भारतीय भेषज संहिता आयोग
Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) hosted the 15th International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeias (IMWP)
New Delhi: The 15th International Meeting of World Pharmacopoeias (IMWP) was held at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. Hosted by the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) under the aegis of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the meeting brought together global experts to discuss harmonization and advancements in pharmacopoeial standards.
The meeting, held from 5th to 7th February 2025, witnessed participation from 30 international delegates representing 10 pharmacopoeial organizations in person, while many other organizations attended virtually, underscoring the global commitment to pharmacopoeial harmonization. Representatives from British Pharmacopoeia Commission, European Pharmacopoeia, Japanese Pharmacopoeia, Mexican Pharmacopoeia, FSBI 'SCEEMP' (Russia), United States Pharmacopeia, Uzbekistan Pharmacopoeia, Vietnamese Pharmacopoeia, Brazilian Pharmacopoeia, World Health Organization, and Korean Pharmacopoeia were present physically at the meeting.
The inaugural session on 5th February 2025 provided a platform to reaffirm India's commitment to strengthening international cooperation in pharmaceutical standards. Hon’ble Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel delivered the keynote address and released the IPC Newsletter 2024 along with IPC’s short film, In Pursuit of Excellence, highlighting India's advancements in pharmacopoeial science. The film can be accessed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCdAZodvOSM
Later, the IMWP delegation visited the IPC premises to understand more about its role in setting quality standards for medicines and healthcare products.
On 6th and 7th February 2025, closed-door meetings were held, where delegates engaged in extensive discussions on global pharmacopoeial harmonization, regulatory convergence, and strategies to ensure high-quality pharmaceutical standards. Key topics included recent advancements in impurity assessment, aligning pharmacopoeial specifications with evolving regulatory frameworks, and strengthening international collaboration through structured governance mechanisms. Discussions also emphasized the importance of environmental sustainability in pharmaceutical practices and explored ways to enhance cooperation between pharmacopoeial bodies and regulatory agencies worldwide.
During the final session, plans for the 16th IMWP were discussed, including potential hosts and key focus areas for the next meeting.
The 15th IMWP facilitated in-depth deliberations on pharmacopoeial convergence and cooperation, reinforcing the role of harmonized standards in ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines worldwide. The outcomes of the meeting will serve as a roadmap for future collaborative initiatives in standard-setting and pharmacopoeial harmonization.
