The international standard ISO 19851:2025, Traditional Chinese medicine—Cinnamomum cassia branch, was published recently, the development of which was led by the team of Zhang Tong, Professor at Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Zhang Zhongjing, a Chinese doctor during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), was famous for his book Shanghan Lun, a medical text that sets out the basic principles of traditional Chinese medicine, which was taken as the Bible of many physicians. The Cinnamomum cassia branch was one of the most commonly used Chinese medicines in Zhang Zhongjing’s prescriptions.

Moreover, the use of Cinnamomum cassia branch extends to the globe, especially in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It plays a significant role in the health care, economy and other aspects. Catering to the rapid development of traditional Chinese medicine industry, Zhang Tong submitted the standard proposal to ISO/TC 249 on traditional Chinese medicine, and the standard was later jointly developed by experts from China, Canada, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Australia.

ISO 19851:2025 specifies the quality and safety requirements for Cinnamomum cassia branch. It is applicable to Cinnamomum cassia branch sold as natural medicines in international trade, which is expected to enhance international transactions, promote cooperation between universities and enterprises in the field of traditional Chinese medicine, and facilitate industrial development.