The Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, has taken a practically active role in strengthening global rules and guidelines for herbal medicines at the 16th Annual Meeting of the World Health Organization – International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (WHO-IRCH), held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from October 14 to 16, 2025. This conference summoned many representatives from WHO, member of states and international spectators to improve collaboration partnership and blend supervisory frameworks, ensuring the safety, quality, and efficiency of herbal products worldwide.
India’s assignment was led by Dr. Raghu Arackal, Advisor of (Ayurveda) to the Ministry of Ayush, escorted by key experts including Dr. Raman Mohan Singh from the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H) and Dr. Mahesh Dadhich, CEO of the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB). The team showcased India’s healthy supervisory infrastructure teamwork for traditional medicine and presented evidence-based policy advancements. Key presentations featured reports on “Efficacy and Intended Use of Herbal Medicines” and “Safety and Regulation of Herbal Medicines,” highlighting India’s dedication to global supervisory arrangement.
During the conference, Indian delegates/representatives also held calculated discussions with the Indian Ambassador to Indonesia, strengthening bilateral cooperation. This meeting assembled because of MoU signed earlier in 2025 between PCIM&H and the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority, focusing on association in quality guarantee for traditional medicines.
The meeting strengthened a shared international commitment/vow to confirming herbal medicines are safe, scientifically validated, and of reliable quality. India appeared as a key player in shaping global standards and driving supervisory incorporation for traditional medicine systems. The conference also followed a sequence of workshops held in India in August 2025 under the Ayush Suraksha Programme, which focused on safety monitoring, directive, and pharmacovigilance — further coagulating India’s leadership in advancing global herbal medicine governance.