This journal gives you a voice in shaping the official standards that impact you. Proposed revisions to USP–NF standards are first published in Pharmacopeial Forum (PF), giving you the opportunity to review them and send your comments and feedback to USP. PF also brings you offical and binding changes to standards before they're published separately in the next USP–NF edition of supplement. PF gives you plenty of time to prepare for any upcoming official requirements. It is published once every two months. PF is available in print and online.

Pharmacopeial Forum (PF) is USP's journal for the development and revision of official standards. PF alerts you to official and proposed changes to standards in the USP-NF. It provides a forum through which you can work with USP in shaping future standards.

PF includes the following main sections

• Interim Revision Announcements: Standards and revisions that have been adopted and will become officially binding on the specified date. Often, these revisions become official before they are published separately in the next USP-NF edition or supplement.
• Pharmacopeial Previews: Early ideas for revisions to standards in the USP-NF. Such revisions could affect numerous products and require the application of new technologies that require further study.
• In-process Revisions: Proposed revisions and new standards that USP is considering advancing to official status, with the tentative earliest date on which the revisions might become official.
• Harmonization: Status and content of items that the Pharmacopeial Discussion Group, of which USP is a member, is trying to harmonize internationally.
• For all potential and proposed changes, including harmonization items, readers can review the drafts presented in PF and send comments to the USP staff scientists specified in each section.
• Stimuli to the Revision Process: Articles on standards development issues by USP staff and volunteer experts or other interested parties; discussions on issues on which USP desires public input prior to further development.
• Policies and Announcements: General scientific and policy issues affecting USP-NF standards and processes; summaries of meetings of USP volunteer scientific experts; guidelines and deadlines for sending comments and suggestions to USP on proposed revisions.
• Staff and Committees: Names and contact information for USP scientific staff liaisons for various specialty areas; names of Expert Committees of volunteer scientific experts who guide USP's standards development and revision process.
• Other Information: Latest United Sates Adopted Names and International Nonproprietary Names for drugs; the current USP Reference Standards Catalog; brand names of chromatographic reagents based on current PF proposals; and a cumulative PF content index for the year to date.

Pharmacopeial Forum (PF) is available in two formats—print and online.

Print subscriptions are available for one year from January to December and include six issues.

Online subscriptions are available for one year for one or more users. The subscriptions provide access to all updates posted online during the 12 months after the subscription start date. Online subscriptions also provide access to back issues starting from January 2002.

PF Online includes "My PF" – a special feature that allows users to save searches, bookmark material, and track the progression of changes.

Who Needs Pharmacopeial Forum
Everyone who uses USP–NF should also read PF to keep track of proposed and official revisions to USP–NF.

PF is also a key resource for decision-makers in the pharmaceutical and related industries who are involved in shaping policies, processes, and standard operating procedures, including scientists, managers, supervisors, and directors in:

• Quality control
• Quality assurance
• Regulatory/compendial Affairs
• Research and development
• Method development/analytical services
• Corporate management

How Pharmacopeial Forum Helps
PF keeps you aware of the latest official standards with which you must comply. It also gives voice to your opinions, allowing you to shape the development of standards that impact you.

With PF, you'll be able to

• Find out about official changes before they're published separately in the USP–NF
• Provide your comments and suggestions to influence new standards and changes
• Find out why, when, and how changes and additions to USP–NF come about
• Get 2 to 12 months advance notice of changes and prepare for any new upcoming official requirements