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Member Memo

June 25, 2009

Dear USP Convention Delegates and Executive Officers of Member Organizations:

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius Responds to USP: "Unite to Improve the Health of Our Nation and the Health of People Around the World" — The Honorable Kathleen Sebelius (Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services, HHS) thanked USP for offering its services and expertise and recognized USP’s historic collaboration with the FDA. Secretary Sebelius also expressed the "hope that [USP's] collaboration with FDA lasts at least another 100 years." Ms. Sebelius promised to share Dr. Williams' recommendations with the FDA and, using words from USP's mission, acknowledged the need to "unite to improve the health of our nation and the health of people around the world."

USP Convention Welcomes New Members — At its June 2009 meeting, the Board of Trustees approved the following organizations for Convention Membership  (59KB):

  • American Society of Anesthesiologists
  • Pharmacy Council of India
  • Society of Nuclear Medicine
  • National Health Surveillance Agency (Brazil)
  • Federal Service on Surveillance in Healthcare and Social Development of Russian Federation

USP looks forward to the participation of these organizations as we approach the 2010 Convention Membership Meeting.

USP Convention Welcomes Official Observers — The Membership Committee has granted Official Observer status to over 70 organizations from around the world. Official Observers to the USP Convention are recognized as organizations and individuals that collaborate and support USP’s public health mission. Although Official Observers  (1.6MB) do not have voting rights, they receive regular Convention communications and will be invited to attend USP Convention membership meetings.

2010 Convention Membership Meeting Important Dates — The 2010 Membership Meeting is less than a year away. Important Dates and Deadlines

New USP Agreements with Chinese Drug Control Authorities Reinforce Drive for Good Quality Medicines and Foods — USP CEO Dr. Roger Williams signed cooperative agreements last week with the Guangzhou Municipal Institute of Drug Control, the Beijing Municipal Institute of Drug Control, and the Zhejiang Institute for Food and Drug Control. Because Chinese manufacturers supply so much of the world’s drug and food ingredients, these agreements-coupled with three previous agreements between USP and other government organizations in China-mark a significant commitment to ensure that concerns about quality are addressed.

Chapter <797> FAQs Available — This series of answers to 117 frequently asked questions about USP General Chapter <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding—Sterile Preparations is a must read for anyone involved in sterile compounding, including practitioners who prescribe, prepare, handle, or administer compounded sterile preparations.

New Reference Standards Help Assure Manufacturers and Consumers of Quality Stevia-Based Ingredients — Reference Standards (pure chemicals against which producers and purchasers can compare their ingredients) are now available for Rebaudioside A and Steveioside to help ensure the identity, quality, purity, strength, and consistency of stevia-based food ingredients. These Reference Standards complement the soon to be released written testing standard for high-purity Rebaudioside A in the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC), a collection of documentary standards for food ingredients. As food ingredients are produced all over the world in many types of facilities, their authenticity, quality, and purity cannot be taken for granted.

Explore Standards Without Borders at USP’s 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting in Toronto ─ Spread the word to your colleagues about USP's Annual Scientific Meeting, September 22–25, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Don't miss this opportunity to participate in discussions on key issues affecting the pharmaceutical and food ingredients industries such as supply chain management, adulteration and contamination issues, metal impurities, biologics, measurement science, and much more.

USP Member Spotlight on Loyd V. Allen, Ph.D. — This issue of the Member Spotlight shines on Loyd V. Allen, Jr., Ph.D., Member of the USP Council of the Convention (CoC), Chair of the CoC Section on the Quality of Compounded Medicines, and Convention Delegate representing the University of Oklahoma College of Pharmacy since 1980. Dr. Allen is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding, CEO of the Midwest Institute of Research and Technology, and a Professor Emeritus of the University of the Oklahoma College of Pharmacy. Dr. Allen has been engaged in USP activities since the 1970’s and has served on numerous committees and panels.

USP Web Site Upgraded ─ The USP Web site has been upgraded to make the site more user-friendly and easier to navigate. New features include an A to Z index and Featured Events. Updated pages for manufacturers, regulators, healthcare providers, consumers, and members or volunteers provide information tailored to their needs. Find out what’s in it for you and send your feedback to . And don’t forget that the USP Member Page is open to the public and offers a great way for delegates to share information about USP with their colleagues.

Copy to Executive Officers 09-10