After carving a niche in the domestic market, the Indian herbal products manufacturers have set their eyes on the ever-widening global market. And helping them in the task is Pharmexcil, which has signed an MoU with US Pharmacoepia whose quality standards are recognized and used in more than 130 countries across the world.

Aiming to make the Indian pharmaceutical products, especially the herbal products, acceptable in the ever-growing world market, the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with United States Pharmacoepia Convention (USP). USP is the official public standards-setting authority for all prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements and other healthcare products manufactured and sold in the United States.

Pharmexcil chairman DB Modi and USP CEO Roger Williams signed the MoU on February 15. Pharmexcil executive director Dr VP Appaji, additional executive director Reghuveer Kini, DCGI M Venkateswarlu, senior USP officials like Dr Fowler, Dr Sreeni Sreenivasan and Kumud Sampath were also present on the occasion.

The coordination between the USP and Pharmexil will help the Indian exporters to grab the growing US market for their products like dietary supplements and neutraceuticals, which are mostly herbal products. The tie-up will also help Indian exporters to reach out to the US-influenced neighbouring markets like Canada, Latin America, Carribean countries, etc.

Under the MoU, the USP will audit the Indian manufacturing companies, make suggestions and after compliance of quality standards will issue verification certificates. The USP will also allow its logo to be printed on the label so as to assure quality of the product.
Major objectives of the MoU include, increase awareness of the importance of the quality, safety and efficacy of medicine, establish the basis for a long-term relationship by encouraging members of Pharmexcil to participate in the USP public health programs such as the USP revision process, including development of both documentary and physical public standards, and USP verification programs, develop standards and include, to the extent possible, the commonly used pharmaceutical raw materials in India under USP resulting in promotion of trade of such products in international markets.

Under the MoU, the USP will promote and utilize USP's verification programme as vehicles to improve the quality of nutraceutical and dietary supplement ingredients and products, herbal ingredients and their products including Ayurvedic products and pharmaceutical ingredients manufactured for domestic and export market.

The USP will also support and participate in the Indian Stakeholder Forum, which may include various constituents including but not limited to the Drugs Controller General of India, the Indian Pharmacopoeia, the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER), the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA), the Organization of Pharmaceutical Producers of India (OPPI), the Indian Pharmaceutical Association (IPA), the Indian Drug Manufacturer Association (IDMA), the Bulk Drug Manufacturers Association, India (BDMA), and USP.