**Summary:**
The Ministry of Ayush, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and supported by the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIMH), is hosting the WHO International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH) Workshop from August 6-8, 2025, in Ghaziabad, India. The three-day event aims to strengthen global capacity in the regulation of herbal medicines through international cooperation and technical exchange. Inauguration will be led by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, and Dr. Kim Sungchol, Chairperson, WHO-IRCH. Physical participation is expected from countries including Bhutan, Brunei, Cuba, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Paraguay, Poland, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, with virtual participation from Brazil, Egypt, and the USA. The workshop will focus on fostering collaboration, enhancing safety and efficacy mechanisms, supporting regulatory convergence, and empowering traditional medicine systems globally. Key activities include reviews of WHO-IRCH Working Groups 1 and 3, focusing on safety, regulation, efficacy, and intended use of herbal medicines, sessions on preclinical research, regulatory frameworks, safety case studies (including a discussion on Ashwagandha), and hands-on training in herbal drug identification, heavy metal analysis, and chemoprofiling using HPTLC technology at PCIMH laboratories. The Ayush Suraksha Pharmacovigilance Programme, aimed at strengthening safety monitoring of traditional medicines, will also be introduced. Delegates will visit PCIMH, the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM) in Ghaziabad, and the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi. The workshop is anticipated to harmonize global standards and promote the safe and effective integration of traditional medicine into public health systems.
Key Entities Referenced
WHO International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines: An international regulatory cooperation initiative by the World Health Organization (WHO) focused on herbal medicines.
Ministry of Ayush: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and promotion of traditional medicine systems.
World Health Organization: A specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health.
Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine Homoeopathy: An organization supporting regulation of herbal medicines.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha: Secretary, Ministry of Ayush.
Ashwagandha Withania somnifera: A specific herbal medicine being discussed during the workshop.
Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh: City in Uttar Pradesh, India, where the WHO IRCH Workshop will be held.
Ayush Suraksha Pharmacovigilance Programme: A program aimed at strengthening safety monitoring of traditional medicines.
AYUSH
India to Host WHO - IRCH Workshop on Herbal
Medicine Safety and Regulations from August 6
Three-Day Technical Meet to Feature Hands-on
Training, Case Studies, and Global Regulatory
Dialogues
Posted On: 05 AUG 2025 1:17PM by PIB Delhi
India is set to host the prestigious WHO–International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines
(IRCH) Workshop from August 6 to 8, 2025, at Hotel Fortune District Centre, Ghaziabad. This is being
organised by the Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and
supported by the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), the
three-day international workshop will bring together global experts and regulators to strengthen capacity
in the regulation of herbal medicines.
The event will be inaugurated by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, and Dr. Kim
Sungchol, Chairperson, WHO–IRCH. Physical participation from countries including Bhutan, Brunei,
Cuba, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Paraguay, Poland, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Zimbabwe is
expected, while Brazil, Egypt, and the USA will join virtually.
The workshop will serve as a platform for international cooperation and technical exchange, addressing
five key objectives: fostering collaboration, enhancing safety and efficacy mechanisms, supporting
regulatory convergence, and empowering traditional medicine systems globally.
Among the highlights are reviews of WHO–IRCH Working Groups 1 and 3—focusing on safety,
regulation, efficacy, and intended use of herbal medicines—alongside sessions on pre-clinical research,
regulatory frameworks, and safety case studies, including a focused discussion on Ashwagandha
(Withania somnifera).
Participants will benefit from hands-on training in herbal drug identification, heavy metal analysis, and
chemo-profiling using HPTLC technology at PCIM&H laboratories. The workshop will also introduce
the Ayush Suraksha (Pharmacovigilance) Programme, aimed at strengthening safety monitoring of
traditional medicines.
To provide deeper exposure to India's integrative health ecosystem, the delegates will undertake visits to
PCIM&H, the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM), Ghaziabad, and the All India Institute of
Ayurveda (AIIA), New Delhi.
With participation from regulatory authorities and experts across continents, the workshop is expected
to contribute significantly towards harmonizing global standards and promoting the safe, effective
integration of traditional medicine into mainstream public health systems.
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MV/GS(Release ID: 2152419)