Policy and legal perspectives on the traditional Chinese medicine varietal protection system (TCMVPS): reform or abolition?

The TCMVPS illustrates the opportunities and pitfalls of designing sui generis mechanisms for traditional medicine protection. Its future relevance depends on substantive reform, including clearer alignment with intellectual property and drug regulatory frameworks, expansion of eligible categories, and the incorporation of mechanisms that encourage continuous clinical and technological improvement. Beyond China, the experience of the TCMVPS provides valuable lessons for other jurisdictions seeking to reconcile traditional knowledge preservation with modern regulatory and innovation systems.