Choosing an Ayurvedic third-party manufacturing company in India without assessing their credentials can cost you later. Many brands accept a certificate PDF only to find that the papers are fake or outdated. Verification takes a few hours and protects your money, your brand name and your customers.
This guide shows you how to check a WHO-GMP certified Ayurvedic manufacturer step by step, how to spot fake papers, and which other licences you should confirm.
What is WHO-GMP Certification for an Ayurvedic Third-Party Manufacturing Company in India?
WHO-GMP stands for World Health Organization Good Manufacturing Practices. These are quality rules for how a factory is built, how staff work, how raw herbs are tested and how every batch is recorded. The WHO doesn’t inspect Indian factories itself.
In India, officers of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) inspect the unit and issue the certificate, usually alongside a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP).
A valid certificate tells you that an inspection found the unit working to an international standard. It points to tested raw materials, clean premises, trained staff and documented batches. It is a strong signal, but it’s also a snapshot of the factory on inspection day. You still need to check that it covers your products and the address where they will be made.
Is WHO-GMP the same as an AYUSH manufacturing licence?
No. The licence is legal permission to make Ayurvedic medicines, and the state licensing authority grants it under Rule 158-B of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
WHO-GMP is an extra quality benchmark that many export markets ask for. Every manufacturer needs the licence, while only some hold WHO-GMP. That gap is why some firms use the label GMP-certified Ayurvedic manufacturer loosely, so always ask which certificate they mean.
Why does GMP compliance matter for Ayurvedic medicines?
Herbs and minerals vary from batch to batch. Without controls, you can end up with heavy metal contamination, microbial growth or uneven strength. Schedule T of the same Rules sets GMP requirements for Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines for exactly this reason. Good Ayurvedic third-party manufacturing services rest on this discipline, because your name sits on every pack.
How to Verify a WHO-GMP Certified Ayurvedic Manufacturer in India?
Work through these six steps in order. Each one is quick and removes a specific risk.
1. Ask for the certificate and the manufacturing licence together
Any Ayurvedic third-party manufacturing company in India should share both without delay. The licence proves legal permission to manufacture. The certificate proves the quality benchmark. Ask for clear, full-page scans, not cropped screenshots.
2. Check the CDSCO records
CDSCO has published lists of Ayurvedic products granted a CoPP under the WHO-GMP scheme. You can check the companies HERE.
Each entry names the company, the plant address and the products covered. Search the CDSCO website for these lists and look for the name of your WHO-GMP certified Ayurvedic manufacturer. If it’s missing, ask the company to explain and to share the original document.
Some other useful portals to check the certificate credibility are CDSCO Sugam and the State Control Drug website of the respective factory location.
3. Match every detail
Compare the company name, plant address and licence number across the certificate, the licence, the GST registration and the invoices. One small mismatch can be a typing slip. Several mismatches are a warning.
4. Read the validity date and the scope
Look at the issue and expiry dates first. Then read which products and dosage forms the certificate covers. A certificate for tablets doesn’t automatically cover your syrup or your oil.
5. Confirm with the issuing authority
Send the certificate number to the regional CDSCO office or the state licensing authority and ask whether it is genuine. Keep any written reply on file. Even if the reply takes time, it settles doubts that a PDF never will.
How to Confirm That the Documents Belong To the Actual Manufacturer?
Some traders show a certificate from a factory they only use on a loan licence, or from one they have never owned. Ask one plain question: do you own this plant, or do you rent or borrow it? A genuine Ayurvedic third-party manufacturing company in India answers it openly.
- Match the name on the certificate with the name on the GST registration, the invoices and the product labels.
- Check the address on a map, then confirm it during a visit.
- Ask for sample batch records and see whether the licence number and plant address match them.
- Speak directly with one or two current clients too.
Strong Ayurvedic third-party manufacturing services show up in the consistency of every document, not in one impressive certificate.
What Are the Common Signs of a Fake WHO GMP-certified Ayurvedic Manufacturer?
A trustworthy Ayurvedic third-party manufacturing company in India carries genuine certificates. Fake papers usually fail on small details, as you encounter any of these signs.
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Expired Certificates
- An expired certificate means the last inspection is out of date. Ask for the renewal application and the date of the new inspection. Don’t treat the old paper as valid until a fresh certificate is issued.
- Walk away. Excuses such as “the file is confidential” or “we share it after payment” are red flags.
- This is the most common trick. The certificate belongs to one plant, while your product is made in another. Your batch would then come from a site no inspector has checked. Insist on the exact address where your order will be produced.
