Kerala, home to the rich tradition of Ayurveda, has been in the forefront of Ayurvedic medicine manufacturing for many centuries. Industry in the state is in the process of leveraging its advantages to tap the global herbal markets, as vouchsafed by the increasing number of quality manufacturing facilities and companies.

The Kerala Ayurveda industry, now with an annual turnover of over Rs.200 crore is distributed between 780 odd licensed Ayurvedic drug manufacturers. Industry circles believe it could grow manifold by tapping the overseas markets with innovative herbal medicines and nutraceuticals of global standards, besides its strengths in the field of quality traditional medicines and treatment methodologies.

As a result, most of the small and medium scale manufacturers, (formerly traditional vaidyasalas manufacturing a select set of prescription drugs required for the vaidyas), are in the process of setting up high quality manufacturing premises. According to Dr D Ramanathan, General Secretary of the Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Association of India (AMMOI), more than 200 Ayurvedic drug firms in Kerala have GMP certification and many have ISO 9001: 2000 quality certification.

Some of the manufacturers which recently got Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) certification include Ancient Remedies, Thrissur; Ratnavilas Ayurveda Pharmacy, Ernakulam; Kodakkattil Ayurlinks; Madhava Pharmaceutical Laboratories of Ernakulam; Kozhikkode based Kerala Ayurvedic co-operative Society (claimed to be the first co-operative drug manufacturing facility in India to get GMP. certification); Moovattupuzha Nirmala Ayurveda Pharmacy; Warriers Ayurveda of Kayamkulam, Santhimadham Pharmaceuticals Ltd of North Paravur etc.

Sitaram Ayurveda Pharmacy Ltd., one among the top five Ayurvedic manufacturers in Kerala, is said to be the first Ayurvedic company in the world to be awarded GMP, way back in July, 2000. Now Sitaram has KPMG certified ISO 9001: 2000 manufacturing units even with a Rs 15 lakh odd invested Reverse Osmosis Plant to assure quality of water, matching any world standard drug manufacturing facilities.

Similarly, Thaikat Moosse ETM Oushadhasala (India) Ltd, is claimed to be the first company from the traditional family of Ashtavaidyas of Kerala to get both GMP certification and ISO 9001: 2000 certification. From the Astavaidya tradition, Thaikkattu Mooss Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala, SNA Oushadhasala, Vaidyamadhaom Vaidyasala etc have standard drug manufacturing facilities.

The leading Ayurveda drug maker in Kerala and the most popular name in the world of Ayurveda, the Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala has two world standard drug manufacturing facilities at Kottakkal and Kanjikkotte to manufacture 500-odd prescription drugs and other herbal medicines.

Some of the leading Kerala Ayurveda companies that have set up world class Ayurveda drug manufacturing facilities include Pankajakasthuri, Santhigiri, KAPL, Kerala Government's Oushadhi, Cibella, Kandamkulathi, Illban Remedies, Dhanwanthari Vaid-yasala, Everest Ayurvedics, SD Pharmacy etc.

Sources point out the number of companies that are in the process of securing GMP certified factories would increase marginally in near future, as numerous traditional and upcoming Ayurvedic firms are in the process of modernization, hoping to get a pie of the global herbal market, rather than the necessity to adhere to the Schedule T norms.