India to Host WHO-IRCH Global Workshop on Herbal Medicine Regulation from August 6

New Delhi: India will host the World Health Organization-International Regulatory Cooperation for Herbal Medicines (WHO-IRCH) Workshop from August 6 to 8, 2025, at Hotel Fortune District Centre in Ghaziabad. The Ministry of Ayush organized the event with WHO, and it received support from the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H). This three-day international workshop will focus on improving global regulation and safety for herbal medicines.

The event will be inaugurated by Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary of the Ministry of Ayush, and Dr. Kim Sungchol, Chairperson of WHO-IRCH. Experts and regulators from Bhutan, Brunei, Cuba, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Paraguay, Poland, Sri Lanka, Uganda, and Zimbabwe are expected to attend in person. Delegates from Brazil, Egypt, and the USA will join virtually.

The workshop aims to promote global regulatory collaboration. It will cover five main areas: advancing cooperation, improving safety and efficacy mechanisms, supporting regulatory convergence, and strengthening the role of traditional medicine in public health systems. Key sessions will include updates from WHO-IRCH Working Groups 1 and 3, which focus on the safety, efficacy, and intended use of herbal medicines.

The program includes technical sessions on pre-clinical research, regulatory frameworks, and case studies, with a special discussion on Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera). Participants will also take part in hands-on training at PCIM&H laboratories. This training will cover herbal drug identification, heavy metal analysis, and chemo-profiling using High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) technology.

The workshop will introduce the Ayush Suraksha Programme, India's national pharmacovigilance initiative for traditional medicines. This program aims to improve the monitoring of adverse drug reactions and promote patient safety.

Delegates will visit the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H), the National Institute of Unani Medicine (NIUM) in Ghaziabad, and the All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi. These visits will provide insights into India’s integrative healthcare system.

With broad international participation and a focus on harmonizing herbal medicine regulations, the workshop is expected to lead to stronger global standards in traditional medicine and its integration into mainstream healthcare.