**Policy Summary: AYUSH Alignment with Global Practices**
The Ministry of Ayush (MoA) is actively working to align Ayush systems (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Homoeopathy) with global practices to enhance the quality, safety, and reliability of Ayush products and services. Key initiatives include:
1. **Pharmacopoeial Standards:** The Ministry of Ayush has established the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIMH) as its subordinate office to prescribe Pharmacopoeial Standards for ASUH drugs, serving as official compendia as per the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945.
2. **Collaboration with BIS:** The MoA has collaborated with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) to establish seven sectional committees under the Ayush Division Council of BIS, one for each Ayush system. These committees formulate Indian Standards encompassing traditional and modern aspects of products and services. To date, 180 Indian standards related to Ayush systems have been developed. These standards are available on the BIS website (www.bis.gov.in).
3. **WHO Collaboration:** With the support of the Government of India, the World Health Organization (WHO) has published benchmark documents for training and practice in Ayurveda and Unani, along with standardized WHO terminology in Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha. The MoA has also signed a project collaboration agreement with WHO to support the development of an International Herbal Pharmacopeia, focusing on traditional medicine systems in the South-East Asia region.
4. **Certification of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP):** The Ministry promotes the Certification of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) as per WHO guidelines for Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani (ASU) medicines.
5. **International Cooperation:** The PCIMH has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Food and Drug Authority of the Republic of Indonesia to further quality assurance in traditional medicine.
These efforts aim to improve consumer confidence and acceptance of Ayush products in global markets by aligning with international norms.
This information was released by the Union Minister of State (IC) of the Ministry of Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on August 8, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ayush: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and promotion of Ayush systems of medicine.
Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine Homoeopathy (PCIMH): A subordinate office of the Ministry of Ayush that prescribes Pharmacopoeial Standards for ASUH drugs.
Drugs Cosmetics Act, 1940: An Indian law that regulates the import, manufacture, distribution and sale of drugs and cosmetics.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS): The National Standards Body of India responsible for formulating Indian Standards.
Ayurveda: A traditional system of medicine originating in India.
Unani: A traditional system of medicine originating in ancient Greece and practiced in India.
World Health Organization (WHO): A specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
Food and Drug Authority of the Republic of Indonesia: The regulatory body responsible for food and drug safety in Indonesia.
AYUSH
Alignment of AYUSH with Global Practices
Posted On: 08 AUG 2025 5:40PM by PIB Delhi
Ministry of Ayush has established Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy
(PCIM&H) as its subordinate office to prescribe Pharmacopoeial Standards for ASU&H drugs, which serve as
official compendia in accordance with the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules, 1945.
Further, MoA has collaborated with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and constituted seven sectional
committees for each of the Ayush systems (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa &
Homoeopathy), under Ayush Division Council of BIS for formulation of Indian Standards including
traditional and modern aspects of products and services. These committees work collaboratively with various
stakeholders, including technical experts, research and academic institutions, industry representatives, and
regulatory bodies, to ensure comprehensive, evidence-based standards aligned with national and international
guidelines. BIS has formulated a series of Indian Standards covering raw materials, manufacturing processes,
packaging and finished products.
So far, 180 Indian standards related to Ayush systems including traditional and modern aspects of products
and services have been developed by seven sectional committees under Ayush division council. The standards
formulated on Ayush systems are available on BIS website at www.bis.gov.in.
With the support of the Government of India, World Health Organization (WHO) has published benchmark
documents for training and practice of Ayurveda and Unani, and also released standardized WHO
terminology in Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha. Further, the MoA has signed a project collaboration agreement
with WHO to support the development of an International Herbal Pharmacopeia with a focus on the
traditional medicine systems of the South-East Asia region. Additionally, the Ministry promotes the
Certification of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) as per WHO guidelines for Ayurvedic, Siddha, and Unani
(ASU) medicines. In line with international cooperation for quality assurance in traditional medicine, the
Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), under the MoA, has also
signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Food and Drug Authority of the Republic of Indonesia.
These initiatives aim to enhance the quality, safety, and reliability of Ayush products and services, thereby
improving consumer confidence and acceptance of Ayush products in global markets by aligning with
international norms.
This information was given by Union Minister of State (I/C) of the Ministry of Ayush, Shri Prataprao Jadhav
in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
***
MV/GS/SG
(Release ID: 2154262)