The Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group (PDG) has announced the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) as a PDG member on October 5, 2023 during PDG Stakeholder’s meeting in Hyderabad. IPC officially joined as a member in the PDG at the PDG’s Annual Meeting which was held on October 3-4, 2023 in Hyderabad. The World Health Organization (WHO) also continues to serve as observer of the PDG.

The PDG will now bring together the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.), the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP), the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) to harmonise global pharmacopoeial standards.

The objective is to reduce manufacturers' burden of having to perform analytical procedures in different ways, using different acceptance criteria, in order to satisfy pharmacopoeial requirements that vary across regions. 

IPC was the only Pharmacopoeia body in the world to be selected for pilot phase initiated in September 2022. After reviewing each application, the PDG agreed by consensus, to start the pilot phase with the IPC, the only applicant that met all the requirements in the entry criteria for the pilot.

After 1 year of pilot phase, based on IPC’s involvement, contribution and future potential, the decision on inclusion as permanent member of PDG was taken. Inclusion of IP in PDG will significantly increase the visibility of the Indian Pharmacopoia on international platform. It will establish IP as progressive pharmacopoeia which designs drug quality standards at par with global standards.

"With IPC becoming a member of PDG, it will enable the IPC to further expand its recognition of harmonised pharmacopoeial standards", observed  Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director, IPC.