Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday, released the seventh edition of Indian Pharmacopoeia 2014, a book considered as a manual on drug standards.Releasing the book,the Union minister said, there have been rapid changes in the standards of drug all over the world. Stakeholders felt necessary to bring out new edition of the book as it would also help keep pace with the regulatory requirements.The standards given in the pharmacopoeia are authoritative, legally enforceable and intended to help in the inspection and licensing of manufacturing units and distribution of drugs and pharmaceuticals. Mr. Azad noted that the latest edition has been considerably revised and improved by introducing advanced technology and experimental methods widely adopted in India and abroad. The edition has been published by Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC) in fulfilment of the requirements of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.It prescribes the standards for drugs produced and marketed in India and thus contributes in the control and assurance of the quality of the medicines.The scope of the Pharmacopoeia has been extended to include products of biotechnology, indigenous herbs and herbal products, veterinary vaccines and additional antiretroviral drugs and formulations, inclusive of commonly used fixed-dose combinations.