Preface
The British Pharmacopoeia 2009 is published for the Health Ministers on the recommendation
of the Commission on Human Medicines in accordance with section 99(6) of the Medicines
Act 1968.
The Commission on Human Medicines believes that the British Pharmacopoeia contributes
significantly to the overall control of the quality of medicinal products by providing an
authoritative statement of the quality that a product, material or article is expected to meet at
any time during its period of use. The Pharmacopoeial standards, which are publicly available
and legally enforceable, are designed to complement and assist the licensing and inspection
processes and are part of the system for safeguarding purchasers and users of medicinal
products.
The Commission on Human Medicines wishes to record its appreciation of the services of all
those who have contributed to this important work.