Zeller’s Story - High standards for sustainable cultivation

The cultivation of medicinal plants is subject to strict regulations, which are well above the standards for food plants. Although the intake of medicinal plants is at a lower level than for food plants and the intake is usually limited for a certain period of time, higher legal limits exist for the treatment of medicinal plants, such as for pesticides, heavy metals, toxins etc. Being ‘organic’ is very important for the cultivation of medicinal plant, thus, Zeller avoids the use of pesticides and herbicides whenever it can. The analytical processes and quality controls further guarantee that the amounts of unwanted substances are kept well below the allowed limits.

Zeller’s production of medicinal plants follows the WHO guidelines of “Good Agricultural and Collection Practice” (GACP) for medicinal plants. This guideline provides general technical guidance on obtaining medicinal plant materials of good quality for the sustainable production of herbal products classified as medicines. This is the first step in quality assurance, on which the safety and efficacy of phyto-pharmaceuticals directly depend. By following GACP guidelines, Zeller also contributes to the protection of natural resources of medicinal plants.