The FCC at USP: A New Home for Food Ingredient Standards

From FCC e-Newsletter (Spring 2008, Vol. 1, Issue 1)

In 2006, the Food Chemicals Codex (FCC) was acquired by the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP). A compendium of internationally recognized food ingredient standards might sound like a strange fit for an organization known worldwide for disseminating pharmaceutical expertise...but, to us, it makes perfect sense.

USP has a proven history of establishing standards for pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements to promote public health, and food ingredient standards are a logical extension of those efforts. With USP's resources, existing and new food science staff, and proven leadership in creating quality documentary and reference standards, the FCC's new home promises to be one that can and will deliver excellence for the food industry.

With the release of the new FCC, Sixth Edition, in February 2008, USP introduced some exciting changes—both to the compendium itself and to the ways in which it can be accessed and used. Designed to increase ease of use and engage the food industry in the standards-setting process, the following changes demonstrate USP's commitment to the FCC and to food standards:

  • A more frequent, consistent publication schedule—Formerly published at irregular and sometimes lengthy intervals, the FCC now will be published biennially with a Supplement being released in the interim year. This aggressive publication schedule was devised to create timely standards that encompass and reflect the continual changes in the food industry.
  • A new public standards-setting and revision process—To ensure that standards accurately reflect the needs of industry and the public, USP has also implemented a new, more timely revision process that relies on public review and comment from interested parties—like you. To facilitate the new revision process, USP created the FCC Forum—a free online forum where you can review proposed revisions and submit comments and new material for consideration. Once the comment period has ended, all comments are reviewed by the USP Food Ingredients Expert Committee. Revisions and new standards that are approved will be included in the next FCC publication. The next Forum is due to be released at the end of June 2008 for public review and comment. To prepare yourself for this process, please sign up for USP Pharmacopeial Education's introductory online courses.
  • An expert staff dedicated solely to the FCC—USP has full-time food ingredient scientists dedicated to the FCC and its standards. These staff members also work with interested parties from industry, government, and academia to guide them through the process of submitting new and/or revised FCC monographs and tests.
  • A redesigned monograph format that provides clear and comprehensive information and specifications—Redesigned for ease of use and consistency, the new FCC monographs provide information relevant to each ingredient's description, function, identification and purity specifications, and test procedures. They also provide clear and concise instructions for the preparation of samples, standards, and reagents, along with analysis instructions.
  • New online format—In addition to the print version, the FCC, Sixth Edition, is available in a fully searchable online product. FCC Online provides users the same authoritative information found in print with the added functionality and convenience of advanced search, copy-paste, and bookmarking options that allow users to easily find and save the FCC information that they frequently use in their work.
  • New subscription terms—To reflect the new publication schedule, the FCC is now offered as a two-year subscription. Print subscribers to the FCC, Sixth Edition, will receive the main edition and the interim Supplement that will publish in spring 2009. Online subscriptions can begin at any time and provide access to all FCC information posted during the subscriber's subscription period.

In addition to these new features, USP also offers an array of supporting services for FCC users, such as education courses, Reference Standards, and valuable web-based information. On behalf of USP, we know you will find the new FCC, Sixth Edition, and its many new features beneficial to your work. If you haven't ordered your copy, be sure to do so today.

We invite your comments and feedback, and look forward to your input and expertise in establishing future FCC standards. Please feel free to contact us at any time.

Jeff Moore, Ph.D.
USP Department of Standards Development
Food Ingredients, Senior Scientific Associate
301-816-8288
jm@usp.org

Kristie Bowman, M.S.
USP Department of Standards Development
Food Ingredients, Senior Scientific Associate
301-816-8356
kxb@usp.org