Stage 3 Proposal for Expert Committee Review

The three pharmacopeias forward the Stage 3 draft to their expert committee (through meetings or consultation by correspondence). 

Comments by the experts resulting from this preliminary survey are sent to their respective pharmacopeial secretariat, preferably within two months. However, the comment period should not exceed four months. Within two months of receipt of the comments, the pharmacopeial secretariat should consolidate the comments and forward them to the coordinating pharmacopeia. 

The coordinating pharmacopeia reviews the comments received and prepares a harmonized document (Stage 4 draft) accompanied by a commentary discussing comments received about the previous text and providing reasons for action taken in response to those comments. 

The Stage 4 draft, as far as possible written in global style—a style easily understood by a variety of readers—together with the commentary, are sent to the secretariats of the other pharmacopeias (end of Stage 3). 

---