By 1969, the Society had developed into an international one, and the word "Deutsche" was eliminated from its name. Since 1970 the name of the Society has been "Gesellschaft für Arzneipflanzenforschung" (GA). An English translation, the "Society for Medicinal Plant Research", was then established. With this official decision, the original aim of the founders to bring together all individuals and groups interested in medicinal plant research was consummated.

The international development of the society with now (Jan. 2008) members from 83 countries was only a matter of course. Consequently English was designated as the official congress language in 1978. As a result, the society has gained numerous members from all over the world and has achieved an international standing which has become a requirement for any scientific organization.

All members of the board have been active and enthusiastic scientists in the field of medicinal plants who have carried out their official responsibilities in an exemplary manner. In addition to their regular duties in research and administration at universities and industry, they all give much of their time to the business and the development of the Society. The results of this devotion are evidenced in the permanently increasing number of members. The society has now (in 2008) almost 1300 members from 86 countries.

One of the reasons for this permanent increase was surely achieved by the organization of 55 annual Congresses to date, 33 of them located in Germany, 18 in other European countries, one in Canada and 3 in the United States. Every 4 - 5 years these congresses are organized as joint meetings with the American Society of Pharmacognosy (ASP), l'Association Francaise pour l'Enseignement et la Recherche en Pharmacognosie (AFERP), the Phytochemical Society of Europe (PSE) and the Italian Phytochemical Society (SIF). These Congresses are still the main scientific manifestation of the Society's activities and each has contributed greatly to the current role and impact of the GA in medicinal plant research.

The topics of the annual congresses encompass all areas of medicinal plant research and pharmacognosy/pharmaceutical biology such as analytics, standardization of herbal drugs, phytochemistry, chemotaxonomy, plant cultivation and breeding, biotechnology and gene technology, biochemistry and pharmacology of secondary metabolites, as well as phytotherapy. All these subjects are covered during the programs of the annual GA Congresses. Besides GA is setting up and supporting smaller symposia and workshops on specific topics related to natural product research.

GA has also established four permanent committees which elaborate and disseminate information on the following topics:

• Biological and Pharmacological Activities of Natural Compounds
• Breeding and Cultivation of Medicinal Plants
• Manufacturing and Quality Control of Herbal Medicinal Products
• Regulatory Affairs on Herbal Medicinal Products

Every year since 1978 the Egon Stahl Award is bestowed at the annual congresses. On the occasion of his 60th birthday, Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Egon Stahl donated a medal, a document and a monetary prize in order to recognize and promote young scientists working in the field of Pharmacognosy (Pharmaceutical Biology) and Analytical Phytochemistry.
As a rule, the silver medal and an award of EURO 3000 (at present) should be awarded to scientists up to the age of about forty, who have published outstanding scientific work during the years following their graduation.The bronze medal and an award of EURO 1500 (at present) should be given to young scholars up to the age of about thirty whose theses are of outstanding quality.

The Egon Stahl-Award in Gold is the highest scientific honour of the Society for Medicinal Plant Research (GA). The Egon Stahl-Award in Gold acknowledges the outstanding scientific lifetime work of a research scientist who has been closely attached to Pharmaceutical Biology (Pharmacognosy, Chemistry of Natural Products) in its whole range through his scientific work. It can be awarded every third year and was given for the first time in the year 1999. The Egon Stahl-Award in Gold is endowed with 5000 € and will be given together with a gold medal.

In 2006 the Dr. Willmar-Schwabe GmbH, Karlsruhe in Germany, renewed the former Dr. Willmar Schwabe Award of the Society for Medicinal Plant Research. Its aim is is to acknowledge outstanding results of pharmacological and/or clinical research in the field of medicinal plants and natural products.

Since 2007 the Bionorica AG, Neumarkt (Germany) sponsors the Bionorica Phytoneering Award of the Society for Medicinal Plant Research. This award acknowledges outstanding research in the field of development and application of phytopharmaceutical products.

Both awards are endowed with 10000 Euro and will be rewarded biannually alternating.

Society for Medicinal Plant Research – Gesellschaft für Arzneipflanzenforschung: 50 Years 1953 – 2003 A Jubilee Edition, edited by Ewald Sprecher and Wolfgang Caesar, WVG Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH Stuttgart, 2003 (ISBN 3-8047-2028-5)

What are some of the achievements that have contributed to the Society's present reputation ? They include:

• The opportunity to subscribe PLANTA MEDICA at reduced rates, in "print" and "online only" versions (see flyer),
• Attractive and actual topics for the annual Congresses,
• Worldwide and international meetings, often in cooperation with related societies and associations,
• GA members are provided with the abstract book of the annual congress even when they are not able to participate,
• The GA-Newsletter as a means of communicating important member relevant news,
• The GA homepage with plenty of information and links,
• The establishment of permanent committees to focus on important and actual themes,
• Financial support for young scientists (travel grants);
• English as the official Congress language;
• The Egon Stahl Awards in bronze, silver and gold presented every year at the annual congresses,
• The Bionorica Phytoneering Award of the Society for Medicinal Plant Research and the Dr. Willmar Schwabe Award of the Society for Medicinal Plant Research, two other highly endowed awards, given biannually alternating and especially rewarding research groups.
• The intense cooperation with other societies having similar interests.