Govt bans ashwagandha leaf products, citing health risks:Ban applies to producers, sellers, and exporters

The Ministry of Ayush and FSSAI instructed manufacturers to stop using leaves and directed state officials to enforce this. Govt has decided that only the root of the ashwagandha plant can be used in supplements. The use of the leaf, or products that mix root and leaf, is now banned. This rule applies to everyone involved—manufacturers, sellers, and exporters. The reason behind this decision is safety. Studies and earlier warnings (since 2021) showed that ashwagandha leaves may contain higher levels of certain compounds that could cause unwanted side effects. This is a significant move because India is one of the biggest producers and users of ashwagandha. The new rule also says that all products must clearly mention which part of the plant is used. Since the leaf is now not allowed, consumers will mostly see “ashwagandha root” on product labels going forward. A Mint report estimates that the move could disrupt India’s $38.77 billion Nutraceuticals industry, where the ashwagandha leaf is a key ingredient in many of its products.