Drug manufacturers engaged in export of Ayush products want the union ministry of Ayush to make attempts to convince the consumers of domestic and international markets about the new certification scheme to be introduced by the National Medicinal Plant Board (NMPB) in association with the Quality Council of India (QCI).

In a letter to the Director of the NMPB, the EC member of the Ayurveda Drug Manufacturers Association  (ADMA), said the NMPB’s new initiative for implementing Voluntary Certification Scheme for Medicinal Plant Produces (VCSMPP) associating with Quality Council of India (QCI) is unlikely to succeed as the earlier initiative of the Board, Voluntary Certification Scheme for Ayush Standard and Premium Mark, had failed totally with no benefit for the Ayush drug manufacturers,
 
Sanjay Srivastva, the EC member of ADMA and the director of Maharshi Ayurveda Products Pvt Ltd in New Delhi, said the previous Department of Ayush had implemented a scheme, Ayush Standard and Premium Mark, which failed because neither the Ayush department nor the QCI had made any effort to promote the scheme or to educate the consumers in the national or international markets. “The scheme was a non beginner as neither the Indian consumers nor the importing countries were aware of the benefits of having the products certified,” he said.
 
Sanjay said his company had spent lakhs of rupees for getting 100 products certified under Ayush premium mark. But the NMPB or the Ayush Department had not acted properly to promote the scheme and the company met big loss.” The Certification had not helped the units as this particular mark was not known in the international market. Government had made no effort to ensure recognition of this mark in the international market and the units were not able to take advantage of it,” he told Pharmabiz.
 
He said that he is worried about the new scheme considering the previous experience. But would like to opt the new one also. “We have 100 acres of land for organic cultivation in Behror in Rajasthan and would very much like to opt for this voluntary scheme.  However, our apprehension is that this scheme may also fail to garner support and recognition of the consumers, which need to be allayed,” he added.

The Ayush exporter wanted the ministry of Ayush to convince the industry how NMPB or QCI will ensure the success of the scheme and the consumers will be benefited in the domestic as well as in the international market by this new certification scheme.