KOCHI: The Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India (AMMOI) has come out strongly against raids conducted by the Excise Department at ayurveda dispensaries and manufacturing units across the State.
In a statement issued here, AMMOI general secretary Dr D Ramanathan said raids were being conducted alleging that the units did not have SP-7 licence. “Also, an impression has been created that various products were seized during the raids as they were spurious,” said the statement.
In Kerala, nearly 360 out of the total 800 ayurveda medicine units manufacture medicinal products containing alcohol. There are over 20,000 ayurveda retail shops.
According to the Excise Department, only 450 retail shops have SP-7 licence.
“Many shops have not obtained the licence due to impractical rules and lack of qualified persons,” said the statement.
In 2010, a high-level committee appointed by the government had admitted that the rules and qualifications stipulated for procuring SP-7 licence were impractical, following petitions filed by ayurveda associations in the State to the government. “A gazette notification to amend the rules is pending for the last six years before the government for approval,” said the Ayurvedic Medicine Manufacturers Organisation of India, adding that the reports of raids by Excise Department had damaged reputation of the State’s ayurveda sector, which has been fetching the much-needed foreign exchange revenue to the State. Dr S G Ramesh Warrier (Arya Vaidyasala), president, and Dr E T Neelakandan Mooss (Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala), treasurer, were co-signatories to the statement.