Question : GROWTH OF HERBS AND HERBAL MEDICINES .

(a) whether the natural growth of herbs and herbal medicines in the country have been opened to the foreign companies and their investments have been started in India including the Multi-national Corporations;

(b) whether domestic industry engaged in herbal medicines are suffering from un- cooperative approach of the World Health Organisation;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d) the steps taken to protect domestic medicine industries for self-sufficient development of the country; and

(e) the details of the actual involvement of foreign investments in medicine production in the country and trade including the multinational companies?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI A. RAJA)

(a) : Foreign technical and financial collaborations are being permitted in this sector.

(b) & (c) : No, Sir. However, there is need for opening ISM Wing in the offices of WHO in South East Asia Regional Office and elsewhere to highlight the strength of these systems and efficacy of drugs.

(d) : Steps have been taken to augument supply of raw materials. Central schemes of Medicinal Plants Garden. Agro-techniques are under implementation. Medicinal Plant Board is being set up to develop this sector. Good Manufacturing Practices have been notified to ensure compliance which will entrance acceptability of drugs. Laboratory facilities are also being augmented. Export related procedures are also being simplified.

(e) : A list indicating the foreign collaboration approval granted is annexed.
Annexure

Sl Name of Indian Firm Name of foreign collaborator Nature of collaboration
. (% Equity Rs. In Lakhs)
No
.

1.	RKS Agrotech Limited	Natex Prozesstekhnogogies, Austria	150.00	Calcutta	17.94%

2.	Indo Euro Oleotech	Natex Process technologies GMBH,	130.00	Limited, New Delhi.	Austria	13.63%

3.	Aditi Agri & Drugs	Natex Process technologies, Austria	120.00	Limited, Patna	16.64%

4.	Basil Chemicals &	Natex Process technologies, Austria	650.00	Additives Ltd., Lucknow 40.12%

5.	Krishira Impex Ltd.,	Natex Process technologies GESBH,	100.00	Tiruchirapalli	Austria 13.79%
6.	Tanjor German Bio Tech	Natex Process Technologies, GMBH,	100.00	Ltd., New Delhi	Austria 13.31%

7	Willmar Schwabe GMBH	Dr. Willmar Schwabe GMBH & Co.,	425.00	Nangal Raya, New Delhi	Germany 85.00%

8.	Grace Extracts Private., Mr. Ostoja Gnjatovic, 95.60	Ltd., New Delhi	Germany 33.33%	(Manufacture of spice,	herbal extractives	including essential oils,	oleoresins, chemicals &	medicinal compounds 
9.	Grace Extracts Private	Ostoja Gnjatovic, Germany	193.30	Ltd., New Delhi 66.66% -
10.	VST Natural Products	M/s Gail Engg. Ltd., Israel	Technical case	Ltd., Hyderabad
11.	Herbomin Himalayas Ltd., Masaru Yamaguchi (Mr.), Japan 30.00	Delhi 60.00%
12.	Maruthua Herbals & Farm Mr. R.K. Kutty, NRI 65.00	Products, Bangalore 87.00%
13.	M/s H&D Greens	Hubertus Francis Maria, Van Daara,	Technical cas