A new testing method, called gas chromatography, is being introduced to help make sure children’s medicines in Europe are safe and of high quality. This method will be used to check for harmful substances like ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG) in common ingredients found in children’s syrups, such as sorbitol and maltitol. These ingredients are often used in liquid medicines for kids, so detecting and preventing contamination is very important. Starting on July 1, 2027, four updated safety standards (called monographs) will require this new testing method. These standards cover different types of sorbitol and maltitol used in medicines: Sorbitol, liquid, partially dehydrated; Sorbitol, liquid (non-crystallising); Sorbitol, liquid (crystallising); and Maltitol, liquid. The new method can detect even very small amounts of EG and DEG, as low as 50 parts per million (ppm), which is important for catching contamination early. It can also measure how much of these harmful substances is present and check if they exceed safe limits—620 ppm for EG and 0.10% for DEG. The testing will be done based on a risk assessment to make sure medicines are safe. This is the first time the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) has included a special section in these standards called ‘Potential adulteration’ to highlight substances at risk of contamination. The Ph. Eur. also recently updated another standard for macrogols to help prevent contamination with EG and DEG. These changes show the organization’s ongoing efforts to keep medicines safe and protect patients, especially children.