The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, organised a Scientific Conclave and Interactive Session on “Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) 2026: Advancing Quality, Safety, and Innovation in Drugs, Food and Phytopharmaceuticals” at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Guwahati on 27^th August 2026.

The interactive meeting, organised for the first time in the Northeast region, brought together experts and stakeholders from regulatory authorities, academia and scientific institutions to deliberate on the way forward for strengthening the quality and standardisation of phytopharmaceuticals in the country.

A major highlight of the event was the launch of seven Indian Pharmacopoeia Phytochemical Reference Standards (IPPRS) and five Indian Pharmacopoeia Botanical Reference Standards (IPBRS) by IPC, marking the first-ever introduction of these critical reference standards by the Commission. The standards launched are Andrographolide, Capsaicin, Embelin, Eugenol, Marmelosin/ Imperatorin, Scopoletin, Umbelliferone, Terminalia arjuna, Bacopa monnieri, Tinospora cordifolia, Centella asiatica, Ocimum sanctum.

Phytopharmaceuticals represent an important interface between traditional medicinal knowledge and modern scientific approaches, facilitating the development of safe, effective and standardised plant-based medicines. They have the potential to contribute to drug discovery, affordable healthcare and India's growing contribution to the global pharmaceutical sector.

The launch of the IPPRS and IPBRS marked a significant advancement in the scientific standardisation, quality assurance and regulatory evaluation of plant-derived medicinal products. The reference standards are expected to support the evidence-based development, quality control and therapeutic evaluation of phytopharmaceuticals, thereby strengthening their scientific and regulatory foundation.

The standards were launched by Prof. Ashok Puranik, Executive Director, AIIMS-Guwahati, who also addressed the gathering on the occasion. He described the initiative as a remarkable step towards strengthening the quality, safety and scientific validation of herbal and plant-based medicinal products.

In his inaugural address, Dr. V. Kalaiselvan, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director, Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission, highlighted the importance of collaboration with the NIPER Guwahati laboratory in ensuring robust quality standards for phytopharmaceuticals. He emphasised that such collaborative efforts are crucial for advancing scientific standardisation and promoting quality-assured plant-based medicinal products.

The event was also graced by Dr. B. Kumar, DDC(I), CDSCO (EZ), and Dr. Ethengbemo Ezung, ADC, Nagaland, along with experts and stakeholders from the regulatory, academic and scientific communities.

The meeting provided an important platform for interaction among experts from regulatory authorities, NIPER Guwahati and IPC, with a focus on promoting evidence-based medicines derived from medicinal plants. The initiative is expected to strengthen the availability of safe, effective and affordable plant-based therapeutic options while encouraging further research, innovation and scientific advancement in the field of herbal and phytopharmaceutical medicines.

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HFW/IPC Organises Scientific Conclave on IP 2026 at NIPER Guwahati/28August2026/1                    

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