India: Separate regulator for traditional medicine

The Indian government has announced its plans to introduce a separate regulator for certain traditional medicine disciplines, including ayurverda and homeopathy. The independent drug controller will be separated from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), which currently regulates all medicines sold in the country.

The Minister of State for Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH), Shripad Yesso Naik, has announced that fresh standards are also being worked on to ensure that quality AYUSH products are well tested for their "authenticity, credibility and quality". The new regulator will be provided with "sufficient teeth" to regulate the new policy and a mandate to issue the Certificate of Pharmaceutical Products (COPP) for exports of AYUSH products.