Lok Sabha Question No. 836 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-29
Subject: Export of Ayurvedic Products
Ministry: AYUSH
Asked by: Shri Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 836 TO BE ANSWERED ON 29 th  November 2024

## 'Export of Ayurvedic Products'

## 836. Shri Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy:

Will the Minister of Ayush be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that exports of Ayush and herbal products from the country in 2023-24 registered only a 3.6% growth and if so, the details thereof along with growth rate and export amount during the last three years, year-wise;
- (b) whether it is also a fact that approximately 20% of Ayurvedic product consignments face rejection in international markets due to non-compliance with quality standards and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has taken specific measures to align India's Ayurvedic product standards with international quality requirements to reduce rejection rates; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYUSH (SHRI PRATAP RAO JADHAV)

- (a) As per Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCIS) data, the details of growth rate and export amount during the last three years, year-wise is as follows:
- (b) No such information is available with this Ministry.

| Commodity                 |   Value in US$ 2021-22 |   Value in US$ 2022-23 |   Value in US$ 2023-24 |
|---------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
| Ayush and Herbal Products |              612124787 |              628541727 |              651172561 |

(c)  and  (d)  The  measures  taken  by  the  Government  to  align  India's  Ayurvedic  product standards with international quality requirements to reduce rejection rates are as follows:

Ministry of Ayush, Government of India has established Pharmacopoeia Commission for  Indian  Medicine  &  Homoeopathy  (PCIM&H)  as  its  subordinate  office.  PCIM&H  on behalf  of  Ministry  of  Ayush  lays  down  the  formulary  specifications  and  pharmacopoeial standards for Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU&H) drugs which serves as official compendia for ascertaining the quality  (identity, purity and strength) of the ASU&H drugs. As per the Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and rules thereunder, the compliance to this quality  standards  are  mandatory  for  the  production  of  ASU&H  drugs  being  manufactured, sold and stocked in India. The standards and quality parameters included in the Pharmacopoeias and Formularies of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy (ASU and H) drugs prescribing mandatory regulatory standards have been identified as such to align the parameters  prescribed  by  World  Health  Organisation  (WHO)/other  major  pharmacopoeias prevalent  worldwide.  Implementation  of  these  pharmacopoeial  standards  ensures  that  the medicines  reaching  to  masses  inland  as  well  as  globally  conform  to  optimum  quality standards  in  terms  of  identity,  purity  and  strength.  So  far,  2259  quality  standards  on  raw materials  (single  drugs  of  plant/  animal/  mineral/  metal/  chemical  origin)  used  in  ASU&H drugs, 405 quality standards of ASU formulations and 2666 formulary specifications of ASU drugs has been published. In addition to above, supporting documents in the form of MacroMicroscopic & TLC Atlas on 351 single drugs incorporated in Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API) has also been published. PCIM&H also acts as the Central Drugs Laboratory for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy for the purpose of testing or analysis of ASU&H Drugs.

Further, Ministry of Ayush encourages following certifications of Ayush products as per details below:-

- The scheme for Certification of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) as per World Health Organization  (WHO)  guidelines  is  extended  to  Ayurveda,  Siddha  and  Unani  (ASU) medicines.  This  scheme  is  administered  by  Central  Drugs  Standard  Control  Organization (CDSCO)  and  the  certificate  is  granted  on  the  basis  of  joint  inspection  of  the  applicant manufacturing unit by the representatives of CDSCO, Ministry of Ayush and the concerned State Licensing Authority.
- Quality Certifications Schemes implemented by the Quality Council of India (QCI) for grant of Ayush Premium mark to Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani products on the basis of third party evaluation of quality in accordance with the status of compliance to international standards.