New Delhi: The government has renewed for three years an MoU aimed at standardising medicinal plants used across India's traditional systems of medicine, with the partnership seeking to harmonise quality standards and align them with global benchmarks.
The renewed agreement between the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) and the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) will build on the "One Herb, One Standard" initiative launched in 2022.
Under the renewed partnership, the two institutions will develop uniform, reliable and scientifically robust quality standards for single drugs of plant origin used in Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani and Homoeopathy systems of medicine, an Ayush ministry statement said.
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The monographs will take into account Indian standards as well as international quality requirements, with the objective of strengthening Indian standards in line with global benchmarks and enhancing the quality and credibility of Indian medicinal plants and products in international markets, it said.
The initiative will also seek to harmonise standards for the same medicinal plant across different traditional systems, reducing ambiguity among stakeholders and creating a stronger and more coordinated standardisation mechanism.
The cooperation builds upon the MoU initiated in 2022 to promote and facilitate the "One Herb, One Standard" concept, under which 50 monographs of medicinal plants were successfully developed during the first phase, according to the statement.
The renewed partnership will further expand this framework by bringing together the scientific and standard-setting expertise of PCIM&H and IPC.
The Union minister expressed confidence that "the renewed three-year MoU would give fresh momentum to the standardisation of medicinal plants".
He said the inter-ministerial cooperation demonstrates how coordinated efforts among ministries and institutions can strengthen the standardisation of medicinal plants and traditional medicines.
"The initiative would contribute to protecting India's rich biodiversity and traditional medicine heritage, while strengthening India's position as a trusted global standard-setter in medicinal plants, traditional medicines and their quality standards."
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The collaboration is expected to strengthen quality assurance, support ease of doing business and enhance the international acceptance of Indian medicinal plants and traditional medicine products.
The renewed MoU also reaffirms the commitment of both institutions towards advancing scientific excellence, quality, reliability and global acceptance of India's traditional systems of medicine through a harmonised approach to botanical standardisation, according to the statement.
The partnership is expected to contribute to safeguarding India's rich biodiversity and traditional medicinal heritage while strengthening the country's position as a trusted global standard-setter for medicinal plants, traditional medicines and their quality standards.
