About the MHRA

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is the regulator of medicines, medical devices and blood components for transfusion in the UK. 

The British Pharmacopoeia Commission (BPC) is an Advisory Non-Departmental Public Body (Advisory NDPB) and acts independently. The MHRA provides the secretariat to the BPC. This arrangement supports the BPC with access to information, as well as expertise in laboratory work and communications  

Together the MHRA and British Pharmacopoeia Commission prepare the annual British Pharmacopoeia publication, as well as the British Pharmacopoeia (Veterinary). The BPC is also responsible for providing advice to the UK delegation to the European Pharmacopoeia Commission and for selecting or devising names to be used at the head of monographs, which are subsequently published as British Approved Names (BANs). 

Through this work they make an important contribution to protecting public health by providing quality standards for UK pharmaceutical substances and medicinal products. 

You can learn more about the MHRA and how they operate by visiting their site.