European Medicines Agency publishes revised Code of Conduct

18 March 2005

A revised EMEA Code of Conduct has been published, providing updated guidance to members of the EMEA Management Board, scientific committees and working parties, as well as to European experts and EMEA staff, on aspects of professional conduct relevant to the work of the EMEA.
The Code gives specific guidance on:

• conflicts of interests and the declaration of those interests, with particular regard to any direct or indirect interests in the pharmaceutical industry which could affect the impartiality of a committee or working party member, rapporteur, expert or member of staff involved in the work of the EMEA;
• confidentiality and discretion with respect to information relating to the Agency's work, particularly where that information is of a commercially sensitive nature;
• the acceptance of gifts or invitations which could exert or be deemed to exert an influence on any person working on behalf of the Agency.

In addition, the Code sets out principles of good administrative behaviour, based on a model provided by the European Ombudsman, to be respected by the Agency's agents and other servants when dealing with the public. These principles cover such areas as behaviour with regard to decision-making, the handling of complaints and requests for information from members of the public, and data protection.

The Code ensures that a consistent, high standard of professional conduct is applied by all parties associated with the EMEA's work, which is of crucial importance to the independence of the EMEA and to its reputation vis-à-vis the public regarding its execution of European Union policy in the field of public health.

Notes

1. The EMEA Code of Conduct was originally adopted on 3 December 1999. It has now been updated in the light of experience to clarify the intention of some sections and, particularly for the Declaration of Interests for members of scientific committees, to bring it into line with Council Regulation (EC) No 726/2004. The EMEA Management Board approved the revised EMEA Code of Conduct on 16 December 2004.

European Medicines Agency publishes revised Code of Conduct

Reference Number: EMEA/98065/2005