What an FDCA Licence Means — and How to Tell an Ayurvedic Product Is Genuine

If you have shopped for Ayurvedic products online, you have seen the phrase “FDCA licensed” on a lot of packaging. It sounds reassuring — but what does it actually mean, and how do you separate a genuinely accountable manufacturer from one that simply prints the words? Here is a plain-language guide.

What the FDCA is

The Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) is the state regulator in Gujarat responsible for licensing and inspecting drug and Ayurvedic manufacturers. In India, Ayurvedic medicines are regulated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and its rules. A manufacturer cannot legally produce Ayurvedic preparations for sale without a manufacturing licence issued by their state authority.

What a manufacturing licence certifies

Our licence — GA/2079, issued on Form 25D — certifies that our premises, equipment, water system, and processes were inspected and found fit to manufacture Ayurvedic medicines. It is tied to a specific list of products and a specific facility. It is not a one-time sticker; it is a standing obligation, subject to renewal and inspection.

Alongside the licence sits Schedule T of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, which lays down Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for Ayurvedic, Siddha and Unani medicines — covering hygiene, raw-material handling, record-keeping, and quality control.

How to verify a product yourself

You do not need to take anyone's word for it. A genuinely made product gives you the information to check it:

• A manufacturing licence number printed on the pack (ours reads GA/2079).
• The full name and address of the actual manufacturer — not just a marketing brand.
• A batch number and manufacturing/expiry dates, so a specific pack is traceable to a specific production run.
• A readable list of ingredients (the classical dravyas) and clear usage directions.
• Maximum retail price and net quantity, as required by law.

If a pack hides the manufacturer behind a brand name, omits a batch number, or makes dramatic promises, treat that as a reason to look more closely.

Why traceability matters more than marketing

The point of a batch number is accountability. If a question is ever raised about a particular pack, the manufacturer can trace which raw materials went into it, when it was made, and who handled it. That discipline — boring as it sounds — is the real difference between a serious manufacturer and a label.

A licence is a promise you can check. Look for the number, the manufacturer's name, and the batch code — then decide who to trust.

Every Gandhi Brothers pack carries our licence number, our Junagadh address, a batch code, and printed directions. That is not a marketing choice; it is what an FDCA licence asks of us.

Note: Ayurvedic products are best used under the guidance of a qualified Ayurvedic physician. This article is educational and is not medical advice.