Help Develop FCC Reference Standards

A critical component in establishing USP Reference Standards is the voluntary cooperation among industry, government, and USP. USP encourages industry to get involved in the development of Reference Standards in two ways:

• By supplying bulk quantities of food ingredients to support FCC documentary standards or monographs. These materials will serve as candidates for USP Reference Standards
• By testing candidate materials provided by USP in your laboratories. This testing is integral to the characterization of USP Reference Standards

Participant Benefits

Working with USP to develop and/or test Reference Standards helps participants

• Qualify for tax benefits for the value of the materials they donate to USP
• Prepare for regulatory inspections, based on familiarity with official requirements
• Contribute to the quality of public health worldwide by ensuring the continuous availability of official Reference Standards
• Interact with USP's expert staff and volunteer scientists, who can guide industry in enhancing their internal quality control processes

The Reference Standards Development Process

Establishing a USP Reference Standard begins with the need for bulk material stemming from the development of a new monograph or the depletion of current inventory (learn how to participate in FCC monograph development) . Once USP has acquired a bulk material donation from a manufacturer, the material undergoes rigorous, collaborative testing by at least three laboratories.

For your convenience, the entire development process is also detailed in this printable document: USP Guideline for Suppliers of Reference Standard Materials . To assist participants through each step, USP has a dedicated Standards Acquisition team of scientists and support staff. Contact the team at .

USP is interested in your ideas for new Reference Standards, too. To submit an idea, visit www.usp.org/referenceStandards/industryParticipation/newIdeas.html. You also can learn when never-before-released USP Reference Standards become available through the USP Reference Standards Notification Program at www.usp.org/referenceStandards/notificationProgram.html.