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USP–NF Online: Proposal for Changes to Title and Format

Type of Posting: General Announcement
Posting Date: 14–Sep–2018

USP is announcing proposed changes to the title and format of the USP–NF. These changes align with the transition to a fully electronic publishing model for USP publications, including the USP–NF, and solidifying one source for official text.

This notice is one mechanism intended to communicate the proposed changes as well as to solicit feedback.

Beginning in 2020, the USP–NF will transition to publishing three online-only publication updates per year. USP plans to continue publishing accelerated revisions and errata on a monthly basis. There will be no change to publishing dates, official dates associated with scheduled publications, or the six-month implementation period. 

Once per calendar year, a non-official volume of the USP–NF, which will include all associated revisions and additions, will be available in print and/or USB flash drive format. This volume is intended to serve as a historical reference document and is not considered official text. USP is interested in feedback on whether a print copy or print-format PDF on USB drive edition would be preferred by users.

USP is also changing the publication title to align with the electronic format. The new publication title format will be as follows:

USP–NF 2020 Issue 1
USP–NF 2020 Issue 2
USP–NF 2020 Issue 3

The term “supplement” will be eliminated, as the USP–NF Online will always include the complete, up-to-date set of standards.

General Notices will communicate that the revision/edition increases with each publication, three times per year (not just once per year as it does now). 

See the table below for details.

Publication Title Publish Date Official Date Revision/Edition
USP–NF 2020 Issue 1 February 1, 2020 August 1, 2020 Forty-fourth revision of the USP
Thirty-ninth edition of the NF
USP–NF 2020 Issue 2 June 1, 2020 December 1, 2020 Forty-fifth revision of the USP
Fortieth edition of the NF
USP–NF 2020 Issue 3 November 1, 2020 May 1, 2021 Forty-sixth revision of the USP
Forty-first edition of the NF
USP–NF 2021 Issue 1 February 1, 2021 August 1, 2021 Forty-seventh revision of the USP
Forty-second edition of the NF
USP–NF 2021 Issue 2 June 1, 2021 December 1, 2021 Forty-eighth revision of the USP
Forty-third edition of the NF
USP–NF 2021 Issue 3 November 1, 2021 May 1, 2022 Forty-ninth revision of the USP
Forty-fourth edition of the NF

 The timeline for implementation is as follows:

  • February 2019: Last print supplement (Second Supplement to USP 42–NF 37)
  • November 2019: Last print book in current format (USP 43–NF 38)
  • February 2020: Starting with USP–NF 2020 Issue 1, updates published online only (see table above for a full list of publication and official dates)
  • February 2021: USP–NF 2020 Paper Edition, Non-Official

USP is seeking feedback on the proposal, specifically on the change to the publication title, as well as interest in a non-official print/USB edition, by November 1, 2018. 

Stakeholders can also attend the October 18, 2018 Prescription/Non-prescription Stakeholder Forum in person or remotely and participate in the afternoon open forum discussion to provide further input. Registration is required, the event is free. 


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