The Indian herbal drug manufacturers should focus on drug standardization and modern parameters to leverage the growth prospects for herbal drugs in future, according to Vijay A Mehtha, president, Tamilnadu Ayurvedic Siddha and Unani Drugs Manufacturers Association.

The Indian herbal industry has been growing at a rate of 7 to 15 per cent in the recent times, and exports are to the tune of Rs 550 crore. But it is insignificant considering the USD 60 billion global market, said Vijay Mehtha while delivering the lecture 'herbal drugs and its future,' as part of the seminar 'World Scenario- Pharma industry and cluster approach' organized by the Chennai Pharma Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Company (CPIIUC).

Indian manufacturers have excellent opportunities in the market for cosmetology and nutracutical products. Out of the Rs 12,000-crore Indian industry, more than Rs 7000 crore belong to nutraceuticals and Rs 100 crore for generic cosmetics. The perfumery industry is estimated to the size of Rs 700 crore, and the industry should try to tap its potential in future.

However, the manufacturers have to develop their own products and drugs in accordance to global standards and modern parameters to tap the global markets. Standardization methods like stability and safety analysis, research and its documentation will help to prove the claims of herbal medicines. Manufacturers have to follow standards prescribed by pharmacopoeias of British, Chinese or India's Ayurvedic pharmacopoeia. The WHO guidelines on herbal drugs and quality of products and raw materials also help to establish benchmark for product and raw material quality, Mehta opined.

ISM manufacturers should resort to product registrations in various countries with adequate support data to tap the potential of herbal drugs. Quality assurance is the need of the hour and manufacturers should stress on setting up in-house research and development facilities or should develop common referral quality assurance labs. The CARE Keralam project coming up at Thrissur in Kerala promoted by the Ayurvedic drug manufacturers in that state is an example on setting up common facilities for the industry, said Vijay mehtha.

He said Tamil Nadu has about 1000 manufacturers in the field of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani stream of medicines.