The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Professor Kariyus Gamaliel declared on Tuesday that the Federal Government is ready to collaborate with manufacturers of herbal products to reduce the overwhelming importation of the product.

Speaking at the 37th Annual Conference of the West African Society for Pharmacology (WASP) at Sheraton Hotel in Lagos, Professor Kariyus made this disclosure, lamenting that over 700 herbal medicine had been imported into the country against the less than five that was exported.

Prof. Gamariel asserted that the collaboration would be aim towards cutting down the rate of importation of herbal medicine, noting that the institute had been working on researches which had produced evidence on the viability of herbal medicine.

He purported that it further sought to support manufacturers of herbal products and that the Federal Government has established more centres in Lagos and Kano to enhance researches in herbal medicine.

He however urged local producers of herbal medicine to produce their products for due examination to avoiding releasing into circulation, products that can pose harm to human system.