To address the concerns of the Ayush sector and to help the units to overcome export hurdles when dealing with regulatory and drug registry process in other countries, the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) is developing a database on regulatory information which includes registration procedures for the Ayush sector country wise. This strategic move comes after the industry highlighted its plight over the challenges being faced by them while registering herbal products with DDA Nepal and Sri Lanka among others.

Keen to address this matter at the earliest, the council has already made available details of the process adopted in five countries, namely, Tanzania, Philippines, Ghana, Canada and Bahrain. In fact P V Appaji, director general of Pharmexcil informed that his office has also started the process of assimilating relevant information on the other important export destinations as well to support the industry and ease their troubles.

It is understood that experts from council is working closely with the Centre to collect details on the regulatory information of the countries like specified guidelines for application for registration of traditional, herbal medicines and food dietary supplements; their requirements for labeling of products; new fees and charges etc. For further enhancing exporters confidence, they are also putting the details of application form required by certain countries for foreign manufacturers good manufacturing practices (GMP) inspection.

“The commerce ministry is keen to support the growth of the industry and help them export Ayush products globally. As a commitment towards this vision the ministry has already initiated steps to address their export related hurdles so that the stakeholders are sensitised well enough on their targeted export destination,” added Dr Appaji.

Pharmexcil recently had a high level meeting with the stakeholders in Delhi to gauge and understand their export related queries. Following the meeting, the Ayush Advisory Group, which consists of experts from industry and associations, deliberated and represented several key issues to the department of commerce & department of Ayush.

Some of the other issues highlighted before the ministry included demand for exemption from bar coding for Ayush sector, retention of VKGUY benefits for Ayush sector (DGFT), relief from the Biodiversity Act and CAMS regulation in South Africa and its amendment in the legislation.