Import Safety

USP Announces New Standards to Protect Patients from Counterfeit and Adulterated Medicines

February 4, 2009

With counterfeit and adulterated medicines posing an increasing risk to patients in the United States and worldwide, the U.S. Pharmacopeial (USP) Convention today announces new standards for two widely used drug products that have been involved in episodes of adulteration resulting in patient deaths. The release of these standards, for the blood thinner heparin and the sweetener glycerin, comes on the heels of recent and dangerous incidents involving the two products.

To learn more about this announcement and additional heparin and glycerin resources available from USP, click on any of the links below:

News Release on new standards for heparin and glycerin (02/04/09)
USP Proposes New Standards for Heparin to Protect Patients in Response to Recent Adulteration (02/04/09)
USP Announces Strengthened Glycerin Standard to Help Protect Consumers from Poisoned Products (02/04/09)
USP Heparin Information
USP Glycerin Information