Defending Safe Herbal Practice: ATCMA Board Members Join Protest Against Regulatory Changes

On January 6, 2026, a passionate group of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners stood together in the rain outside the Vancouver Art Gallery to raise the alarm about new provincial regulatory changes that could put public safety at risk. These changes remove the restricted activity of prescribing, compounding, and dispensing Chinese herbal formulas — a safeguard ensuring that only trained, regulated professionals can perform these clinical tasks — and could allow anyone, regardless of training, to provide these powerful medicines. As highlighted in this article in Business in Vancouver and in this Global News video clip, critics fear this jeopardizes patient safety. 

TCM is a complete medical system grounded in rigorous education and clinical judgment, and its herbal prescriptions are not simple remedies but individualized treatments requiring deep expertise. The rally brought this message directly to the public and decision-makers, but action can’t stop there.

Now we need your voice. Visit ATCMA’s guide on how to make an impact — including signing the petition, gathering community support, and contacting your MLA — and take action today to protect patient safety and uphold professional standards in British Columbia:

https://atcma.org/blog/3-ways-to-act-to-regain-our-restricted-activity-of-prescribing-chinese-herbs ATCMA

From Charity Cheng, R.TCM.P., ATCMA Communications Chair

Image above: Charity Cheng on left

On January 6, 2026, approximately 300 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners gathered in front of the Vancouver Art Gallery on a cold, windy, and rainy day. We are here not for personal gain, but to speak up for public health and safety, and for the professional rights of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

As is widely recognized, TCM is a profound and comprehensive medical system. Its scope extends far beyond acupuncture alone. Herbal medicine, cupping, therapeutic massage, medicinal cuisine, qigong, and therapeutic exercises are all integral components of a complete TCM framework.

Additionally, modern TCM is not confined to tradition alone. It is a living medical system that carries forward thousands of years of clinical wisdom while integrating modern science and technology. In addition to traditional therapies, contemporary TCM incorporates scientific herbal medicine, updated information on nutrition and exercise, laser acupuncture, blade needle therapy, Fu’s subcutaneous needling, and more. These advances allow us to provide broader, safer, and more effective healthcare services to the Canadian public.

However, under the forthcoming regulatory changes, the removal of the restricted activity of prescribing, compounding, and dispensing Chinese herbal formulas, allows anyone, including those without any TCM training to legally perform these actions, even if they don’t use the titles under the TCM profession. This situation poses a serious risk to public safety.

TCM diagnosis and prescribing of Chinese herbal formulas go hand in hand, requiring extensive training that is verified via intense licensing examinations. If anyone will be allowed to prescribe Chinese herbal formulas, many might ask, why even bother continuing to study TCM, particularly Chinese herbal formulas? If this happens, our profession will be lost.

For these reasons, TCM practitioners and supporters have come together today to call for greater attention from the government and the public. Health is not a trivial matter, and professional boundaries in healthcare must not be blurred. For the sake of public safety, this issue must be taken seriously.

From Dr. Virginia Ding, Dr.TCM, ATCMA Education Chair

The weather was really bad today, but around 300 TCM practitioners, students, and members of the public still came out to the rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery. The number was only a rough estimate based on a quick count on site, and people were moving in and out during the event. The turnout was lower than the original expectation of about 500 people, but given the conditions, it was still a strong showing.

Several people spoke, including Dr. John Yang, MLA Teresa Wat, Dr. Bruce Pan, Professor Ronggang Li, Dr. Kevin Lu, Dr. Jinghua Shi, and others. The focus throughout was on professional standards, public safety, and the need for the government to listen to the TCM community.

There was a noticeable student presence, with large groups from Vancouver Beijing College of Chinese Medicine, Central College, and KPU, along with students from other schools. They also saw doctors and owners from some larger TCM clinic groups, as well as many independent practitioners and members of the public. Media were on site as well, and about five to six cameras were visible during the rally.