AsianScientist (Apr. 24, 2011) – In an unprecedented step, the leaders of the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) and the Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission (ChP) have signed an agreement to support each organization’s efforts to improve and align standards for drug quality.
This agreement builds upon strong relationships between both organizations and promises benefits to manufacturers, regulators, patients and consumers who rely on quality standards for medicines.
USP’s Chief Executive Officer Dr. Roger L. Williams and ChP’s Secretary General Wu Zhen exchanged the new appointments in a ceremony today in Beijing, held in conjunction with a progress review of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in March 2008.
The 2008 MOU formalized and expanded several areas of cooperation between USP and ChP, including: joint work on documentary and physical standards for medicines that are suitable for either or both USP and ChP pharmacopeias; visiting scientists; translation of the U.S. Pharmacopeia–National Formulary (USP’s compendia of medicines and excipients) into Chinese; and joint scientific and standards meetings in China.
Wu Zhen reiterated China’s commitment to improve the quality of medicines domestically and abroad.
“Our organizations have worked together very well over the past several years in a collaborative, respectful fashion, and I value the efforts and expertise of USP as we develop and put in place additional and improved standards for medicines,” he said.
USP increasingly has been active around the world working with standards setters for medicines, dietary supplements, and food ingredients.
During his visit to China, Williams is meeting with leaders of the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) and the National Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety (NINFS), which have MOUs with USP. Next week, Williams will lead a USP delegation taking part in the 1st ASEAN-USP Scientific Symposium, being held in Bangkok, Thailand.
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Source: The United States Pharmacopeial Convention.
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