The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), a scientific nonprofit organisation and Indonesia’s National Agency for Drug and Food Control (NADFC) have signed a letter of agreement that allows NADFC to translate, copy, adapt and incorporate materials contained in the United States Pharmacopeia and the National Formulary (USP–NF) into the Indonesian Pharmacopoeia. USP’s standards are used in more than 140 countries.

The agreement is valid for five years, during which the NADFC may use information published in the USP–NF and its supplements to modernise the country’s pharmacopoeia. The NADFC is not allowed to use the contents of USP–NF in any publication other than the Indonesian Pharmacopoeia.

“The fact that the NADFC values the standards in USP–NF and wants to translate and adapt them for their Indonesian Pharmacopoeia shows the level of commitment to public health that USP seeks in its many international collaborations,” said Roger L Williams, MD, USP’s chief executive officer. “Efforts to harmonize standards support people’s confidence in the common quality of medicines across countries and regions, and that aligns with USP’s public health mission.”

“NADFC appreciates the assistance from USP,” said Dr A Retno Tyas Utami. “We will adapt the content of USP–NF to suit our local needs in order to promote access to good quality medicines in the Republic of Indonesia. We recognise the USP–NF as a prime reference of science-based standards for pharmaceutical products.” Dr Utami works in the Therapeutic Product and Narcotics, Psychotropic and Additive Substance Control group in NAFDC, which is responsible for publication of the Indonesian Pharmacopoeia.

The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) is a scientific, nonprofit, standards-setting organisation that advances public health through public standards and related programmes that help ensure the quality, safety, and benefit of medicines and foods.