The document provides an introduction to pharmacopoeias. It defines a pharmacopoeia as a reference work published by a government or medical society that contains directions for identifying compound medicines and pharmaceutical drug specifications. It describes the origins of early pharmacopoeias in Europe in the 16th century and provides details about the Indian Pharmacopoeia and British Pharmacopoeia, including their history and editions. It also summarizes the European Pharmacopoeia as a major regional pharmacopoeia that provides common quality standards for medicines across Europe.

1. Introduction to Pharmacopoeia
Mrs.Poonam Sunil Aher (M.Pharm, PhD)
Assistant Professor, HOD
Sanjivani College of Pharmaceutical Education and
Research (Autonomous),
Kopargaon, Ahmednagar-423603 (M.S.), INDIA
Mobile: +91-9689942854

2. • A pharmacopoeia, pharmacopeia, or pharmacopoea (from the obsolete
typography pharmacopœia, meaning "drug-making"), in its modern
technical sense, is a book containing directions for the identification of
compound medicines, and published by the authority of a government
or a medical or pharmaceutical society.
• Descriptions of preparations are called monographs. In a broader sense
it is a reference work for pharmaceutical drug specifications.

3. Origin of Pharmacopoeia
• A dated work appeared in Nuremberg in 1542; a passing student Valerius Cordus showed a
collection of medical prescriptions, which he had selected from the writings of the most eminent
medical authorities, to the physicians of the town, who urged him to print it for the benefit of
the apothecaries, and obtained the sanction of the senatus for his work.
• A work known as the Antidotarium Florentinum, was published under the authority of the college
of medicine of Florence in the 16th century.
• In 1511, the Concordie Apothecariorum Barchinone was published by the Society of Apothecaries
of Barcelona and kept in the School of Pharmacy of the University of Barcelona

4. Indian Pharmacopoeia
• Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) is an autonomous institution of the Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare which sets standards for all drugs that are manufactured,
sold and consumed in India.
• The set of standards are published under the title Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) which has
been modelled on and historically follows from the British Pharmacopoeia.
• The standards that are in effect since 1 December 2010,are the Indian Pharmacopoeia
2010 (IP 2010).
• The Pharmacopoeia 2014 was released by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on 4
November 2013.The Pharmacopoeia 2018 was released by Secretary, Ministry of Health
& Family Welfare, Government of India.

5. Edition Year Volumes Addendum/Supplement
1st Edition 1955 – Supplement 1960
2nd Edition 1966 – Supplement 1975
3rd Edition 1985 2
Addendum 1989
Addendum 1991
4th Edition 1996 2
Addendum 2000
Vet Supplement 2000
Addendum 2002
Addendum 2005
5th Edition 2007 3 Addendum 2008
6th Edition 2010 3 Addendum 2012
7th Edition 2014 4
Addendum 2015
Addendum 2016
8th Edition 2018 4 Addendum 2019
Addendum 2021
The actual process of publishing the first Pharmacopoeia started in the year 1944 under the chairmanship of Col.
R. N. Chopra. The I. P. list was first published in the year 1946 and was put forth for approval.
Editions and Volumes of IP:
Pharmacopoeia – History of publication

7. British Pharmacopoeia
• The British Pharmacopoeia (BP) is the national pharmacopoeia of the United
Kingdom. It is an annually published collection of quality standards
for medicinal substances in the UK, which is used by individuals
and organizations involved in pharmaceutical
research, development, manufacture and testing.

8. • The British Pharmacopoeia (BP) is the national pharmacopoeia of
the United Kingdom. It is an annually published collection of quality
standards for medicinal substances in the UK, which is used by
individuals and organizations involved in pharmaceutical
research, development, manufacture and testing

9. • Volumes I and II
• Medicinal Substances
• Volume III
• Formulated Preparations
• Blood related Preparations
• Immunological Products
• Radiopharmaceutical Preparations
• Surgical Materials
• Homeopathic Preparations
• Volume IV
• Appendices
• Infrared Reference Spectra
• Index
• Volume V
• British Pharmacopoeia (Veterinary)
• Volume VI: (CD-ROM version)

11. European Pharmacopoeia
• The European Pharmacopoeia(Pharmacopoeia Europaea, Ph. Eur.)
is a major regional pharmacopoeia which provides common quality
standards throughout the pharmaceutical industry in Europe to control
the quality of medicines, and the substances used
to manufacture them. It is a published collection of monographs which
describe both the individual and general quality standards for
ingredients, dosage forms, and methods of analysis for medicines.
These standards apply to medicines for
both human and veterinary use.

12. • The European Pharmacopoeia is developed by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EDQM) and is a part
of the Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France. It bases on the Convention on the elaboration of a European
Pharmacopoeia from 1964.
• 1st edition - published 1967
• 2nd edition - published 1980
• 3rd edition - published 1997
• 4th edition - published 2001, valid from 1.1.2002
• 5th edition - published 15.6.2004, valid from 1.1.2005
• 6th edition - published 16 July 2007, valid from 1.1.2008
• 7 th edition – published 15 July 2010
• 8 th edition – published 15 July 2013
• 9 th edition – published 1 July 2019
• 10 th edition – effective from 1January 2021
• 11 th edition – published 1 July 2022 but effective from 1 January 2023