WHO ICRS Orders & Catalogue

EDQM / WHO ICRS collaboration

The EDQM and the World Health Organization (WHO) are pleased to announce that EDQM is responsible for the distribution of WHO's International Chemical Reference Substances (ICRS).

The EDQM takes over responsibility for the establishment, preparation, storage and distribution of WHO ICRS from Apoteket AB, previously the WHO Collaborating Centre for ICRS. Reference material that was held and distributed by Apoteket AB will now be distributed by the EDQM.

ICRS are adopted by the WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations. They are supplied primarily for use in physical and chemical tests and assays described in the specifications for quality control of drugs published in the International Pharmacopoeia.

The EDQM will also organise international collaborative studies to establish new standards when required with WHO's assistance.

Online database

The International Chemical Reference Substances database gives access to all ICRS as well as to:

Standards availability;
Batch Validity Statement (BVS)* for each reference standard;
Certificate of origin; *
Safety Data Sheets;*
Leaflets.*

* These documents can be downloaded.

Search ICRS Reference Standards

List of ICRS available

Catalogue available to Download

The catalogue lists all the reference standards officially valid for the uses prescribed in the European Pharmacopoeia monographs. It gives a list of newly adopted standards, a Batch Validity Statement (BVS) for reference standards, 2687 Safety Data Sheets, and 1386 leaflets are available to download. It is updated daily in English only.

Reference Standards Catalogue (pdf)

(pdf Bilingual version English and French).

How to order or request a quotation

Orders or quotation requests can be submitted to the EDQM:

using the Store;
by e-mail to [email protected]. Please ensure that your order is on your company letterhead and states both the catalogue code and substance name, and is attached to your e-mail.

Please submit each order or request only once, either via the WebStore or by e-mail.

Before ordering, we advise you to check the availability of the reference standards in our online database and to read our Terms and Conditions.

For more detailed instructions, please read "Order and dispatch of EDQM products".