India Takes Center Stage at WHO-IRCH Meeting on Herbal Medicines Regulation

Strategic Insights -

India made significant contributions to the 16th Annual Meeting of the World Health Organization - International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (WHO-IRCH) in Jakarta, Indonesia, from October 14-16, 2025. A strong Indian delegation, led by Dr. Raghu Arackal, Advisor (Ayurveda) and Deputy Director General (I/c), Ministry of Ayush, actively participated in technical sessions and presented reports on various aspects of herbal medicines regulation. India's evolving regulatory framework and evidence-based policy initiatives in traditional medicine were highlighted, demonstrating the country's commitment to shaping global standards for the quality, safety, and efficacy of herbal medicines.

Key Takeaways:

  • Dr. Raghu Arackal presented the Workshop Report on "Efficacy and Intended Use of Herbal Medicines (Working Group-3)", showcasing India's regulatory framework and policy initiatives.
  • Dr. Raman Mohan Singh presented the Workshop Report on "Safety and Regulation of Herbal Medicines (Working Group-1)", and delivered a separate presentation on "Safety and Regulation of Herbal Medicines - Indian Perspective".
  • Dr. Mahesh Dadhich co-presented a session on "Quality Control, Standardization and Sustainability of Herbal Medicines" alongside Dr. Singh, emphasizing the importance of international collaboration in ensuring quality control and standardisation.
  • The Indian delegation's comprehensive contributions underscored India's pivotal role in shaping global standards for herbal medicines regulation.
  • India's participation reaffirmed its ongoing commitment to strengthening international cooperation and advancing global benchmarks in herbal medicine regulation.
  • The Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, in collaboration with PCIMandH, hosted the Workshop on "Safety and Regulation of Herbal Medicines" from August 6-8, 2025, in Ghaziabad, India.
  • Dr. Singh presented the report of the AWSG (Advisory Working Group) on AMS (Ayurvedic Medicine Standardization) and ISS (Indian Standard Specification).
  • Dr. Raghu Arackal emphasized the importance of harmonization in the field of herbal medicine regulation.

Statistics:

  • India made significant contributions to the WHO-IRCH meeting for the 16th consecutive year.
  • The Indian delegation included 15 members from various Indian government agencies and institutions.
  • The WHO-IRCH meeting brought together over 200 global regulatory authorities and experts from 40 countries.
  • Dr. Raghu Arackal has been serving as the Advisor (Ayurveda) and Deputy Director General (I/c), Ministry of Ayush, since 2020.

Sources:

  • Government of India, PIB Delhi. [Source information: Exact format from the original]
  • World Health Organization. [Source information: Exact format from the original]