Changes are already afoot. As of January 1, 2006 all Ayurvedic medicine exported from India is expected to feature a label announcing: “heavy metals within permissible limit.” To be eligible for such a label, manufacturers of Ayurvedic medicine must have their products tested by an approved laboratory and must submit the report to government authorities. The Indian Ministry of Health will be monitoring the regulation process.

The new restrictions are a direct result of JAMA’s 2004 report on the prevalence of lead, mercury, and arsenic in some Ayurvedic medicine imported from India. The study focused on Ayurvedic herbal medicine products (HMPs) in the Boston area and found that one in five HMPs produced in South Asia and sold in Boston contained “potentially harmful levels” of heavy metals.

Naturally, some Ayurvedic medicine manufacturers expressed concerns about implementing the new regulations.

The Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy has the latest news on the issue.

[via: Pharmexcil]

(Image: ayurveda-vital.de)