Home » Business » Neem on ASEAN's negative list
The traditional Indian drug makers are now a worried lot. An innocuous document revealed at a conference held in Singapore on June 29-30, 2012, threatens to jeopardise the export prospects of the whole Ayurveda industry.
The PWG discussed and is said to be finalising the inclusion of Azadirachta indica or neem in the negative list. Neem is known as 'Sarvarogasamhari' (panacea) in Ayurveda. It could lead to an outright ban or severe restrictions on the sale of neem-based medicines and food supplements in the ASEAN countries.
In a letter to the ministry of health and family welfare, the Association of Manufacturers of Ayurvedic Medicines (AMAM) has expressed its fears over the snowballing of this move. It could affect exports to other parts of the world, believes AMAM.
Pradeep Multani, honorary general secretary of AMAM, told Business Standard, "The move will affect Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) branches of traditional medicines. It could have a devastating effect on the trade in ASU herbs and drugs. With India set to sign the FTA with ASEAN, it could ultimately even affect the sales of these products in India."
Multani expressed his fears that it could be first of many more herbs that could be targeted that are used in these traditional systems of medicines.
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