Ayush drug quality checks tightened, e-commerce platforms face new prescription rules
Synopsis
India's Ayush drug market just got a tighter leash. E-commerce platforms must now demand valid prescriptions before selling Ayurvedic, Siddha, or Unani drugs — a first-of-its-kind digital enforcement move backed by a new Ayush vertical in CDSCO, a real-time ad-monitoring portal, and WHO-GMP upgrade support for MSMEs. The regulatory overhaul signals a shift from voluntary compliance to structured accountability in traditional medicine.
Key Takeaways
The Ministry of Ayush has strengthened quality and regulatory compliance for Ayush drugs , including those sold on e-commerce platforms , as informed in Rajya Sabha on 21 July .
E-commerce platforms have been advised to sell Ayush drugs only after users upload a valid prescription from a registered Ayurveda, Siddha, or Unani practitioner.
A dedicated Ayush vertical has been created within CDSCO to oversee safety and quality of Ayush products.
The Ayush Suraksha Portal enables real-time monitoring of misleading advertisements and adverse drug reaction reports.
The AOGUSY scheme supports manufacturers and MSMEs in upgrading to WHO-GMP and NABL standards.
The All India Institute of Ayurveda is the designated nodal agency for issuing notices to digital intermediaries over misleading Ayush ads.
The Ministry of Ayush has rolled out a series of regulatory measures to strengthen quality assurance and compliance for Ayush drugs, including those sold through e-commerce platforms, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday, 21 July. Minister of State for Ayush Prataprao Jadhav detailed the steps in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Regulatory Framework and Quality Testing
Under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs Rules, 1945, manufacturers of Ayurvedic, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa, Unani, and Homoeopathy drugs are required to meet licensing conditions before they can manufacture for sale. Drug Inspectors posted by states and Union Territories collect medicine samples regularly from manufacturing units and retail outlets within their jurisdictions, forwarding them to Drug Testing Laboratories for quality evaluation. Samples that fall below standard quality are subject to legal action under the Act and its rules.
A dedicated Ayush vertical has been established within the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to reinforce regulatory oversight of safety and quality across Ayush product categories. This institutional addition is seen as a significant step toward integrating traditional medicine regulation into the country's mainstream drug control architecture.
Quality Certification and Standardisation Schemes
The Quality Council of India operates a Quality Certifications Scheme that awards Ayush Standard and Ayush Premium marks to products that clear third-party evaluation. The Ministry also implements a Central Sector Scheme — Ayush Oushadhi Gunavatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana (AOGUSY) — which promotes standardisation, quality manufacturing, analytical testing, and surveillance of misleading advertisements. The scheme extends financial and technical support to manufacturers and MSMEs to upgrade their pharmacies and drug testing laboratories to meet WHO-GMP and NABL standards.
Curbing Misleading Advertisements
The Ministry has launched the Ayush Suraksha Portal for real-time reporting and monitoring of misleading advertisements and suspected adverse drug reactions. The All India Institute of Ayurveda has been designated as the nodal agency responsible for issuing notices to digital intermediaries in cases involving misleading Ayush drug advertisements. This comes amid growing concerns over unverified health claims circulating on digital and social media platforms.
New E-Commerce Prescription Norms
In a significant tightening of online sales norms, e-commerce platforms have been formally advised to allow the sale of Ayush drugs only after users upload a valid prescription issued by a registered practitioner — specifically, a registered Ayurveda, Siddha, or Unani medical practitioner, as applicable. The move aims to prevent self-medication and misuse of potent traditional formulations sold without clinical oversight.
Additionally, all Research Councils and National Institutes under the Ministry are mandated to disseminate evidence-based information on Ayush products through Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities, publications, outreach programmes, and digital platforms. With enforcement mechanisms now spanning manufacturing floors, retail outlets, and online marketplaces, the regulatory net around Ayush drugs is the most comprehensive it has been to date.
Point of View
But its enforceability remains the real question. India's online pharmacy market has historically operated in a regulatory grey zone, and advisories without statutory teeth often go unheeded — as seen with earlier attempts to regulate allopathic drug sales online. The creation of an Ayush vertical in CDSCO is structurally sound, but the body's capacity to audit thousands of traditional medicine manufacturers across states is untested. More critically, the burden of quality surveillance still rests heavily on state Drug Inspectors, whose resources vary sharply across UTs and large states. Without a time-bound compliance audit and public disclosure of testing results, these measures risk remaining procedural rather than transformative.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What new rules have been introduced for selling Ayush drugs on e-commerce platforms?
E-commerce platforms have been advised to permit the sale of Ayush drugs only after the buyer uploads a valid prescription from a registered Ayurveda, Siddha, or Unani medical practitioner, as applicable. This measure is intended to prevent unsupervised self-medication and misuse of traditional formulations available online.
What is the Ayush Suraksha Portal?
The Ayush Suraksha Portal is a government-launched digital platform for real-time reporting and monitoring of misleading advertisements related to Ayush products and suspected adverse drug reactions. It forms a key part of the Ministry's surveillance and consumer protection framework.
What is the AOGUSY scheme for Ayush drugs?
AOGUSY — Ayush Oushadhi Gunavatta Evam Uttpadan Samvardhan Yojana — is a Central Sector Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Ayush to promote standardisation, quality manufacturing, and analytical testing of Ayush drugs. It also provides support to manufacturers and MSMEs to upgrade facilities to WHO-GMP and NABL standards.
What role does CDSCO play in regulating Ayush drugs?
A dedicated Ayush vertical has been created within the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) to strengthen regulatory measures ensuring the safety and quality of Ayush drugs. This vertical works alongside state Drug Inspectors who collect and test samples from manufacturers and retailers.
What action is taken against substandard Ayush drugs?
Drug samples collected by state or UT Drug Inspectors that are found to fall below standard quality are subject to legal action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, and the rules framed under it. Manufacturers found non-compliant risk penalties and potential suspension of their licences.
