The Karnataka Indian Medicine Manufacturers Association (KIMMA) has urged the Department of Ayush, government of India to convince the European Union Directorate about the quality and image of India’s herbal and ayurvedic products to dissuade them from going ahead with the ban on the sale of Indian ayurvedic and other herbal medicines which will take effect across Europe from May 1.

Stressing that KIMMA and the Department of Ayush should work together to insist the European Union Directorate to take a re-look on the issue, KIMMA president JSD Pani told Pharmabiz that KIMMA as a representative body of 165 Indian system of medicines units in the state is firm that the Union government should take up the issue at an international forum and seek relief.

“The issue is serious if the EU imposes a blanket ban on Ayush products from India. It will hit India’s image in the global markets. So far Indian companies like The Himalaya Drug Company among others have maintained a high quality image of India’s herbal products. Now with this ban of herbal drugs round the corner, it is an insult to Indian system of medicine and ancient knowledge. It is a very peculiar attitude of the EU”, Pani said.

According to Dr DBA Narayana, a leading scientist in herbal drugs and plant medicine, such trade barriers are unfortunate. It is unfortunate India is a victim to such a situation when the world is looking for alternate therapies for chronic conditions including cancer.

A few months ago, the EU delegation was here and the department of Ayush has provided every information to prove that India adhered to stringent quality norms and extensive data on the safety and efficacy of products and had a good image so far in the international markets. Despite all these efforts to convince them, the EU seems to have gone ahead to prevent the sale of Indian herbal products.

When the herbal products are exported without any hassle to the US and South East Asian markets with ample dossier submission, it is shocking that EU is not convinced. The government will have to take up the issue on a war footing, stated a section of Ayush manufacturers in Karnataka.