Advertisements that tout "100% safe," "guaranteed treatment," or "permanent cure" from ayurvedic, homoeopathic, or other traditional drugmakers are now under scrutiny. The Ayush ministry has issued a warning to all manufacturers in these sectors, including ayurvedic, siddha, unani, and homoeopathic, to adhere strictly to labelling and advertising regulations. Failure to comply could result in legal repercussions. 

This action follows the controversy surrounding Patanjali's misleading advertisements, which led the Supreme Court to demand a public apology. The Ayush ministry has provided a clarification, accessed by News18, regarding products that make unsubstantiated claims or display false information. For instance, advertisements featuring a "green logo" claiming to be "100% vegetarian" or falsely stating that the drug is "approved or certified by the ministry" are included in this warning. 

The Ayush ministry has emphasised the importance of adhering to labeling provisions and advertising regulations for Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, and homoeopathy drugs. They have provided details about the laws and rules governing misleading advertisements in the country, urging manufacturers to strictly comply with them. The advisory warns that any misleading claims or advertisements, regardless of the form or platform, will result in legal actions by competent authorities. 

The Ayush Ministry has directed state drug licensing officials to scrutinize all drugs claiming to be "certified or approved by the Ministry of Ayush," whether on the label or in advertisements, to ensure compliance. The ministry has observed that some Ayush drug manufacturers are including "certified or approved by the Ministry of Ayush" on their drug labels or in advertisements across print and electronic media. 

The ministry clarified its role, stating that it does not grant manufacturing licenses or approvals to any Ayush drug or product. However, it cautioned that any future claims of certification or approval by the Ministry of Ayush on labels or advertisements would result in legal action against the alleged manufacturer by the ministry. 

The advisory emphasised that claims such as being "100% safe," "free from side effects," "guaranteed treatment," or "permanent cure," as well as assertions of nutraceutical value, associated with Ayush drugs or products are inaccurate. It clarified that licensing granted by state drug licensing authorities should not be interpreted as approval by the Ministry of Ayush. 

Furthermore, the advisory stated that a license issued by a state authority merely permits the manufacturing or sale of a specific drug or product based on compliance with conditions outlined in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. The advisory has been circulated to various authorities, including all state Ayush drug licensing authorities, with a request to disseminate it to all licensees within their jurisdiction. Additionally, it has been sent to all Ayush drug manufacturers and their associations. 

The advisory has also been forwarded to the National Pharmacovigilance Coordination Centre, responsible for monitoring and establishing drug safety profiles, including issuing alerts in cases of newly reported side effects. The centre has been instructed to ensure the reporting of claims of approval or certification by the Ministry of Ayush to the relevant State Licensing Authority, with notification to the Ministry of Ayush. 

The advisory also noted several existing laws governing the labeling of Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani (ASU) drugs, as well as provisions for labeling homoeopathic medicine under rule 106A of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Additionally, it highlighted those regulations pertaining to advertisements, including those for Ayush drugs, are outlined in the Drugs and Magic Remedies (objectionable advertisements) Act, 1954. These laws collectively provide guidelines and regulations to ensure the proper labeling and advertisement of Ayush drugs, with the aim of safeguarding consumer interests and maintaining standards within the industry. 

In addition to the mentioned regulations, the advisory highlighted that other laws such as the Consumer Protection Act, 2019; the Cable Television Networks Act, 1995; and the Emblems & Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 also contain provisions aimed at regulating misleading advertisements. 

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