The BP has been providing official standards for medicines since 1864 and is the only comprehensive collection of official authoritative standards for pharmaceutical substances and medicinal products in the UK, including all European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) monographs and texts.
The BP makes an important contribution to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency's (MHRA) role in protecting public health by providing quality standards for UK pharmaceutical substances and medicinal products. It is an essential reference tool for all individuals and organisations involved in the pharmaceutical sector:

• research
• development
• manufacturing
• quality control and analysis

BP has a broad international reach and :

• is used in over 100 countries
• is an integral part of medicines legislation in Commonwealth countries
• provides expert advice to the European Pharmacopoeia and plays an important role in the standard setting process in Europe
• provides expert advice to the World Health Organisation
• maintains close links with the world's major pharmacopoeias, ensuring that the quality of medicines is always at the forefront of international discussions.

The British Pharmacopoeia Reference Chemical Substances (BPCRS) are primary standards. They are established using absolute methods and the declared contents are determined without comparison with any other substance.

BPCRS are supplied in unit packs containing sufficient material to carry out the test procedures. BPCRS are tested in our laboratory to ensure that they are suitable for use.