Overview
ISO 24063:2026 - Traditional Chinese Medicine - Ziziphus jujuba Fruit establishes the minimum quality requirements and test methods for Ziziphus jujuba fruit, commonly known as jujube, Chinese date, or Da Zao. This international standard is vital for organizations engaged in the trade, processing, and application of Ziziphus jujuba as herbal raw material. It includes whole medicinal materials and decoction pieces derived from these plants, supporting international trade and ensuring safety and quality across borders.
With the global rise in demand for Ziziphus jujuba fruit as a health food supplement and traditional medicine, the need for harmonized standards has become essential. ISO 24063:2026 supports safe international commerce and higher product consistency in the industry, aligning with the requirements of national and regional pharmacopoeias.
Key Topics
ISO 24063:2026 covers the following fundamental areas:
- Product Description: Defines the botanical origin, key characteristics, and structure of Ziziphus jujuba fruit.
- Minimum Quality Requirements: Specifies standards for general appearance, cleanliness, absence of foreign matter, moisture, total ash, heavy metals, sulfur dioxide, pesticide residues, and aflatoxins.
- Identification and Examination: Provides guidelines for macroscopic and microscopic identification, as well as thin-layer chromatography (TLC) procedures for product verification.
- Test Methods: Details standardized methods for assessing quality, including:
- Determination of moisture and total ash
- Assessment of polysaccharide content
- Evaluation of heavy metals and pesticide residues
- Quantification of aflatoxins
- Packaging, Storage, and Transportation: Recommends practices to protect the product integrity, ensure safe handling, and prevent contamination.
- Marking and Labelling: Outlines labelling requirements, ensuring traceability and regulatory compliance.
Applications
Ziziphus jujuba fruit is highly valued for its nutritional and medicinal properties and is utilized in multiple sectors:
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): Incorporated into various formulations for nourishing blood, supporting digestion, and improving sleep quality. Popular in both raw and decoction forms.
- Health Food Industry: Used as a dietary supplement and in processed forms such as jams, teas, juices, wines, and baked goods.
- International Trade: As the international demand and trade volume increase, adhering to ISO 24063:2026 guarantees product safety, authenticity, and quality for importers, exporters, manufacturers, and regulatory authorities.
- Pharmaceuticals and Herbal Markets: Ensures consistency with recognized standards like the Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Pharmacopoeias, facilitating acceptance in regulated markets.
- Quality Control and Laboratory Testing: Laboratories and quality assurance teams apply the standard's test methods to validate product quality and detect contaminants.
Related Standards
For comprehensive quality assurance and compliance, organizations should consider the following related ISO standards:
- ISO 18664: Determination of heavy metals in herbal medicines used in traditional Chinese medicine.
- ISO/TS 21310: Microscopic examination of medicinal herbs.
- ISO 21371: Labelling requirements of products intended for oral or topical use.
- ISO 22217: Storage requirements for raw materials and decoction pieces.
- ISO 22258: Determination of pesticide residues in natural products by gas chromatography.
- ISO 22283: Determination of aflatoxins in natural products by LC-FLD.
- ISO 22590: Determination of sulfur dioxide in natural products by titration.
- ISO 23723: General requirements for herbal raw material and materia medica.
By following ISO 24063:2026 alongside these complementary standards, businesses and regulators can promote safer trade, consumer trust, and regulatory compliance within the growing market for Ziziphus jujuba fruit and traditional Chinese medicinal materials.
