Geneva, 29 September 2022: The PIC/S Committee has granted the status of Associated Partner Organisation to the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE).
Recognising that they share a common goal to protect public and animal Health and Safety, PIC/S and DG SANTE have agreed to enter into a working arrangement to co-operate in areas of common interest. The co-operation will notably be on Good Manufacturing and Distribution Practice (GMDP) standards and their implementation processes for medicinal products for human or veterinary use with a view to make best use of available resources and avoid duplication of activities. DG SANTE has very close relations and interactions as part of the EU Regulatory Network with the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which has its own co-operation agreement with PIC/S. Also the Heads of Medicines Agencies of the European Economic Area (HMA) have signed a letter of agreement with PIC/S in 2016. The co-operation between PIC/S and DG SANTE under this new arrangement will be complementary to those co-operations.
This new bilateral co-operation arrangement will lead to opportunities for increased international co-operation and is very much in line with similar agreements that PIC/S has signed with other associated partners such as EMA, EDQM, UNICEF, WOAH and WHO. Along with this new co-operation arrangement, a new trilateral working arrangement on the exchange of non-public information between PIC/S, EC and EMA has also been signed.
An official welcome will be given to DG SANTE at the next PIC/S Committee meeting in Dublin (Ireland) on 3 October 2022.
The Thailand Food and Drug Administration (Thai FDA), Ministry of Public Health, hosted the following PIC/S events in Bangkok (Thailand) on 6-10 November 2023: PIC/S Committee Meeting, PIC/S Executive Bureau Meeting and PIC/S Annual Seminar.
The PIC/S Committee met on 6-7 November 2023, under the chairmanship of Mr Paul Gustafson (Health Canada). The meeting was attended by 37 out of 56 PIC/S Participating Authorities (PA) as well as by a number of Applicants, Pre-Applicants, and Associated Partner Organisations.
Geneva, 29 November 2023:
The PIC/S Committee welcomed at its meeting in Bangkok on 6-7 November 2023 the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PIC/S and ICH (International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use) in October 2023...
MoreBoth parties are engaged in pharmaceutical harmonisation activities, PIC/S being an Observer in ICH since 2017 and many Regulatory Members in ICH are also “Participating Authorities” in PIC/S. This MoU is intended to facilitate collaboration on a number of ICH Guidelines that are relevant also for Inspectorate activities and provide training for both assessors and Inspectors.
The MoU lays down the basis for future co-operation between PIC/S and ICH further to the expiry of the ICH pilot on “More Routine Engagement of ICH with PIC/S on ICH Q Guidelines that involve Inspectorates in Implementation”. It provides a framework for co-operation on training efforts, which PIC/S looks forward to strenghtening with ICH.
Geneva, 20 November 2023:
A new PIC/S Chairperson and Executive Bureau were elected as from 1 January 2024 by the PIC/S Committee at its meeting in Bangkok (Thailand) on 6-7 November 2023.
At this occasion, the PIC/S Committee unanimously elected Mr Jacques Morénas (France / ANSM) as Chairperson for the period 2024-2025. Mr Morénas will be assisted by Ms Kathleen Sinninger (US FDA), PIC/S Deputy Chairperson. The full Executive Bureau for the period 2024-2025 consists of:
The PIC/S Committee elected the Members, Deputy Chairs and Chairs of the PIC/S Sub-Committee structure for the period 2024-2025. Office holders were elected for the following seven Sub-Committees: Training (SCT); Expert Circles (SCEC); Strategic Development (SCSD); Compliance (SCC); GM(D)P Harmonisation (SCH); Budget, Risk and Audit (SCB) and Communication (SC COM). All Sub-Committee Chairs will be Members of the PIC/S Executive Bureau as listed above.
With more than 90 Sub-Committee Members for the period 2024-25, PIC/S has a truly global representation to support diverse perspectives that will help excel on its mission in the interest of public health.
Geneva, 20 November 2023:
On 22 September 2023, China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) submitted a membership application to PIC/S, following the successful completion and closure of the PIC/S pre-accession process.
At its meeting in Bangkok on 6-7 November 2023, the PIC/S Committee discussed the membership application received, which was completed on 3 November 2023, and granted the status of Applicant to China / NMPA.
NMPA will be the representative of all Chinese Authorities involved in the Chinese Good Manufacturing Practice Regulatory Compliance Programmes (GMPRCP) as defined by PIC/S.
The Committee appointed Jacques Morénas (France / ANSM) as Rapporteur, who will lead the PIC/S Audit Team which will manage and oversee NMPA’s accession process to PIC/S.
Geneva, 20 November 2023:
On 22 September 2023, the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) applied for PIC/S pre-accession. The Rapporteur will be appointed by written procedure.