The Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group (PDG), which brings together the European Pharmacopoeia, the Japanese Pharmacopoeia and the United States Pharmacopeia with WHO as observer, held its interim videoconference in two sessions on 15 and 28 March 2022. During this videoconference, the PDG discussed several strategic aspects.

As announced in a press release issued in October 2021, the PDG launched a pilot phase to allow additional pharmacopoeias to join the PDG with a view to expanding recognition of harmonised pharmacopoeial standards. In the weeks after the last annual meeting, which was held in October 2021, the PDG invited other world pharmacopoeias from regions not yet represented to apply to participate in a one-year pilot phase which is scheduled to start after the PDG annual meeting in autumn 2022. The PDG held three webinars with seven other pharmacopoeias to explain the details of this pilot project and the work of the PDG. As of 15 March 2022, five pharmacopoeias have shown an interest in joining forces with the PDG through this project. Interested pharmacopoeias were invited to submit their applications by 15 April 2022. The PDG will review each application to ensure that the candidate pharmacopoeia meets the entry criteria and start the pilot phase with the selected pharmacopoeia(s) that best meet the PDG entry criteria for the pilot. For full transparency towards the PDG stakeholders, these criteria and the detailed plan for the pilot phase can now be found on the websites of the three PDG pharmacopoeias (Pharmacopoeial Harmonisation).

For more information, read the press release “Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group videoconference meeting”.