In order to assure the quality and safety of biological medicines and in vitro diagnostic procedures, the WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization provides guidance and technical specifications through the establishment of international reference preparations and recommendations for the production and control of biological products. The following summary sets out the decisions made by the Expert Committee at its recent meeting in Geneva*. A detailed report will be published in the WHO Technical Report Series. Information is also available on http://www.who.int/biologicals.

*Fifty-third meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization, 17-21 February 2003, Geneva. Participation included members from: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, Russian Federation, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America. Representatives from: Global Collaboration of Blood Safety, European Diagnositic Manufacturers Association, Council of Europe, European Plasma Fractionation Association, International Association of Biologicals, International Bureau of Weights and Measures, International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations, International Sociaety on Thrombosis and Haemostatis, Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association, United States Pharmacopeia.