Japanese Pharmacopoeia on Balances

USP Chapter 41 Weighing Requirements White Paper

This white paper comprehensively explains the requirements of the 2019 versions of USP General Chapters <41> and <1251> and provides advice on how to put these requirements into practice. Weighing according to USP requirements will ensure that a consistently high quality of weighing results is achieved and is applicable to all pharmaceutical QC activities globally, not just those operating in the USA.

Download the White Paper on USP Requirements for Weighing

The Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP) on Balances General Tests 9.62 “Measuring Instruments, Appliances – Balances & Weights” will be published in July 2024 as part of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia Supplement II to JP18th edition.

What Is New?

JP General Tests 9.62 addresses equipment performance and introduces measures that must be carried out periodically to optimize balance performance:

Calibration must be documented in a calibration certificate and must include measurement uncertainty
Repeatability and accuracy are the two performance checks that must be executed between calibration intervals
Highlights the importance of as-found and as-left calibration

JP 9.62 requirements describe the same tests and criteria as USP41 and Ph.Eur. 2.1.7.

How Can METTLER TOLEDO Support You?

METTLER TOLEDO offers the "Japanese Pharmacopoeia General Tests 9.62 Measuring Instruments, Appliances" certificate to meet this requirement.

The certificate provides a thorough evaluation of balance repeatability and accuracy in line with stipulated requirements. Additionally, you can also obtain an independent document that verifies the balance's compliance with the identical requirements outlined in USP General Chapter 41 and/or Ph. Eur. General Chapter 2.1.7.

Have a look at the JP Certificate (pdf) (pdf)

What Are the Key Requirements of JP 9.62?

Similar to the Ph. Eur., the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP) has specific requirements for balances used for analytical purposes. Therefore, our video Ph. Eur. 2.1.7. and our whitepaper are an excellent source to learn more about these requirements and criteria.

Who Is Affected by JP General Tests 9.62?

The Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP) is the official pharmacopoeia of Japan and serves as a legal basis for the quality control of drugs. It sets standards for the quality, safety, and efficacy of pharmaceutical products that are marketed in Japan. It is therefore also binding for Pharmaceutical companies in other regions of the world who intend to export into the Japanese market. As such, it has a similar legal status to the USP Compendium in the United States and is enforced by regulatory bodies as part of compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice.

FAQ

The scope of General Chapter 9.62 covers balances for analytical purposes. Therefore, any weighing described in a monograph of the European Pharmacopeia must comply with the principles of the chapter.

Note: JP is a reference work for quality control of drugs. The chapter is not applicable for the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals.

The chapter addresses equipment performance and introduces measures that need to be carried out periodically to control and improve the performance of the balance:

Calibration must be documented in a calibration certificate and must include measurement uncertainty
Repeatability and accuracy are the two performance checks that must be executed between the calibration intervals
Highlights the importance of as-found and as-left calibration

Yes. Each certificate has dedicated statements to document compliance according to the specific pharmacopoeia. When references are made in the customer documentation, they can be specifically related either to JP General Tests 9.62 or to USP General Chapter 41.

It is not a mandatory requirement, but it is strongly recommended for traceability. If a calibration is carried out with no adjustment afterwards, it means that the as-found calibration already fulfils the requirements of the Japanese Pharmacopoeia. In this specific case, an as-left calibration is obsolete and the as-found calibration data are also considered to be as-left-calibration data.