The International Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Int.) - Publication
The International Pharmacopoeia* (Ph. Int.) comprises a collection of quality specifications for pharmaceutical substances (active ingredients and excipients) and dosage forms together with supporting general methods of analysis, that is intended to serve as source material for reference or adaptation by any WHO Member State wishing to establish pharmaceutical requirements. The pharmacopoeia, or any part of it, shall have legal status, whenever a national or regional authority expressly introduces it into appropriate legislation. [Published in accordance with World Health Assembly resolution WHA3.10, WHO Handbook of Resolutions and Decisions, Vol. 1, 1977, p. 127]
The current edition of The International Pharmacopoeia is the Fourth Edition; this now comprises Volumes 1 and 2 published together in 2006 and the First Supplement published in 2008. Thus, the Fourth Edition is available in print as the two main volumes plus Supplement. For the electronic version, the text of the First Supplement has been merged with that of the main volumes to provide a single, consolidated, electronic product, available as a replacement CD-ROM and on-line. This provides the user of The International Pharmacopoeia with a choice of form in which to consult the publication depending on the circumstances and the type of enquiry.
Rapid Revision
Important Corrections
The following two texts have been erroneously omitted from the Second Supplement to the International Pharmacopoeia Fourth Edition 2011
