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Ayush Quality Mark to help Indian traditional medicine firms meet global quality requirements: Anil Jauhri
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Shardul Nautiyal, Mumbai
November 13 , 2026
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India's efforts to expand the international footprint for its traditional systems of medicine are entering a new phase with the introduction of the Ayush Quality Mark, a quality recognition framework intended to help domestic manufacturers and healthcare service providers establish the international credibility of their products and services, informs Anil Jauhri, chairman, Ayush Quality Mark Management Committee, Ministry of Ayush, Government of India (GoI).
Jauhri further explains that the initiative seeks to address a key industry challenge, demonstrating that Indian traditional medicine products, healthcare facilities and associated services meet globally accepted requirements for quality, safety, manufacturing practices and professional competence. The framework is intended to connect India's traditional healthcare strengths with established international quality systems and provide the industry with a recognised mechanism to demonstrate compliance to overseas buyers, regulators and healthcare institutions.
The initiative assumes significance for manufacturers of Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy medicines, botanical products and medicinal plants, as well as hospitals, clinics, wellness centres, testing laboratories and Medical Value Travel Facilitators seeking to expand their international operations.
Unlike a conventional certification programme that creates an entirely new set of requirements, the Ayush Quality Mark builds on existing regulatory approvals, certifications and accreditation systems recognised internationally. Its objective is to reduce the gap between domestic quality assurance mechanisms and the requirements encountered by Indian companies when entering foreign markets.
The initiative follows the establishment of the Ministry of Ayush in 2014 and subsequent efforts to institutionalise quality assurance, including certification of Yoga professionals in 2015, traditional medicine practitioners in 2017 and accreditation of Ayurveda training courses in 2021.
The proposal for a dedicated Ayush Quality Mark was first articulated by the Prime Minister at an international conference in Gandhinagar in April 2022. Subsequently, the Ministry constituted a Working Group in January 2025 to develop the framework in alignment with global standards. The mark was formally launched by the Prime Minister on December 19, 2025.
Jauhri said the framework adopts a multiple-route approach to compliance, allowing industry participants to demonstrate their quality credentials through different internationally accepted mechanisms, depending on the category of product or service.
For Ayush medicinal products, manufacturers can qualify through regulatory approval obtained in a foreign country, a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP), or the Ayush Premium Mark awarded under the voluntary certification scheme operated by the Quality Council of India (QCI) for the Ministry of Ayush.
The framework also identifies World Health Organization (WHO) Good Manufacturing Practices as a relevant benchmark for herbal medicines, while Good Agricultural and Field Collection Practices are applicable to medicinal plants. International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards and certification mechanisms under Global Accreditation Cooperation Inc. (GACI) are among the other recognised benchmarks.
The framework also extends to Ayush education and training institutions through existing mechanisms operated by the National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine, Yoga Certification Board and Ayurveda Training Accreditation Board. Their certification and accreditation criteria will need alignment with internationally recognised requirements. ISO 29993, covering learning service providers, and international equivalence mechanisms through the World Federation for Medical Education are also identified.
An important industry-oriented feature is the proposed desk-review mechanism. Applicants possessing recognised certifications or accreditations will not necessarily have to undergo another comprehensive audit. Instead, their documentary evidence will be examined to determine whether existing compliance meets the relevant international requirements. This could reduce duplication of assessments, procedural delays and compliance costs.
Currently, the programme operates under the Ayush Export Promotion Council (Ayushexcil), with a proposal to eventually establish an independent organisation for its administration.
Jauhri said the broader objective is to provide the Ayush industry with a credible quality recognition mechanism that can facilitate international market access while strengthening confidence in India's traditional healthcare products and services.
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