Attention Ayurveda Community!!
In 2021 the major stakeholders in Ayurveda across the globe met virtually to discuss the matters surrounding the export of Ayurveda products from India, the concerning issues aroused in Australia connected to the identifying of heavy metal contents in an Ayurvedic product. The Ayurveda stakeholders held a series of 3 meetings arranged to accommodate the different time zones to connect the maximum number of Ayurveda practitioners. In attendance the attendees genuinely supported the cause for a transparent and responsible way to begin export of Ayurveda products from countries from which products are sourced.
This meeting was hosted by GAN (Global Ayurveda Network) the following concerns were raised by the Ayurveda practitioners from across the globe in social media platforms. The main focus of this meeting was to listen to the concerns and reservations from across a wider platform and to network with each other so can come up with solutions where they can identify ways on developing measures to better safeguard themselves against litigations in the future to ensure the safety of the client when using third party manufactured health products. The key goal was to get the preliminary views from Ayurveda stakeholders, practitioners, manufacturers and distributors from across the world. The meetings concluded to be extremely productive in which the stakeholders had a great discussion as to this concerning issue in Australia as well as the issues they face in other countries where Ayurveda is practiced. They were able to communicate amongst each other the rules, limitations, restrictions and challenges they face in their practice, regarding safety and quality issues of third party manufactured Ayurvedic products and other issues surrounding this. In discussion was the
Inadequacies of existing practices surrounding export of Ayurvedic products.
Inadequacies surrounding reliable toxicity studies in source countries, sampling for toxicity studies in host countries, export issues, manufacturers and distributor responsibility, liability, practitioner responsibility and litigation.
Inadequacies from raw material collection through cleaning, manufacturing and distribution.
How practitioners are being unfairly penalized, along with not being supported when matters go wrong due to production.
Inadequacies in the production line, due to the process surrounding exporting and the importance of ensuring user safety. It was of great concern to the attendees the unfairness to issue the blame upon the shoulders of the practitioners when the process surrounding ensuring the safety of the third party manufactured products which have not been identified or defined robustly. The following is what needs to be achieved to ensure practitioner and user safety.
Development of Guidelines for export of Ayurveda products.
Development of measures to safeguard Distributors and Practitioners of Ayurveda practicing outside of India.
Development of measures to hold manufactures, distributors and licensees with import/ export licenses accountable in event of untoward patient/ user safety incidents. The attendees also agreed upon that the end goal is that a project group needs to be formed for a task and finished this group will be formed with relevant stakeholders with the necessary skill set to meet on the regular basis to take action on the agreed goals that have been identified. Future ongoing monthly meetings will be scheduled and circulated by GAN to progress the goals.
CAAM highly recommends to all buying herbs, whether Consumers or Practitioners, please do your due diligence, spot checks and demand proper compliance of Federal, State and Local regulations and labeling practices from your suppliers.
Follow FDA guidelines for use of Herbs for the safety of your Patients, your safety and the safety of the Profession.
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