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MEMBER MEMORANDUM

January 15, 2009


Dear USP Members and Executive Officers:

Members' Comments Sought on Proposed Amendments to USP Constitution & Bylaws (C&B) — The C&B Committee is seeking feedback from Member Organizations and Delegates on proposed changes to the C&B. The proposed Amended and Restated Bylaws and additional explanatory documents will be posted on the Members Only C&B Web page on February 2, 2009. Comments can be submitted through April 27, 2009 via email to .

Members may learn more about the proposed changes to the C&B by attending one of the following briefings (all times Eastern Standard Time):

  • Briefing 1: Wednesday, January 21, 2009, 3:30 — 4:30 p.m.
  • Briefing 2: Thursday, January 22, 2009, 3:00 — 4:00 p.m.
  • Briefing 3: Wednesday, January 28, 2009, 11:00 a.m. — Noon

Each webinar will be led by a member of the C&B Committee and will include time for questions.

PLEASE NOTE: BRIEFING REGISTRATION INFORMATION HAS CHANGED
To register for a briefing, send an e-mail to and indicate which webinar you wish to attend.

Photos Requested for Member Directory — USP is requesting that each Convention Delegate send an electronic photo to be included in the USP Convention Member Directory. Please send your photo to Patricia Garrett at .

The Standard Highlights USP's Work in Mekong Region — The most recent issue of The Standard  (6.9MB) includes an article on training workshops conducted by USP and local partners in Lao People's Democratic Republic and Vietnam on the Quality, Safety, and Rational Use of HIV/ AIDS Medicines. The first-of-its-kind training laid a strong foundation on the concept of rational use of HIV/AIDS medicines and the importance of medicines quality on treatment outcomes.

New Standard for Popular Stevia-Based Sweetener — In response to the growing popularity of a plant-based sweetener, Rebaudioside A, USP is developing a new standard to be included in the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) that will help food and beverage manufacturers assure the product's quality for consumers. Rebaudioside A is a stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni)-based sweetener used in foods and beverages around the world as an alternative to sugar and other non-caloric sugar substitutes, such as sucralose and aspartame. USP is seeking comments from the food and beverage industry as well as all other interested parties. The proposed monograph standard became available in the FCC Forum (with free access) on the USP web site on December 31, 2008 for 90 days.

USP Offers Practical Training to Help Insure Quality of Sterile Compounded Preparations — In association with the STAR Center, USP is conducting training in Englewood, CO, on Compliance Tools and Aseptic Certification for USP <797>. This two-day course is designed to provide practical experience to successfully implement USP <797> standards in healthcare settings. Participants will take home sample templates for policies, procedures and documentation that can be customized to their facilities' needs. Pharmacists, technicians and others involved in facility/clean room design or environmental controls will benefit from taking this course. USP is also offering on-demand recordings covering various facets of <797> implementation, including disinfectant cleansing and garbing, environmental monitoring controls and facility design, and microbial contamination and sterilization methods.

USP and NIBSC to Collaborate on Improved Quality Standards for Biological Medicines — To improve the quality of the rapidly expanding array of biological medicines, USP has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Biological Standards Board, which manages the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) of the United Kingdom. The MOU will help improve and harmonize quality standards for medications made with materials derived from plants or animals, rather than those created in a chemical laboratory.

Board of Trustees Approves Strategic Plan — In 2008, the USP Board of Trustees approved the strategic plan  (1.5MB) of the USP Convention. This plan serves as a roadmap for USP. It describes how the organization will pursue its vision to improve the public health in the US and around the world by advancing public standards that help assure safe, high quality medicines and foods.

Board Update — USP's Board of Trustees and its Committees met at USP Headquarters December 7-8, 2008. A summary of the discussions and actions that occurred at the Board and Committee meetings will be available on January 23rd to Members on the Member Page.

USP's Audited Financial Statement — USP's financial audit for this past fiscal year (ending June 30) was completed by an independent auditor and approved by the Board of Trustees in October 2008 and can be found under "Resources" on the Member Page.

2005 — 2010 Resolutions Status Report — Also on the Member Page under "Resources". Members may view the status of Resolutions adopted by USP Convention delegates at the 2005 Convention.

Copy to Executive Officers 02-09