[The transition of the standards and the test-methods of ethanol between JP I (1886) and JP XII (1991)].

Ethanol was listed as a "Spiritus" in Japanese pharmacopoeia (JP), which was issued officially in Japan in 1886 for the first time. Then, its name was changed to alcohol in JP V (1932). "Ethanol-Aethanolum" for alcohol was listed in JP VII (1961). The specification related to ethanol was very simple at that time of 1886. However, since JP IV (1920), the specification for products listed in JP became more in detail gradually and came to those which we can see today. For example, the items of confirmation test, purity test and the other tests were established in JP VII of 1961. Ethanol will be still useful in future because of its low price and stable supply.