WG seeks additional requirements for organizations certifying Ayush products

The Working Group on Ayush has announced new, stricter requirements for organizations certifying and accrediting Ayush products and services under the Ayush Quality Mark Programme. Certification and accreditation bodies must now comply with international standards including ISO 17021-1, ISO 17065, ISO 17011, and ISQua EEA, and must be recognized by an IAF MLA signatory for greater global credibility. The Ayush Quality Mark covers medicines, botanicals, wellness centers, hospitals, clinics, medical value travel, and testing laboratories, with product and facility assessments demanding compliance with both domestic and international standards such as WHO-GMP and Codex HACCP or ISO norms. Certification tenures are tied to the underlying accreditations, managed by the Ayush Export Promotion Council as the nodal agency.

To promote transparency and integrity, these requirements explicitly prohibit certifying or accrediting bodies from undertaking any consulting activities, directly or indirectly, including via subsidiaries or affiliates. This rule aims to eliminate conflicts of interest, responding to global issues seen with bodies like JCI and large professional services firms that combine auditing and consulting. The reforms are designed to enhance acceptance of Indian Ayush products in international markets by establishing uniform and independent certification processes. Public comments on these requirements are being invited through the Ministry of Ayush’s portal.
MB Bureau