Indian Drug Manufacturers' Association (IDMA) and Ayurvedic Drug Manufacturers' Association (ADMA) have jointly organised a one-day workshop on heavy metals and microbial quality in ayurvedic and herbal products on February 25, 2005 in Mumbai.

Keeping in view of the recent controversies regarding heavy metals found in ayurvedic medicines, there is a need to create a correct picture of the status of heavy metals as therapeutics in ayurveda and as contaminants as understood by conventional methods, according to Daara B. Patel, secretary general, IDMA.

The workshop will deliberate on strategies that are required to be adopted by the industry so as to create proper information dissemination as well as the way forward for meeting the international requirements of heavy metal and microbial quality in ayurvedic and herbal products. It will also discuss the aspect of how small and medium sector firms of the ayurvedic industry can cope with this onslaught of adverse publicity and also update the quality control testing for metal contaminants.

"Testing for metal contaminants is very expensive and the ayurvedic industry will have to design ways and means to deal with them. This will be discussed by a panel of eminent professionals," said Dr. D.B.A. Narayana, member of management committee of ADMA, who is one of the organizers of the workshop.

The industry would need support from the government in form of subsidies for meeting the huge testing costs as well as development of sources for herbal raw materials which meet the quality requirements. This aspect would also be discussed, informed the organisers.

Leading experts of both ayurveda as well as conventional medicine will address the workshop. They include Dr. Ashok B. Vaidya, medical and research director, Bhavans's SPARC, Mumbai, Dr. Urmila Thatte of BYL Nair Hospital; experts from Perkin Elmer, Dr. Kapil Khullar, Dr. P.S. Jain, and Dr. R.A. Singh from Arbro Labs, Dr. Nimish Shah of HLL.

Shiv Basant, joint secretary, Department of Ayush, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India will inaugurate the workshop.