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EDQM What's new?
This section provides news releases, updates on products and services, and upcoming events.
Combatting Falsified Medical Products and Similar Crimes Through Legal Instruments and Practical Measures
(15/05/12) The conference, held on 16 May 2012 in Copenhagen (Denmark), will provide for sessions about recent international legislation concerning falsifying of medical products and similar crimes, the importance of co-operation and networking as indispensable prerequisites for tackling those crimes. By invitation only.
Download the programme of the conference on Combatting Falsified Medical Products
eTACT Workshops - Get Involved
(07/05/12) If you are interested in participating or would like to know more about the eTACT project, the EDQM is organising a series of workshops in Strasbourg, in its eTACT Showroom. The workshops are open to those coming from competent authorities, patients associations, registered business stakeholders from the medicines supply chain (i.e. manufacturers, distributors and pharmacists with valid licences only), and associations representing individual stakeholders.
The EDQM progresses with eTACT, its Patient-Oriented Traceability System for Medicines
(18/04/12) The EDQM is of the opinion that a system of mass serialisation for medicines, aimed at preventing counterfeit medicines from entering the legal supply-chain, has to strictly follow the interest of patients.
Vaccines for Veterinary Use Adopted by the European Pharmacopoeia Commission
(18/04/12) The European Pharmacopoeia Commission adopted several harmonised texts for veterinary vaccines at its 142nd session. The safety tests and the tests for increased virulence performed during development of the vaccines were harmonised in the framework of harmonisation with VICH Guidelines 41 and 44, and to ensure consistency with European regulations.
142nd Session of the European Pharmacopoeia Commission
(17/04/12) The EDQM is pleased to announce that the Republic of Guinea has been granted observer status to the European Pharmacopoeia Commission at its 142nd session. The decision now brings to 25 the number of observers of the Commission. During the session, the Commission adopted 20 new individual monographs and one general monograph, two general chapters and one method of analysis.
- More information on Membership and Observership
Reference Standards Online Webinar
(05/04/12) On 15 and 22 May 2012, join the EDQM two-part webinar series on reference standards and their use in pharmaceutical analysis. The first part will focus on the establishment, production and use of the European Pharmacopoeia reference standards, chemical reference substances and biological reference preparations. The second will cover WHO reference standards and secondary reference standards.
Conference on the certificate of suitability procedure
(02/04/12) To celebrate the 20th anniversary of its Certification of Suitability to the Monographs of the European Pharmacopoeia Procedure, the EDQM of the Council of Europe organised an international conference on 22-23 March 2012 in Larnaca, Cyprus. The conference was opened by Mr. George L. Antoniou, Registrar Drugs Council, Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus, and was attended by 157 delegates from 35 countries representing all regions of the world.
Cosmetic Products: Council of Europe adopts new Resolution
(19/03/12) On 14 March 2012, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a Resolution on Cosmetic
Products Intended for Infants. It recommends that Council of Europe member states implement measures to reduce health
risks arising from exposure of infants to cosmetic products and their ingredients.
- Read the Resolution on Cosmetic Products Intended for Infants
- Read the Press Release on the new Resolution on Cosmetic Products
11th International Symposium on Pharmaceutical Reference Standards
(13/03/12) On 3-4 September 2012, the EDQM will host the 11th International Symposium on Pharmaceutical Reference Standards. Reference Standards are key materials for pharmaceutical analysis and quality control of medicines. This symposium aims to provide an open forum to all stakeholders and professionals working in this field.
EDQM sets up two new web pages on eTACT and the Medicrime Convention
(12/03/12) Following the recent eTACT workshop presenting to a large audience the EDQM IT-based traceability service for medicines, the EDQM has set up a new web page to present the service and the latest news on its development.
A web page dedicated to the Medicrime Convention, which establishes as offences the manufacturing, the supplying and the trafficking of counterfeit medical products, has also been created. The web page provides information on the background and the scope of the Convention as well as coverage of events and a map of the countries that have signed it.
New Observer to the European Pharmacopoeia Commission
(24/02/12) The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) of the Council of Europe is pleased to announce that the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore has been granted observer status to the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) Commission. The decision brings to 24 the number of observers of the European Pharmacopoeia Commission.
Biologicals: The European Pharmacopoeia has its eye on the future
(16/02/12) In the spirit of continuous improvement, the Ph. Eur. Commission is eager to ensure its sustainability by verifying that it not only fully embraces the current technological and regulatory trends, but also appropriately paves the way for the future. In response to this, the EDQM has undertaken an extensive consultation among regulatory authorities and Expert Groups. The feedback gathered from this consultation has led the Ph. Eur. Commission to undertake various actions in the field of biologicals.
EDQM Workshop on Alternatives to the Leptospirosis Potency Test
(13/02/12) As part of the on-going efforts of the European Pharmacopoeia Commission to replace in vivo with in vitro methods and further to significant efforts to develop alternative methods for the batch potency test for leptospirosis vaccines, a workshop targeted to leptospirosis manufacturers took place at the EDQM, Council of Europe, in Strasbourg on 26-27 January 2012.
Patients to be able to check authenticity of medicine under new Council of Europe scheme
(01/02/12) The EDQM (Council of Europe) has launched “eTACT”, an IT-based traceability service for medicines. eTACT is intended to become a publicly governed service for authorities and all stakeholders throughout the supply chain, including patients who will be able to verify the authenticity of their medication using smartphones or the internet.
Products & Services
Guide to the preparation, use and quality assurance of blood components - 16th Edition (2010)
Blood Transfusion & Organ Transplantation Guides
Guide to the safety and quality assurance for the transplantation of organs, tissues and cells - 4th Edition (2010)
Blood Transfusion & Organ Transplantation Guides
2012 Events Calendar
Council of Europe Convention: Counterfeiting of medical products and similar crimes
26-28 October 2011, Moscow, Russia
Proceedings: Quality of Medicines in a globalised world: Dreams and reality
14-15 October 2010, Prague, Czech Republic
Press Archives
Media Contacts
If you are a journalist and have a question about the EDQM, you can contact the Public Relations & Documentation Division:
Telephone (Direct): +33 (0) 3 88 41 28 15*; Telephone (Standard): +33 (0) 3 88 41 30 30*;
Fax.: +33 (0) 3 88 41 27 71*;
for electronic messages please use the EDQM HelpDesk.
If you have a question about the Council of Europe, please contact the Press Division:
Telephone: +33 (0) 3 88 41 25 60*; Fax.: +33 (0) 3 88 41 39 11*; E-mail: PressUnit@coe.int.
* leave out the 0 if dialling from outside France
7 allée Kastner, CS 30026, F67081 Strasbourg, France - Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 30 30 - Fax +33 (0)3 88 41 27 71
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