Lok Sabha Question No. 1539 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-28
Subject: Trading in Ayurvedic Medicines
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: Ravi Kishan Shukla, Subrata Pathak, Ravindra Kushawaha, Mahabali Singh, Khagen Murmu

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OF AYUSH

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1539 TO BE ANSWERED ON 28/07/2023

## 'TRADING IN AYURVEDIC MEDICINES'

1539: SHRI RAVI KISHAN:

SHRI SUBRAT PATHAK:

SHRI RAVINDRAKUSHWAHA:

SHRI MAHABALI SINGH:

SHRI KHAGEN MURMU:

Will the Minister of AYUSH be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of Ayurvedic medicines exported and imported during the last five years and the current year, year-wise;
- (b) whether the Government has formulated its own regulatory process of Ayurvedic medicines as per the international standards of the importing countries to ensure their safety and quality and increase their international market demand; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OFAYUSH (SHRI SARBANANDASONOWAL)

- (a) Import and Export of Ayush and Herbal products for the last 05 years (2018-19 to 2022-23) and current financial year (Apr-May of 2023-24) as provided by Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India is as under:

| Principal Commodity Group   | Principal Commodity Group   |   AYUSHANDHERBAL PRODUCTS (In Kgs) |
|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|------------------------------------|
| 2018-19                     | EXPORT                      |                          108051055 |
| 2018-19                     | IMPORT                      |                           20142569 |
| 2019-20                     | EXPORT                      |                           92241987 |
| 2019-20                     | IMPORT                      |                           41213827 |

| 2020-21           | EXPORT   |   120558428 |
|-------------------|----------|-------------|
| 2020-21           | IMPORT   |    76349616 |
| 2021-22           | EXPORT   |   126112132 |
| 2021-22           | IMPORT   |    53747093 |
|                   | EXPORT   |   122506333 |
|                   | IMPORT   |    67339001 |
| 2023-24 (Apr-May) | Export   |    17538538 |
| 2023-24 (Apr-May) | Import   |    15325966 |

(Source DGCIS)

## 2022-23 and 2023-24 figures are provisional and subject to change

(b) and (c) In context to International regulatory requirements, the Ministry of Ayush has taken the following steps:

-  Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) under Ministry of Ayush, lays down the Formulary specifications and Pharmacopoeial Standards for Ayurvedic medicines, which serve as official compendia for ascertaining the Quality Control (identity, purity and strength) of the Ayurvedic medicines, included herein, as per Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules 1945, thereunder.
-  The standards and quality parameters included in the Pharmacopoeias and Formularies of Ayurvedic medicines prescribing mandatory regulatory standards have been identified as such to align with the recommendations of WHO/other major pharmacopoeias prevalent worldwide. The standards so published are enforceable as part of Drugs and Cosmetics Act and rules thereunder.
-  Ministry of Ayush encourages the certification of Pharmaceutical Products (CoPP) as per WHO Guidelines for herbal products.
-  Ministry of Ayush in cooperation with QCI has got developed Quality Certification programme viz. Premium mark to increase reliability of standards of ASU&H Products.
-  Quality Standards of Ayush Products: Ministry of Ayush has collaborated with BIS to develop the International (ISO) Standards.
-  An Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), Ministry of Ayush and American Herbal Pharmacopoeia, USA signed on 13th September, 2021 for strengthening, promotion, and development of standards in the field of Ayurveda and other Indian Traditional systems of medicine between the two countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.
-  An India-EU Technical Working Group (TWG) on Ayurveda has been established. The Technical Working Group has the representation of technical experts from the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, the European Commission, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and its Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC).

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