European Pharmacopoeia, Strasbourg

A Pharmacopoeia serves as a guide detailing the specifications for approved drugs. The European Pharmacopoeia is situated within a building on Allée Kastner. If desired, you can peruse the volumes that outline the components and compounds sanctioned for use in the authorized medications you may be taking to treat a particular condition.

Developed by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EDQM), an entity under the Council of Europe, this Pharmacopoeia draws its foundation from the 1964 Convention for the Creation of a European Pharmacopoeia.

The EDQM conducts assessments and quality checks on all medications, regardless of whether they are intended for human or animal consumption. Only after these medications receive certification and authorization are they permitted to enter the public market. Contained within the various volumes of the Pharmacopoeia are comprehensive listings of the active ingredients and organic compounds found in antibiotics and vaccines that your family doctor is allowed to prescribe for your treatment.

Comprising 36 member countries, which encompass Iceland, Switzerland, Turkey, and the European Union, the EDQM enforces adherence to the standards outlined in the Pharmacopoeia through legal obligations.

Observers hailing from 20 non-member nations of the EDQM, including Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, the Russian Federation, and the United States of America, along with organizations like the World Health Organization, participate in meetings convened by the EDQM. While these observers aren't obligated to comply with the European Pharmacopoeia, they leverage these meetings to enhance the quality of prescribed medications in their own countries as well as in developing nations.