Lok Sabha Question No. 1145 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-04
Subject: Promotion of Herbal and Medicinal Plants
Ministry: AYURVEDA,YOGA & NATUROPATHY,UNANI,SIDDHA AND HOMEOPATHY (AYUSH)
Asked by: ANIRUDHAN SAMPATH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH)

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1145 TO BE ANSWERED ON 4 TH DECEMBER, 2015

## PROMOTION OF HERBAL AND MEDICINAL PLANTS

## 1145. DR. A. SAMPATH:

## Will  the  Minister  of AYURVEDA,  YOGA  NATUROPATHY,  UNANI,  SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (AYUSH) be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of exploitation by foreigners who are visiting I the name of research study and importing medicin al plants at a huge cost in the name of foreign origin;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the corrective measures taken by the Government
- (c) whether several constraints like inadequate investments in research and 360 develo lackof quality and standardisation norms and lack of adequate marketing and trade inform has led to the low share of India's presence in the global trade of medicinal plants; and
- (d)  if so,  the  initiatives  taken  by  the  Government  for  the  promotion  of  herbal  and  medi plants?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE (IC) OF THE MINISTRY OF AYURVEDA, YOGA & NATUROPATHY, UNANI, SIDDHA AND HOMOEOPATHY (SHRI SHRIPAD YESSO NAIK)

- (a) & (b): The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and Rules, 2004 makes the provision to che the  exploitation  by  the  foreigners  of  the  biological  resources  occurring  in  India  wh includes medicinal plants.  As per Section - 3 o f the Biological Diversity Act, 2002 any foreign individual  or  entity  has  to  obtain  prior  approval  of  the  National  Biodiversity  Autho undertaking  any  research  on  the  Indian  biological  resources  and  /  or  associated  know There are also quarant ine measures to check on any biological material imported by foreigne which also covers medicinal plants.
- (c) & (d): The Government of India has set up the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB) in November, 2000 to coordinate matters related to developm ent of medicinal plants sector in the country.  The  NMPB  has  been  implementing  different  Schemes  /  Programmes  for  overall development of the medicinal plants sector in the country.

The NMPB since its inception in 2000 has been supporting Research & Development projects  on  various  aspect  of  medicinal  plants  like  Survey -cum - docum ntation  of  medicinal plants  and  associated  traditional  knowledge  on  medicinal  plants;  standardization  of Agricultural and Collection Practices (GACPs); development of Ag ro - echniques, development of phytochemical reference standards, monographs; laying down standards of quality, safet efficacy, and quality assurance.

The other departments / organizations of Government of India viz. Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Indian Council of Forestry Research & Education (ICFRE), Department of Science & Technology (DST), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Indian Council Agricultural  Research  (ICAR)  also  supports  Research  and  Development  activities  on  v arious aspects  of  Medicinal  Plants.    However,  the  reason  for  low  share  of  India's  presence  in  global trade of medicinal plants is due to huge domestic / national consumption of medicinal plan

In year 2008 NMPB has also conducted a study on assessment of d mand & supply of medicinal plants. Recently, in year 2014 the NMPB has also assigned a similar study to Council  of  Forestry  Research  and  Education  (ICFRE),  Dehradun,  to  conduct  a  detail study - cum - survey to assess the demand and supply of medicinal plants in India in the national perspective, as well as in respect of the international Market.

In addition, to promote the global trade of Medicinal plants, the NMPB is also supp cultivation of medicinal plants under 'Centrally Spon sored Scheme of National AYUSH Mission (NAM)' .

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