EDQM strengthens international Collaboration

The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & Healthcare (EDQM, Council of Europe) is strengthening its collaboration with renowned international organisations in the field of medicines by signing Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation (NIFDS), Korea Food and Drug Administration, and the Chinese National Institute of Food and Drug Control (NIFDC), respectively.

The overall objectives of the parties are to:

• increase awareness of the importance of the quality and safety of medicines;
• establish a basis for, and promote cooperation between, the parties; and
• identify areas of mutual interest and possible collaboration.

Potential areas include common subjects of interest such as cooperation in the development of monographs and the establishment and management of reference substances, research projects of mutual interest, joint efforts in the organisation of scientific training, conferences and workshops and exchange of staff.

"Signature of these Memorandums of Understanding illustrates the close ties, cooperative spirit and mutual trust that exist between the EDQM, Council of Europe, and national authorities worldwide and recognises the importance of developing a long-term strategy at international level to ensure the quality and safety of medicines made available to the public," said Dr Susanne Keitel, Director of the EDQM.

Contact: Caroline Larsen Le Tarnec, Public Relations Division, EDQM, Council of Europe.

Further information is available on the internet site: www.edqm.eu