- Phrases like “100% safe”, “WHO approved factory” or “cures diabetes” come with no proof. In India, the certificate comes from CDSCO, not the WHO, and disease-cure claims can bring legal trouble for your brand. A reliable GMP-certified Ayurvedic manufacturer backs every claim with a document you can read.
Not Sharing the Certificates
Details are Not Matching
Exaggerated Claims
What Other Certifications Should You Check Besides WHO-GMP?
Is an AYUSH manufacturing licence mandatory?
Yes. No firm may make Ayurvedic medicines for sale without a manufacturing licence from the state licensing authority. Every Ayurvedic third-party manufacturing company in India needs it before producing a single batch. Check the licence number, the validity and the product categories it allows.
What is the role of Schedule T GMP compliance?
Schedule T sets the GMP rules for Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani units. It covers premises, equipment, raw material testing, documentation and hygiene. Think of it as the domestic baseline. In that legal sense, a GMP-certified Ayurvedic manufacturer is one that follows Schedule T, while WHO-GMP is a separate, international benchmark.
What are AYUSH Premium Mark and AYUSH Standard Mark?
These marks come from a voluntary scheme run by the Quality Council of India (QCI) with the Ministry of AYUSH since 2009. The Standard Mark is based on domestic regulatory requirements, including Schedule T. The Premium Mark is based on WHO GMP guidelines for herbal medicines. Ask which products the mark covers and which certification body issued it.
When should you check ISO certification or other quality certifications?
Ask for ISO 9001 when you want proof of sound management systems and record-keeping. It doesn’t replace the drug licence or GMP, so treat it as supporting evidence. If your range includes health supplements, also ask for an FSSAI licence.
Conclusion: Verifying the WHO-GMP Status of Ayurvedic Third-Party Manufacturing Services
Verification comes down to matching proof to the plant: the certificate, the licence, the address, the product scope and a site visit. Do it before you sign, not after the first batch arrives.
By collaborating with an authenticated third-party Ayurvedic manufacturing company in India, you can save your brand from product recalls and legal compliance issues. Always check the certificate numbers and compare the facility addresses. Verify the validity of the license before placing bulk orders.
Ruhani Herbals is a trusted WHO-GMP Ayurvedic products manufacturing company and an Ayurvedic third-party manufacturing company in India. Brands can ask for its certificates and licences and check them using the steps above. Contact us to learn more about its Ayurvedic third-party manufacturing services.
FAQs
Q1: Is WHO-GMP certification mandatory for Ayurvedic manufacturing?
A: Not for a domestic manufacturing license. Many export markets do ask for it, so it matters most if you plan to sell abroad.
Q2: What is a CoPP?
A: A Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product is issued in the WHO format. It confirms that a product is made at a unit that meets GMP standards and is mainly used for registering products in other countries.
Q3: Is WHO-GMP the same as an AYUSH licence?
A: No. The licence is legal permission to manufacture, while WHO-GMP is an additional quality benchmark. You need the licence first.
Q4: How can I check whether a certificate is genuine?
A: Compare it with CDSCO records, match the name and address with other documents, and write to the issuing office. A plant visit gives the final proof.
Q5: Can a company use another unit’s certificate?
A: No. A certificate belongs to a specific plant at a specific address. If your product is made elsewhere, the certificate doesn’t cover it.
Q6: What does Rule 158-B cover?
A: It covers the licence to manufacture Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines for sale, and it ties that licence to Schedule T compliance.
Q7: What is the AYUSH Standard Mark?
A: It is a voluntary quality mark based on domestic regulatory requirements, run by QCI with the Ministry of AYUSH.
Q8: What is the AYUSH Premium Mark?
A: It is the higher level of the same scheme and follows WHO GMP guidelines for herbal medicines.
Q9: Should I visit the factory before placing an order?
A: Yes, wherever possible. A visit shows the real condition of the plant. If you can’t go, send a qualified auditor.
Q10: What is a loan licence?
A: A loan licence lets one party make products at another party’s licensed facility. For third-party work, ask clearly whose plant will make your batches.
Q11: What are the risks of choosing an uncertified manufacturer?
A: You face contamination, inconsistent strength, failed lab tests, product recalls and damage to your brand name.
Q12: Does a certificate cover every product the company makes?
A: Not always. A CoPP is granted for listed products and dosage forms, so confirm that yours is on the list.
Q13: What should a third-party manufacturing agreement include?
A: It includes quality terms, batch record access, formula and brand ownership, confidentiality, delivery timelines and the right to audit the plant.
