Updated 6 January 2025: 'Certification of medicines' and 'Requesting a certificate' sections
This content applies to human and veterinary medicines.
EMA is only issuing certificates for human and veterinary medicines that are signed and authenticated electronically, as of March 2020. It is not issuing paper certificates.
The format of the certificate is based on an electronically signed PDF document using an electronic signature fully compliant with Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 on the electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market (eIDAS Regulation). This guarantees the unique link to the signatory and the full authenticity and integrity of the document.
For more information, see:
EMA’s electronic system for issuing certificates permanently replaces the previous paper-based system, as part of EMA’s drive to digitalise procedures.
EMA first introduced the electronic system in March 2020 to ensure that it can continue providing certificates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
An online verification system is available for health authorities outside the EU and any interested party to check the authenticity of an electronic certificate issued by EMA:
The legal bases are Article 127 of Directive 2001/83/EC (medicinal product for human use) and Article 98 of the Regulation 2019/6 (veterinary medicinal products). As foreseen by the legislation, the Agency's certification scheme is based on World Health Organisation recommendations.
EMA issues such certificates on behalf of the European Commission to confirm the marketing authorisation status of products either authorised by the European Commission through the centralised procedure or products for which a centralised application has been submitted to the Agency, and products for use outside the European Union (EU-M4all). It was previously known as the Article 58 procedure, as the legal basis is Article 58 of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004.
The certificates also confirm the good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliance status of the manufacturing site(s) producing the medicinal product bulk pharmaceutical form. For further information on manufacturing sites certified by the Agency, please see the information package below.
The Agency also certifies products for use outside the European Union. EU-M4all provides that the Agency can give a scientific opinion, in the context of cooperation with the WHO, for the evaluation of certain medicinal products intended exclusively for markets outside the European Community. Such opinions are drawn up by the CHMP, following a review of the quality, safety and efficacy data, analogous to the review undertaken via the centralised procedure, after consultation with the WHO.
EMA can only certify a product if a valid application for marketing authorisation, or for a scientific opinion pursuant to EU-M4all has been submitted to the Agency via the centralised procedure. For products authorised nationally by EU Member State national competent authorities (national authorisations and/or mutual recognition authorisations), the certificates are issued by the national authority granting the marketing authorisation.
The Agency can issue certificates of medicinal products to support the work of health authorities in any country outside the EU. Guidance on countries officially recognised by the EU, their official names and abbreviations used can be found in the list of countries, territories and currencies, published in the internet site of the EU as part of the Interinstitutional style guide.
EMA issues certificates within ten working days (standard procedure) or within two working days (urgent procedure) following receipt of payment in full of relevant fees for a submitted application.
For more information on certificates of medicinal products, please use the information package below.
For more information on medicinal products authorised by the Agency, see:
For more information on EMA's plasma-master-file and vaccine-antigen-master-file certification schemes, see:
For information about certification of suitability for substances, please see the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Healthcare (EDQM) website.
For more information and guidance on certification of medicinal products, see:
For information on how to request a certificate, see:
Submit requests via the Certificates Processing System
Requests sent to certificate@ema.europa.eu, certificate_urgent@ema.europa.eu or to the e-mail addresses of the Agency's staff members will not be considered.
Send any general queries about certificates to certificate@ema.europa.eu.
For all technical questions or issues related to the Certificates Processing System (CPS) raise a ticket via EMA Service Now.
EMA charges an administrative fee for issuing certificates.
For more information, see Fees payable to the European Medicines Agency.