Quality Assurance: Pharmacopoeial Standards and Testing
Quality is no longer left to tradition alone; in 2026, it is enforced through the Pharmacopoeia Commission for Indian Medicine & Homoeopathy (PCIM&H). All products must comply with the Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India (API), which serves as the official compendium for identity, purity, and strength.
Mandatory Testing Protocols
Before an Ayurvedic product reaches the consumer, it must pass several laboratory hurdles:
Microbial Load Testing: Ensuring products are free from pathogens like E. coli and Salmonella.
Heavy Metal Analysis: Utilizing Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy to ensure levels of lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium are within the safe parts-per-million (ppm) range.
Aflatoxin and Pesticide Residue: Screening to ensure that raw herbal materials have not been contaminated during cultivation or storage.