News PIC/S Structure

In its latest press release, the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme PIC/S highlighted the outcome of its last Committee Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, from 7-8 May 2012.

Main News:

• New organisational structure: A new sub-committee structure was introduced, starting on 1 January 2014. In the future, each sub-Committee will be responsible for its respective core areas and will take the lead in developing policies. This new structure will include Sub-Committees in the following fields: Training (SCT); Expert Circles (SCEC); Strategic Development (SCSD); (Re-)Assessment (SC on Compliance - SCC); GM(D)P Harmonisation (GMDP SC); Risk, Audit and Budget (RA&B SC) and Communication (COM SC).
• Indonesia joins PIC/S: The Indonesian National Agency of Drug and Food Control (NADFC) will join the Scheme on 1 July 2012. NADFC will become PIC/S' 41st participating Authority.
• Japan and South Korea applied for PIC/S membership: Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) submitted an application in its name and as well as on behalf of the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) and the Japanese Prefectures for PIC/S membership. Also the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) submitted an application for PIC/S membership.

New projects: new working groups were established with the aim to explore how to develop new projects and activities like Good Clinical Practices (GCP) and Good Pharmacovigilance Practices (GPP) and the creation of an Inspectorate Academy to provide harmonised and primarily web-based training for Inspectorates.

Source: PIC/S press release