The BIO INN Laboratories of the Egyptian Drug Authority (EDA) have joined the General European OMCL Network (GEON), co-ordinated by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM), as an associated member. After Morocco, it is the second African official medicines control laboratory (OMCL) to become part of this network. The network is now counting 69 laboratories from 43 countries among its members.

The accession of EDA marks an important milestone in strengthening international collaboration in the field of quality control of medicines. As an associated member of the GEON, the biological units of the OMCL will benefit from shared expertise, training opportunities, and access to collaborative studies , while also contributing to the network’s mission of ensuring the quality of medicines available on the markets.

“We are delighted to welcome the Egyptian Drug Authority biological laboratories to the GEON,” said Dr Petra Doerr, Director of the EDQM. “By expanding our network to include EDA, we reinforce our commitment to fostering international co-operation and harmonisation in the field of medicines quality control, in Europe and beyond. Egypt became an observer of the European Pharmacopoeia Commission in 2023, and we warmly welcome this new chapter in our collaboration.”

EDA’s inclusion in the GEON complements other EDQM efforts to increase its international outreach with the aim of tackling global health issues more effectively.