The Bureau of Indian Standards has recently announced the standards for 31 Ayush Products and Herbs. It is also establishing a separate Ayush Department in the Bureau which will work only for the standardization of Ayush products including herbs, materials, and food items. Till now there were no standards prescribed for these Ayush Products. Previously, they also published standards for products relating to Yoga like yoga mats, yoga centre service requirements, a glossary for yoga terms etc. Now they are expanding their reach to healthcare products and covering even more Ayush products to ensure the quality in this department as well. They have notified 31 items which contain thirty Ayush herbs and one Ayush product.

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What is Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)?

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is a government organization in India that sets rules for different products and services. It makes sure that things like food, appliances, and other items meet certain safety and quality standards. Now it is expanding to Ayush products as well. BIS was created to protect consumers and help Indian businesses compete better. They test products, give BIS certifications, and create BIS standards. The manufacturers can apply for it and receive the BIS standard mark for their product after successful BIS registration. When a product has a mark called the ISI mark, it means it meets BIS standards and is considered safe and good quality. Ultimately, BIS helps make sure that the things you buy are safe and reliable.

Role of the Ministry of Ayush

The Ayush Ministry in India oversees the development, promotion, and regulation of traditional systems of medicine including Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homoeopathy. It formulates policies, conducts awareness campaigns, and supports research in these areas. The ministry focuses on the growth and infrastructure development of traditional medicine, while also ensuring quality control and setting standards for education and practice. It fosters international cooperation and collaborations to promote traditional systems of medicine globally. The Ayush Ministry plays a crucial role in integrating traditional medicine with modern healthcare, encouraging evidence-based practices, and facilitating the export of Ayush medicines and therapies. Through its efforts, the ministry aims to ensure accessibility, quality, and the continued preservation of India's rich heritage of traditional medicine.

What is Ayush?

The word Ayush is derived from the Sanskrit word Ayushman. It means a long life. A person can achieve a long life with proper food habits, disease prevention and curing minor inconsistencies in the health system of his body. India also has some traditional and non-conventional techniques to cure health problems. These methods are known as Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Homeopathy, Siddha, Unani, and Sowa Rigpa. The products which help in the administration of these techniques are called Ayush products. These products are extensively available in the market and used by millions of people worldwide.

Ayush Department of BIS

India is among the largest exporters of Ayush Products. When a product is consumed on such a large scale, it becomes very important to maintain the quality of such products. It helps to boost the reputation of the manufacturers as well as the country of origin when they export it on a global level. It also results in an increased sale figure. To standardize these Ayush Products, the National Standards Body of India, BIS took the initiative and announced the publication of 31 new standards for Ayush Products. One of them is the stainless steel neti pot and the other thirty items are Ayush herbs.

To maintain the quality standards for these products and continue research, the Bureau of Indian Standards has established a dedicated department that will continue managing the standards prescribed for Ayush Herbs and other Ayush products. In this manner, the Ayush products will be in focus for further development and implementation. It will provide the BIS registration for Ayush products and provide standard marks to the manufacturers. Other than the Ayush Department, BIS also has specialised departments for the standardisation of Chemical, Textile, Service Sector and Engineering related products.

Benefits of Ayush Standards

These standards will help the consumers to choose a quality product over a non-standardised product. When a Standard mark is given by BIS to a product, it is printed on all those products at a prominent location and the consumers can easily notice it at the time of purchase. The benefits of Ayush Standards are as follows-

• It expands the purview of BIS into the healthcare market. Initially, there are 31 items to be standardised but later the standards may expand to more items of the same category.
• It ensures the safety of consumers by prescribing a standard for the production of an item.
• It promotes the Indian culture where ayurveda was used for all kinds of medical treatment. It takes these medicinal techniques to the global front.
• These standards are drafted after due testing by the Bureau of Indian Standards and hence are reliable.
• The standards will help new manufacturers and provide them with the guidelines in advance to make their products eligible for Standard Mark.
• The international distributors will give priority to the standardised products and hence the sales of Indian manufacturers in international markets will rise after they obtain the standard mark from BIS which will also boost the export numbers.

Publication of Ayush Standard

The Ministry of Ayush was continuously working to enhance trade and provide quality products to the consumers of the country and also abroad. In furtherance of these efforts, the present Ayush Standards are made by the Bureau of Indian Standards. Although a press release is issued about the Ayush Standards, the items are not yet published on the website of the Bureau of India Standards. These 30 Ayush Herbs and 1 Product combined into 31 Ayush items will soon appear on the BIS portal also. When the standards are notified for any product, they are also published on the official website of the Bureau of Indian Standards in separate categories and in an organised manner. When published, they can also be downloaded from the website.

Conclusion

The establishment of the Ayush Department within the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the announcement of standards for 31 Ayush Products and Herbs mark a significant step towards ensuring quality and safety in the Ayush industry. With the inclusion of Ayush products under the purview of BIS, consumers will benefit from having standardized and reliable options to choose from, promoting their well-being and safeguarding their interests. The Ayush Department's dedicated focus on standardization will contribute to the growth and development of traditional systems of medicine. By setting standards for these products, the BIS aims to enhance its global recognition and export potential, further promoting Indian traditional medicine practices. These standards will not only benefit consumers but also provide guidelines for manufacturers, facilitating their compliance and eligibility for the BIS standard mark.