Bipha Drug Laboratories, one of the oldest pharmaceutical and ayurvedic drug manufacturers from Kerala, has developed a manufacturing protocol for ayurvedic drugs to meet the requirements of EU and USFDA heavy metal and microbial limits. Using this protocol Bipha has been able to manufacture drugs with lead limits less than 3 PPM.

Many regulated markets have been confiscating ayurvedic drugs exported from India owing to the alleged high level of heavy metal content in them. In view of this, Bipha Drug ventured into research for developing a manufacturing process, which could provide quality drugs with less amount of heavy metal in them.

The company with a dedicated research team had been into extensive research for the past one year to develop such a protocol.

"We are confident that we would be able to deliver quality products in accordance to international norms. Particularly after coming out with such a manufacturing protocol many international markets will be interested in importing our ayurvedic drugs," said Ajay George Varghese, director, Bipha Drug. The new process is operational from the October last and the first export consignment was despatched in December.

Ajay said, that with the implementation of new process, manufacturing cost has gone up by 30 to 40 per cent but he assured that the end products used by the consumers would not become expensive. "If we have to make products which can make a mark in the international market we have to incur some expenses. But we would always strive to deliver economical products to the consumers," he said.

The company has started receiving orders from EU countries and the US. They are also willing to enter into contract manufacturing of herbal products using this new protocol. "We would always welcome Ayurvedic companies who wish to produce products in accordance to the international norms. We are willing to enter into a contract manufacturing agreement with them," said Ajay.