DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF REFERENCE MATERIALS IN INDIA - STATUS AND PLANS

Reference materials development activities in India started during the period 1955-1960 for quality control in the production and use of dru gs and pharmaceuticals. While the practice of import and distribution gradually accelerated in some areas, including medical, environment et c., the earliest known development of Certified Reference Materials (C RMs) within the country began with the preparation of metallurgical CR Ms somewhere around 1965. A few more area-specific programs involving preparation of CRMs for quality control in the electronic industries, food and food products etc., began in the past decade. A common nation al program covering these activities was initiated in 1996, through or ganization of a national workshop on the subject and formation of a Na tional Task Force for the development and use of reference materials i n the country. The existing status and the priority needs of reference materials have been compiled by the Task Force, and a program has als o been prepared for development of some of the urgently required CRMs within the country.