and poster [Dr. M. Fayyad]) targeted at policy makers in order to attract new members to AARINENA.
4. Empowering/Strengthening of local communities to better use of MAPs so as to improve the livelihoods, through provision of MAP information systems that document, analyse and share traditional knowledge and socio-economic studies on MAPs. IPGRI GRIS can be used as modelling tool to establish this system [All focal points - Dr. K. Durah].
5. Establishing contact lists for MAPs [All focal points - Dr. M. Fayyad].

*Web-site for MAPs and publishing it at AARINENA website (information to be concluded by end of December 2005).

In conclusion, the MAP meeting and the subsequent workshop have been instructive to the participants, hence giving at least a direction to the functioning of the network. Before the next meeting, in Nov 2006 possibly in Cairo, there are several tasks to be fulfilled by the individual participants, but unless this is done in a group spirit (network), no new discussions and results would be presented.

6.0 Programme of Workshop

Monday,7th November 2005
9.00 – 9.30 Registration

9.30 – 10.00 Opening Session
Introductory Speeches by Dr. Ibrahim Hamdan (Secretary, AARINENA) and Dr. Everaldo Attard (Representative, IOA)

Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Network Session Introductory presentations
Chairman: Dr. Everaldo Attard

10.00–10.35 -Effective Networks and Exchange of Information of Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Dr. Kheder Durah, (IPGRI-CWANA)
10.35-11.00 -Functions of the Network Members, Dr. I. Hamdan (AARINENA)
11.00-11.30 Coffee Break

Working groups presentations
Chairman: Dr. Mohamed Al-Nusairi

12.00-12.20 -Post Harvest, Dr. Feras Alali, Jordan
12.20-12.40 -Socio-economic & Commer., Dr. Enas Sadek, Egypt
12.40-13.00 -Conversation & Sustainable use, Mr. M. Boutfirass- Morocco
13.00-13.20 - Agricultural practices, Dr. Awatif Siribil, Sudan

13.20–14.15 Lunch Break

Focal Points Presentations

14.15–14.30 -Dr. Mohamed Safwat-Egypt
14.30-14.45 -Dr. Everaldo Attard-Malta
14.45-15.00 -Dr. Musa Fayyad-Jordan
15.00-15.15 -Eng. Safaa Al-Farsi-Oman
15.15-15.30 -Dr. Fatemeh Sefidkon-Iran
15.30-15.45 -Dr. Suhail Maghoul-Syria
15.45-16.00 -Dr. Mohamed Al-Nusairi-Yemen

16.00-16.30 Coffee Break

16.30– 17.30 -Election of the Network Chairman of the Board
-Work-plan for the Network 2006

Tuesday, 8th November 2005

Link between Producer & European Consumer Sessions

Session I
Chairman: Dr. Mohamed Zehni

9.00–10.00 -Experiences from Maltese Herbal Companies Dr. Charles Saliba, Director, Institute of Cellular Pharmacology (MALTA)
10.00-11.00 -GAP, GMP & HACPP and Processing Technologies Dr. Antoine Vella, Institute of Agriculture, University of Malta (MALTA)

11.00-11.30 Coffee Break

11.30-12.30 -EU Legislation and Herbal Medicine Dr. Everaldo Attard, Institute of Agriculture, University of Malta (MALTA)
12.30 – 13.00 -Compiling and Presenting a Project Proposal Ms. Anthea Frendo, Malta Council for Science and Technology, EU project coordinator (MALTA)

13.00–14.30 Lunch

Session II
Chairman: Prof. Anthony Scicluna-Spiteri

14.30–15.30 -Middle East Herbal Products. The steps from traditional use of the past to high quality products of today
Dr. Kim Søholt Larsen, R & D Manager, Sprunk-Jansen A/S (DENMARK)

15.30–16.00 Coffee Break

16.00–17.30 -Marketing Strategies. The Danish Experience
Dr. Bjørn Petersen, CEO, TCM (DENMARK)

Wednesday, 9th November 2005

Link between Producer & European Consumer Sessions Cont.

Session III
Chairman: Dr. Mohamed Safwat

9.00–10.00 -Phytosanitary Legislation and Regulations Dr. Marica Gatt, Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment (MALTA)

10.00–10.30 Coffee Break

10.30–12.00 -Recommendations and Open Discussions
12.00–13.30 Lunch

13.30-17.30 Valletta Excursions

7.0 List of Participants

Participants from Member Countries and Private Sector

Egypt

Prof. Dr. Mohammed Safwat
University of Minia, Faculty of Agriculture,
Department of Agricultural Microbiology,
Egypt
Tel: 02 5250310
Fax: 086 362182
Email: msasafwat@mailer.eun.eg

Jordan

1-Dr. Musa Fayyad
Director of Biodiversity and Medicinal plants program,
National Center for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer (NCARTT)
Phone: 00962 6 4725071
Fax: 00962 6 4726099
Mobil: 00962-777850914
E-mail: musaf20022002@yahoo.com

2-Dr. Feras Qasem Alali
Vice Dean, Director of Pharmaceutical Research Center,
Associate Professor of Pharmacognosy,
Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy,
Faculty of Pharmacy,
Jordan University of Science and Technology,
PO Box 3030, Irbid 22110, Jordan
Tel: +962-2-7201000 ext 23525
Fax: +962-2-7095019
Email: falali@just.edu.jo

