European Medicines Agency marks 40th anniversary of PIC/S
NewsMedicines
The European Medicines Agency is marking the 40th anniversary of the Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S).
PIC/S are two international instruments between countries and pharmaceutical inspection authorities. They aim to lead the international development, implementation and maintenance of harmonised good-manufacturing-practice (GMP) standards and quality systems of inspectorates in the field of medicines.
The Agency is a recognised partner of PIC/S, working together with them on:
- developing and promoting harmonised GMP standards and guidance documents;
- training inspectors in national medicines regulatory authorities;
- assessing and re-assessing inspectorates;
- facilitating co-operation and networking for national regulatory authorities and international organisations.
The Agency and PIC/S signed a new Co-operation between the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme and the European Medicines Agency in December 2010. The agreement aimed at strengthening the level of co-operation in the two organisations' areas of common interest.