India Showcases Leadership in Herbal Medicine Regulation at the 16th WHO–IRCH Annual Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia
India Showcases Leadership in Herbal Medicine Regulation at the 16th WHO–IRCH Annual Meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia
The 16th Annual Meeting of the World Health Organization – International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (WHO–IRCH) is being held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 14th to 16th October 2025. The event brings together global regulatory authorities and experts to strengthen international cooperation and harmonisation in the regulation of herbal medicines.
India made a significant contribution to the meeting, with an active delegation led by Dr. Raghu Arackal, Advisor (Ayurveda) and Deputy Director General (I/c), Ministry of Ayush, Government of India. The delegation played a key role in the technical sessions held on the second day of the event.
Dr. Raghu Arackal presented the Workshop Report on “Efficacy and Intended Use of Herbal Medicines (Working Group-3)”, highlighting India’s evolving regulatory framework and evidence-based policy initiatives in traditional medicine.
Dr. Raman Mohan Singh, Director, Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), 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.”
Both workshops were jointly organised by the World Health Organization and hosted by the Ministry of Ayush, Government of India, with support from PCIM&H. They were held from 6th to 8th August 2025 in Ghaziabad, India, and served as key preparatory inputs for the WHO–IRCH meeting.
In addition, Dr. Mahesh Dadhich, CEO of the National Medicinal Plants Board (NMPB), co-presented a session on “Quality Control, Standardization and Sustainability of Herbal Medicines” alongside Dr. Singh. Dr. Dadhich also contributed to discussions on the sustainable use of medicinal plants and the importance of international collaboration in ensuring quality control and standardisation.
The Indian delegation’s comprehensive contributions underscore India’s pivotal role in shaping global standards for the quality, safety, and efficacy of herbal medicines. Through active collaboration with international regulatory bodies under the aegis of WHO–IRCH, India continues to champion the cause of harmonised and science-based regulation in traditional medicine and natural product-based healthcare.
India’s participation reaffirms its ongoing commitment to strengthening international cooperation and advancing global benchmarks in the field of herbal medicine regulation.