Malta

1-Dr. Everaldo Attard
Lecturer/Researcher
University of Malta
Institute of Agriculture
Msida MSD06, Malta
Tel: (+356) 23402323
Fax: (+356) 21346519
Email: everaldo.attard@um.edu.mt

2-Dr. Antoine Vella
Lecturer/Researcher
University of Malta
Institute of Agriculture
Msida MSD06, Malta
Tel: (+356) 23402323
Fax: (+356) 21346519
Email: antoine.vella@um.edu.mt

3-Dr. Charles M. Saliba
Institute of Cellular Pharmacology
Unit F24, Mosta Technopark,
Mosta MST09, Malta
Tel: (+356) 21438458
Fax: (+356) 21419778
Email: icp@maltanet.net

4-Dr. Marica Gatt
Assistant Director
Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment
Department of Agriculture
Fruit Trees and Crop Husbandry
National Agricultural R & D Centre,
Ghammieri, Marsa, Malta
Tel: (+356) 2590 4102
Fax: (+356) 2590 4203
Email: marica.gatt@gov.mt

5-Ms. Anthea Frendo
FP6 National Contact Point
Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST)
Villa Bighi, Bighi, Kalkara CSP 12, Malta
Tel: (+356) 2360 2141
Fax: (+356) 2166 0341
Email: anthea.frendo@mcst.org.mt

6- Dr. Mohamed Zehni
Advisor, International Agriculture Studies
University of Malta, Institute of Agriculture
Msida Msd 06-Malta
Tel/fax : +356-21375479
E-Mail: mzehni@onvol.net

7- Dr. Anthony Scluna-Spitiri
President, International Catholic Rural Association (ICRA)
00120 Citta del Vaticano
Tel: +39066988123
E-mail: info@icra-agrimissio.org

Morocco

Dr. Mohamed Boutfirass
Agronomist and Researcher
CRRA, BP 589,
Settat 26000, Morocco
Tel: +212-23-729306
Fax: +212-23-720927
Email: mboutfirass@yahoo.fr

Oman

Eng. Safaa Mohammed Naser Al-Farsi
Head of Seed and Plant Genetic Resources Lab
Agriculture Research Center
Ministry of Agriculture and fisheries
P.O.Box 50, PC 121 Seeb Sultanate of Oman
Tel: +968-26893917 or +968-26893918
Fax: +968-26893097
Email: research@omantel.net.om

Syria

Dr. Souhel Maghoul
Director of Horticulture research administration/GCSARI
Duma – Po Box 113
Damascus, Syria
Email: gcsarhortcul@mail.sy

Iran

Dr. Fatemeh Sefidkon
Head of Medicinal Plants Research Division in the Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands
P.O. Box: 13185-116,
Tehran, Iran
Tel: +98-21-44195901-5
Fax: +98-21-44196575
Email: frsef@rifr-ac.ir

:
Sudan

1-Dr. Awatif Ahmed Mohammed Siribel
Medicinal & Aromatic Plants Research Institute,
National Centre for Research,
P.O. Pox 2404 Khartoum, Sudan
Tel: (249-11) 770701-770535 Fax: (249-11) 770701-773771
Email: awatifkh20022000@yahoo.com

2-Mrs. Khadejah Ali
Private sector;
Khartoum, Sudan

Yemen

Dr. Mohammed Saleh Ali Al-Nusairi
Director of Research, Agricultural Research and Extension Authority (AREA) P.O.Box: 78148 Dhamar-Yemen
Tel:+ 967 6 423 943/ 423 913 Fax: + 967 6 423 914
Email: nassiri.m@y.net.ye

Denmark

1-Dr. Kim Sohølt Larsen
R&D Manager
Sprunk-Jansen A/S
Strandvejen 100
DK-2900 Hellerup
Tel.: +45 3940 4000 Fax: +45 3940 3900
Email: ksl@sprunk-jansen.com

2-Dr. Bjørn Petersen
Chief Executive Officer
TCM Denmark
Forskerparken 10
DK-5230 Odense M
Tel: (+45) 7021 1850 Fax: (+45) 7021 1851
Email: bpe@tcmdenmark.dk

AARINENA

Dr. Ibrahim Hamdan
AARINENA Executive Secretary
P.O.Box :851758
Amman 11185, Jordan
Tel: W:+962-6-5525750 M:. +962-795430773
Fax: +962-6-5525980
E-mail: ihamdan@link.net

IPGRI

Dr. Kheder Durah
Regional Network and Information Manager, IPGRI
Central West Asia and North Africa Regional Unit
P.O. Box: 5466 Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic
Tel: (+96321) 2231412 Fax: (+96321) 2273681
Email: k.durah@cgiar.org

8.0 Annex – Presentation on CD

The presentations are displayed on CD. To access CD, please follow instructions:

1. Place CD in drive and wait for the dialog box to pop up.

2. Click on the MHP Network 2005.htm file to access the file list

3. The following page appears. Scroll downwards and the whole programme is displayed as clickable links.

4. Each presentation can be opened with Adobe® Acrobat Reader®

5. The necessary information can be printed via Adobe® Acrobat Reader®