Anti-fraud strategy

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) is committed to ensuring the highest standards of honesty, propriety and integrity in its work. This applies to all our staff, members of committees and external contractors. We have a 'zero tolerance' approach to fraud. Our anti-fraud strategy is central to keeping this commitment.

Updated on 17 June 2025:
Revision of EMA's anti-fraud strategy

EMA has introduced a comprehensive anti-fraud strategy aimed at preventing, detecting, and investigating fraud. 

This strategy complements other existing policies and reinforces EMA's commitment to integrity and impartiality.

For more information on how we work, see:

• How we work

Anti-fraud strategy

The overall objective of EMA's anti-fraud strategy is to support our efforts in:

• preventing and detecting fraud;
• ensuring the conditions necessary to investigate fraud, in close collaboration with the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO);
• and seeking to discourage fraud as well as to compensate victims.

The anti-fraud strategy complements existing policies and procedures such as: 

• EMA's code of conduct;
• our policy on handling competing interests;
• and our policy on handling allegations of improprieties received from external sources

These policies reinforce EMA's commitment to the highest standards of integrity and impartiality. They are also a cornerstone in the fight against fraud. 

For the purpose of EMA's anti-fraud strategy, fraud is defined as an intentional breach of a rule with the aim of obtaining a gain. This gain may or may not have a direct impact on the financial interests of the EU. It may include misbehaviours that have only a reputational impact. It may also refer to serious breaches of professional obligations by EMA staff or by EMA Management Board members. This in line line with Directive (EU) 2017/1371 on the fight against fraud to the European Union's financial interests by means of criminal law.

The Anti-Fraud Office within the EMA's Legal Department coordinates the implementation of the anti-fraud strategy and related action plan.

During its meeting on 12 June 2025, the EMA Management Board endorsed the new Anti-Fraud Strategy for 2025-2028.

European Medicines Agency's anti-fraud strategy - revised June 2025

Reference Number: EMA/165696/2025

Select the expandable panel below to access the previous revisions of EMA's anti-fraud strategy:

EMA's anti-fraud strategy: previous revisions

European Medicines Agency's anti-fraud strategy - revised March 2021

Reference Number: EMA/128273/2021

Anti-fraud strategy revised December 2017

Reference Number: EMA/812072/2017

Anti-fraud strategy: November 2014

Reference Number: EMA/591051/2014 Corr

For more information, see:

• How we work: Code of conduct
• Handling competing interests
• External whistleblowing policy

Reporting alleged fraudulent behaviour

Any EMA staff member or third party can report alleged fraudulent behaviour to the Agency, using the template below.

After an initial analysis, the Agency will report to OLAF any instance of suspected fraud, which is exclusively competent to investigate such cases.

Fraud reporting process and reporting template

Decision of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products of 1 June 1999 concerning the terms and conditions for internal investigations into the prevention of fraud, corruption and any illegal activity de...

AdoptedReference Number: EMEA/1500/99/EN