Currently, the international environment surrounding traditional medicine, including acupuncture and moxibustion, is changing faster than we can imagine. In recent years there are some Far East Asian countries that have registered the classical medical books of traditional medicine and a part of traditional medicines in their own countries to the Memory of the World and the Intangible Cultural Heritage in UNESCO. In addition, preparations to include traditional medicine in ICD-11 have been carried out with revision of ICD-10 in WHO. Furthermore, the working of international standardization of traditional medicine of Far East Asia is underway in ISO. Also WFAS is working on the international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion in an official relationship with WHO. Furthermore, genetic resources and traditional knowledge related to traditional medicine have been discussed in CBD. The matters concerning traditional medicine have been discussed separately elsewhere in a wide variety of international organizations such as WIPO, WTO/TRIPS and FAO.
In this panel discussion, firstly, we outlined the main points about the protection of traditional knowledge by CBD and the Nagoya Protocol, clarified the current status of discussions in WIPO about traditional medicine and registration of traditional knowledge under the Intangible Cultural Heritage in UNESCO, and examined future protection of traditional knowledge of acupuncture and moxibustion. Secondly, we summarized the current status and progress of the international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion driven by WFAS as commissioned by WHO, clarified the viewpoint of JSAM about problems with the efforts of WFAS for the international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion, and discussed the relationship of the international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion in WFAS and ISO. Finally, we summarized the progress of the international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion from the 1980s when international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion was first initiated by WHO up until the present when international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion is included in ISO/TC249, surveyed the present situation of the international standardization of traditional medicine in the countries that are leading the international standardization of acupuncture and moxibustion, and discussed about the aspects of the struggle for supremacy lurking behind the international standardization of traditional medicine and the issues associated with the future of the international standardization of traditional medicine.