A traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)has been authorized for sale in a European market for the first time,the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced on April 18,2012. Industry experts said the approval would lead the way for TCM to enter the mainstream European market. Di’ao Xin Xue Kang (地奥心血康),a well-known herbal medicine produced by the Chengdu-based Di’ao Group,received marketing authorization from the Medicines Evaluation Board of the Netherlands,making it the first Chinese traditional drug to be identified as a therapeutic medicine in the European Union. A traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been authorized for sale in a European market for the first time, the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced on April 18, 2012. Industry experts said the approval would lead the way for TCM to enter the mainstream European market . Di’ao Xin Xue Kang, a well-known herbal medicine produced by the Chengdu-based Di’ao Group, received marketing authorization from the Medicines Evaluation Board of the Netherlands, making it the first Chinese traditional drug to be identified as a therapeutic medicine in the European Union.