The import and trade of medicinal plant materials across the country has come to a near standstill due to the Central Government's inability to list out potentially harmful plants and plant materials under the Plant Quarantine (Regulation of Import to India) Order. With the recent amendment to the Order, which is also failing to specify the items that need to be restricted, the import of all kinds of plant materials has turned difficult, it is learnt.

The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation under the ministry of agriculture had recently come out with a notification specifying the list of plant materials that can be freely imported to the country.The list however, has missed out a major chunk of plants / plant materials that are of great demand to the herbal medicine industry.According to sources, the list does not contain 'even those items that are listed in the license-free category of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).'

In a compliant before the agriculture ministry, the Indian Medicinal Herbs Trade Welfare Association (IMHTA), has given a list of 50 items allowed by DGFT under chapter 1211 but not covered / listed in Schedule VII of the notification amending P&Q Order 2003. Replying to Pharmabiz queries, A Goyal, president, IMHTA said that the practice of specifying the list of "approved plant materials" is not at all practical. "There are more than 30,000 plant / plant material varieties that are being used for value addition of various kinds. No department has a comprehensive list of the harmless plant varieties that can be imported," he maintains.

Interestingly, P&Q Order is not intended to regulate the import of plants / plant materials that are used for consumption / value addition. The P&Q order concerns with the agriculture of foreign, potentially harmful plant varieties. "Instead of coming out with a list of harmful plants / plant materials, the department is creating unwarranted troubles for a high potential trade sector. We have given a big list of plants / plant materials that should be imported without any license. However, this list cannot be exhaustive as new uses, and new plants are always coming up. There has to be a rule where until specified otherwise, import of plants / plant materials for value addition should be automatically permitted," Goyal said.

The biggest problem facing the industry engaged in the supply of herbal extracts to international health supplement / herbal drug industry is the non-availability of raw material. "Our orders are getting cancelled, our future business plans are at risk, all because of the lopsided decisions of the government," they bemoan.

The herbal extract export business is a Rs 2000-crore industry in the country. The IMHTA complaint seeks urgent intervention to ensure trouble free import of medicinal plants that are allowed by DGFT, but not figuring in the P & Q list, like Vansalochan, Suranjan, Todri, Salab Misri Buzidan, Shaqaqul Misri, Unnab, Bahman Safaid & Surkh, Daronaj Aqrabi, Usara Revan D - Revandchini, Habb Ul Ghar, Habb Ul Aas, Ood E Saleeb, Bisfayej, Ushba Maghribi, Turanjabeen, Zarishak, Sheet Khisht, Ushaq, Gule Gafis, Habb E Mahlab, Faranj Mushk, Biranjasif, Jadwar Nirbisi, Turmus Safed, Satar Fars, Kahruba, Damm Ulakhwain, Naryal Daryaee, Anisoon, Sarjarsam, Zoofa, Shaqiqoon, Priyala, Musali Shveta, Ipecac Dried Rhizome, Nuxvomica, Psyllium Seeds, Belladona Leaves, Gymnema Powder, Psyllium Husk, Belladona Roots, Serpentina Roots, Zedovary Roots, Kuth Rot, Sarsaparilla Roots, Sweet Flag, Chirata, Savory, Lovage and Niranjan Phal.

The association has also sought the inclusion of a separate list of 147 that are not covered in the DGFT list, but still are essential to be cleared without delay.