India’s  Health Ministry has released  Pharmacopoeia 2014 – a book of Drug Standards published by Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission . The Book was released by Gulam Nabi Azad, the Health Minister at a function at the Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi today.
The standards given in this pharmacopoeia are authoritative, legally enforceable and intended to help in the inspection and licensing of manufacturing units and distribution of drugs and pharmaceuticals.
The seventh edition of the Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP 2014) has been published by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) in fulfillment of the requirements of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules thereunder. It prescribes the standards for drugs produced and/or marketed in India and thus contributes in the control and assurance of the quality of the medicines.
The Indian Pharmacopoeia 2014 is presented in four volumes. The scope of the Pharmacopoeia has been extended to include products of biotechnology, indigenous herbs and herbal products, veterinary vaccines and additional antiretroviral drugs and formulations, inclusive of commonly used fixed-dose combinations. Standards for new drugs and drugs used under National Health Programmes are added and the drugs as well as their formulations not in use now a days are omitted from this edition.
The IP 2014 incorporates 2548 monographs of drugs out of which 577 are new monographs consisting of APIs, excipients, dosage forms, antibiotic monographs, insulin products and herbal products etc. 19 New Radiopharmaceutical Monographs and 1 General chapter is first time being included in this edition. It is hoped that this edition would play a significant role in improving the quality of medicines which in turn promote public health and accelerate the growth and development of Pharma Sector.
Present at the occasion were Shri K.N Desiraju, Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Dr. V.M Katoch, Secretary, Department of Health Research & DG, ICMR, Dr Nata Menabde, WHO Representative and various other dignitaries.