As part of China's celebration of the first anniversary of the Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Shanghai, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visited US Pharmacopeial Convention's (USP) facility in China, accompanied by Party Secretary of Shanghai, Han Zheng and several cabinet ministers.
During the visit, scientists demonstrated research and development (R&D) and testing capabilities related to USP’s quality standards for medicines, herbal medicines/dietary supplements and foods.
USP first established its China laboratory in 2007 and significantly expanded its R&D and laboratory operations at its new site in January this year.
Chief Executive Ronald Piervincenzi said the company was honoured to welcome Premier Li’s visit to the company's China headquarters.
'USP has a long history of working with partners and stakeholders in China, including more than 20 years of close interaction with the Chinese Pharmacopoeial Commission (ChP) and other agencies.
USP China is working to develop further public standards
'Identifying with the government’s enhanced efforts to assure the quality of food and medicines, including traditional herbal medicines, USP China is working to develop further public standards and continuing to collaboratively explore new scientific and technological advances.'
Premier Li toured USP China’s state-of art laboratories and viewed first hand several demonstrations showcasing key USP activities, including: a joint effort between ChP and USP involving standards for traditional Chinese herbal medicine; the detection of heavy metals in medicines and the development of a standard for taurine, a common ingredient in many popular energy drinks.
John Hu, Senior Vice President and General Manager of USP-China, added: 'New policies in the FTZ have improved operational efficiency for companies like USP, including simplified custom processes which allow us better to serve pharmaceutical and food ingredient manufacturers.'
USP China is located near many key pharmaceutical businesses in Shanghai and well-placed to work throughout China, which has become a significant part of global pharma and food ingredient manufacturing. This allows USP to connect and communicate with Chinese-based manufacturers and regulators, expand training and technical outreach, work jointly on standards, translate USP’s publications into Chinese, promote the value of visiting scientist programs and other cooperative efforts.
Piervincenzi noted that USP’s presence in Shanghai is a continuation of a relationship that stretches back nearly a century, with the first translation of USP standards into Chinese in 1923.
The USP site in Shanghai features 95,000ft2 of space for laboratory facilities designed to address today’s challenges related to product quality and to evolve and grow as new issues emerge.
USP also operates laboratories in São Paulo, Brazil; Hyderabad, India; and at its headquarters in Rockville, MD, US.