New Delhi: The Centre renewed the One Herb One Standard MoU for three years to strengthen quality standards for medicinal plants. The partnership brings together PCIM&H and IPC.
The Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) and Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) renewed the agreement on August 12.
Dr. Kousthubha Upadhyaya, Director I/c, PCIM&H, and Dr. V. Kalaiselvan, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director, IPC, exchanged the MoU.
The exchange took place at Kartavya Bhavan, New Delhi. Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush, Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav, attended the event.
Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, also attended the programme. The renewed agreement will guide cooperation for another three years.
Addressing the gathering, Jadhav said India’s traditional medicine systems form an important part of its knowledge heritage. These systems include Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani and Homoeopathy.
He stressed that scientific standards can improve the quality and credibility of traditional medicines. Moreover, such standards can help ensure the purity and consistency of medicinal plants and products.
The One Herb One Standard approach aims to create a common scientific standard for the same medicinal plant. That plant may be used across different traditional medicine systems.
One Herb One Standard framework expands after 50 monographs
Jadhav said common standards could reduce confusion among manufacturers, laboratories, regulators and other stakeholders. They could also create a more coordinated system for medicinal plant standardisation.
Furthermore, the monographs developed through the partnership will consider Indian standards and international quality requirements. This approach aims to bring Indian standards closer to global benchmarks.
The Minister said stronger standards could improve the international acceptance of Indian medicinal plants and products. He also linked common quality standards with Ease of Doing Business.
According to Jadhav, clearer processes could benefit manufacturers, exporters, testing laboratories and regulatory institutions. They could also make compliance more transparent and effective.
Jadhav congratulated the scientists, officials and leadership of PCIM&H and IPC. He expressed confidence that the renewed agreement would give fresh momentum to the initiative.
The renewed MoU will support uniform and scientifically robust standards for single drugs of plant origin. These drugs are used across Ayurveda, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani and Homoeopathy.
The partnership builds on an MoU launched in 2022. During its first phase, the two institutions developed 50 monographs covering medicinal plants.
Now, the renewed framework will expand the standardisation effort. It will harmonise standards for the same medicinal plants across different traditional medicine systems.
As a result, the initiative aims to reduce ambiguity and strengthen quality assurance. It will also support ease of doing business and help protect India’s biodiversity.
The collaboration combines the scientific and standard-setting expertise of PCIM&H and IPC. It also seeks to strengthen India’s role in global pharmaceutical standardisation.
The renewed agreement reaffirms both institutions’ focus on scientific excellence, quality and reliability. It also aims to improve the global acceptance of India’s traditional medicine systems.
