Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) Organises First-Ever Interactive Meeting with CDL Kolkata

The Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), functioning under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, held its first-ever interactive meeting in Kolkata on August 25, 2026, at the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) and Central Cosmetics Laboratory (CCL). The event brought together drug quality experts and regulators to discuss the future of pharmaceutical standards in India.

Theme of IP 2026

The meeting was built around the theme "IP 2026: Perspectives, Suggestions & Way Forward." Discussions centred on how Indian Pharmacopoeia Reference Standards and Impurity Standards help keeps medicines safe, effective, and of consistent quality across the country.

Major Launch in IPC's First-Ever Interactive Meeting with CDL Kolkata

The biggest takeaway from the event was the launch of seven Indian Pharmacopoeia Nitrosamine Impurities Reference Standards, the first time IPC has introduced standards of this kind. These are chemical benchmarks used to detect harmful nitrosamine contamination in medicines.

IPC Launches Seven Indian Pharmacopoeia Nitrosamine Impurities

The seven newly launched reference standards are NDMA, NDEA, NEIPA, NDBA, NMPA, NDIPA, and NMBA. Nitrosamines are dangerous compounds known to be genotoxic and cancer-causing. They can accidentally enter medicines during manufacturing, storage, or packaging, making their detection especially important in drugs used for hypertension, diabetes, gastric issues, and tuberculosis.

How Seven Impurities Reference Standards Are Strengthening India's Capability

1. By introducing these standards, India strengthens its own ability to accurately detect and measure nitrosamine contamination without depending on foreign reference materials. 
2. This supports better pharmaceutical testing, method validation, and regulatory compliance, while also aligning India's drug quality practices with global standards.
3. Dr. V. Kalaiselvan, Secretary-cum-Scientific Director of IPC, spoke about the importance of working closely with CDL to safeguard drug quality. 
4. The event was also attended by Dr. Suparna Chatterjee from IPGMER Kolkata and Dr. Rakesh Kumar Rishi, Director of CDL.