New Code of Conduct for QPs developed by EQPA

As you may be aware, the EU-Directive 2001/83/EC describes in Article 52, that member states shall ensure fulfilling the QP duties, either by administrative measures or by making QPs subject to a professional code of conduct.

As the European QP Association (EQPA) is not aware of a Code of Conduct being published by any EU/EEA authorities, it was decided to develop such a code until an official version becomes available by the EU regulatory or National Competent Authorities (NCAs). This code was developed by the Board of the EQPA and is now part of the "EQPA Code of Practice for QPs - Duties and Responsibilities for Qualified Persons in the EU" as chapter 3 entitled "Ethics for the Qualified Person - A Professional Code of Conduct".

The new code is specifically intended to define and ensure the ethical dimension for QPs. It might also be used in informing other groups (e.g. senior management) of the specific duties of the QPs. It is further intended to become a reference to QPs and NCAs. Version 1 of this new document as part of the existing "EQPA Code of Practice for QPs" (version 9.0) is now available publicly on the European QP Association website.