Objective: In order to evaluate the safety of Chinese medicine comprehensively

the development of pesticide residues determination in Chinese medicine by gas chromatography (GC) was summarized in this paper. Methods : Through analytic comparison

the developments of sample pretreatments were summarized systematically

including solid-phase extraction (SPE)

gel permeation chromatography (GPC)

supercritical fluid extraction (SFE)

accelerated solvent extraction (ACE)

matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD)

solid-phase micro-extration (SPME) and headspace analysis (HS). In addition

the comparison of gas chromatography detectors such as mass spectrometry (MS)

electron-capture detector (ECD)

flame photometric detector (FPD) and nitrogen–phosphorus detector (NPD) were also discussed. Results: Gas chromatography is a mature technology to accomplish pesticide residues determination in Chinese medicine. Conclusion: Gas chromatography and relevant new techniques are wildly used in safety evaluation of Chinese medicine and its preparations

which will be benefit for the international development and import of Chinese medicine.