Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) for the first time has released its IP 2010 in the DVD format at its general meeting which was held on March 4 in New Delhi. With this, IPC becomes the first pharmacopoeia in the world to have its book of standards in the DVD format. The main idea behind having it in the DVD format is to ensure that it becomes more user friendly and more accessible for people who need to refer it.

The book of Indian standards was released in DVD format by K Chandramouli, secretary, ministry of Health and Family Welfare and costs Rs.25,000. Dr G N Singh, secretary and scientific director, IPC informed, “We are very proud of the fact that we are the first country to have our book of standards i.e. the IP 2010 in DVD format. We have ensured that all the data that is being converted in the DVD is rightly protected and cannot be copied and misused.”

He pointed out that the IPC had decided to launch the DVD version so as to ensure that the users will be benefited from this so that they need not carry the bulky book when they need it. He informed for those who are interested in procuring the IP 2010 in DVD format it is available for sale at the IPC Secretariat and its distributors.

IP 2010 is the only book of standards in the world that has the distinction of being available in the DVD format. Even the British Pharmacopoeia (BP), United States Pharmacopeia (USP) are available only in the CD format.

The features of the latest edition of IP 2010, supersedes the 2007 edition and has many added features to it, with increased number of anti retroviral and protease inhibitors ie 40 drugs in the current edition. The latest addition of the IP 2010 has introduced 60 herbal drugs which include raw plants and herbal products approved by the DCGI.

Among the many firsts, the IP also has the distinction of being the first pharmacopoeia to have most detailed information on phyto pharmaceutical and herbal products. There are a total of 151 IP monographs in the IP 2010 edition, of which 89 monographs is of non biological products, 48 of biologicals and 14 of diagnostics. IPC is constantly updating all parameters keeping in view of national needs and international scenario.