OBJECTIVE： To summarize 2017 edition of British Pharmacopoeia， and to facilitate the use of it by drug inspectors. METHODS： The main contents and layout of 2017 edition of British Pharmacopoeia were overviewed； the similarities and differences between Chinese Pharmacopoeia and British Pharmacopoeia were described by means of literature research and general comparison with the 2015 edition of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. The reference for Chinese Pharmacopoeia was put forward. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS： British Pharmacopoeia includes 7 parts as “introduction” “explanatory notes” “text variety” “infrared control chromatogram”， and divided into 6 volumes， such as “pharmaceutical raw materials” “formulated preparations” “veterinary drugs”. Compared with the previous edition， 2017 edition added 69 new varieties， removed 9 monographs and modified 91 varieties technologically. Compared with Chinese Pharmacopoeia， British Pharmacopoeia additionally included veterinary drugs， homeopathic preparations， surgical materials， infrared spectrogram， etc. Compared with the update of Chinese Pharmacopoeia every 5 years， British Pharmacopoeia Commission updated and revised the British Pharmacopoeia every year， and provided reliable reference for the establishment of scientific analysis methods in time. At the same time， British Pharmacopoeia Commission established British Pharmacopoeia online website www.pharmacopoeia.com to provide a more convenient and fast platform for users； British Pharmacopoeia Commission paid special attention to maintaining close ties with drug manufacturers， regulators， the European Medicines Agency （EMA） and the Chinese Herbal Medicine Products Committee in EMA so as to revise drug standards timely. It provides enlightenment and reference for the revision of Chinese Pharmacopoeia.