India will host a three-day World Health Organization (WHO) workshop on herbal medicine safety and regulations from August 6 to 8 at Hotel Fortune District Centre in Ghaziabad, focusing on strengthening global standards for traditional medicines.
Organised by the Ministry of Ayush in collaboration with WHO and supported by the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), the event will bring together experts and regulators from countries including Bhutan, Brunei, Cuba, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Paraguay, Poland, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, with Brazil, Egypt, and the USA joining virtually.
The WHO–International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (IRCH) workshop will be inaugurated by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, and Dr. Kim Sungchol, Chairperson, WHO–IRCH. It aims to foster international cooperation, enhance safety and efficacy mechanisms, support regulatory convergence, and promote traditional medicine systems globally. Discussions will cover pre-clinical research, regulatory frameworks, and safety case studies, including a session on Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera).
Participants will receive hands-on training in herbal drug identification, heavy metal analysis, and chemo-profiling using HPTLC technology at PCIM&H laboratories. The workshop will also highlight the Ayush Suraksha (Pharmacovigilance) Programme to strengthen safety monitoring of traditional medicines. Delegates will visit PCIM&H, the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM) in Ghaziabad, and the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi to explore India’s integrative health ecosystem.