**Summary:**
The Ministry of AYUSH has initiated the "One Herb, One Standard" initiative to harmonize herbal medicine standards across different pharmacopoeias in India. This initiative addresses the multiple standards for the same herb published in the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API), Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India (SPI), Unani Pharmacopoeia of India (UPI), Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India (HPI), and the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP).
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on August 30, 2022, and renewed on August 6, 2024, between the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIMH) under the Ministry of AYUSH and the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare to promote and facilitate the "One Herb, One Standard" initiative. The primary objective is to consolidate multiple standards into a single, harmonized monograph for each herb.
The anticipated outcome of this initiative is to improve the ease of doing business in the herbal sector by ensuring the availability of a single standard herb without quality variations.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of AYUSH: The Government of India's Ministry responsible for developing and promoting AYUSH systems of medicine.
Shri Nalin Soren: Member of Lok Sabha who asked the question regarding the 'One Herb, One Standard' initiative.
"One Herb, One Standard" initiative: A program by the Ministry of AYUSH to standardize herbal medicines in India.
Sh. Prataprao Jadhav: The Minister of State IC of the Ministry of AYUSH.
Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API): A pharmacopoeia related to Ayurvedic medicine in India.
Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India (SPI): A pharmacopoeia related to Siddha medicine in India.
Unani Pharmacopoeia of India (UPI): A pharmacopoeia related to Unani medicine in India.
Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIMH): Commission under Ministry of AYUSH responsible for harmonizing monographs
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF AYUSH
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 2094
ANSWERED ON 01/08/2025
"One Herb, One Standard" initiative
2094. Shri Nalin Soren
Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:
(a) the AYUSH schemes formulated/being formulated by the Government for inter-ministry
cooperation to promote and simplify "One Herb, One Standard" initiative;
(b) whether this initiative is expected to pave the way for standardization of herbal medicines,
if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the manner in which this is likely to improve ease of doing business in herbal sector in the
country?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH
(SH. PRATAPRAO JADHAV)
(a) Under the ‘One Herb, One Standard’ Ministry of Ayush has taken up the task to
harmonize all the monographs published/being published through Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia
of India (API), Siddha Pharmacopoeia of India (SPI), Unani Pharmacopoeia of India (UPI),
Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of India (HPI) and Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP).
In this regard, Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy
(PCIM&H) under Ministry of Ayush and Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) under
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare had signed a MoU on 30th August, 2022 which was
renewed on 6th August, 2024 for promotion and facilitation of “One Herb-One Standard”.
(b) Yes, the main objective of One Herb-One Standard is to harmonise the multiple
standards of a herb published in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API), Siddha
Pharmacopoeia of India (SPI), Unani Pharmacopoeia of India (UPI), HomoeopathicPharmacopoeia of India (HPI) and Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) into one harmonised single
monograph to realize the idea of “One Herb, One Standard”.
(c) It will improve and enhance business as one Standard herb would be available without
quality variations.
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