As the U.S. member body to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is seeking comments on a proposal for a new ISO Technical Committee (TC) on Ayush systems.
The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has submitted a proposal to ISO for a new TC with the following scope statement:
“Standardization in the field of Ayush systems including Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa Rigpa, and Homoeopathy. Both traditional and modern aspects of products and services of these systems are covered.”
Excluded from its scope are products and services covered by ISO TC 54, Essential oils, ISO TC 215, Health Informatics, and ISO TC 249, Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The proposal asserts that the landscape for Traditional & Complementary Medicine (T&CM) has been improving and augmenting consistently, on a global level. Therefore, traditional medical systems, including Ayush systems, are vital and “an often underestimated health resource with many applications, especially in the prevention and management of lifestyle-related chronic diseases, and in meeting the health needs of ageing populations.”
The work of the proposed ISO TC shall focus on standardization in the field of Ayush systems, but not limited to the following:
Review the proposal for additional information and submit comments to Steven Cornish, ANSI senior director of international policy and strategy, [email protected], by close of business on Friday, October 14, 2022.
Based on input received from U.S. stakeholders, a recommended ANSI position and any comments will be developed and presented at the ANSI ISO Committee (AIC) for approval before ISO's voting deadline of November 23, 2022.