The EDQM is the Network's secretariat, responsible for co-ordinating the structural network activities and for the smooth organisation of the different joint programmes.

Work programmes are decided on an annual basis in collaboration with the National Authorities and, where applicable, the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Its main goals are as follows:

• mutual recognition, within the European Union, of tests carried out by Official Medicines Control Laboratories (OMCLs) at the national level;
• improve communication among the OMCLs via a network, handbooks, and suitable Information Technology (IT) tools (e.g. databases);
• coordinate activities among the OMCLs;
• harmonise working methods within the Network by implementing and maintaining a quality management system referring to a commonly agreed standard, which includes an intensive proficiency testing programme and assessment of the system by peers' audits;
• exchange information on work programmes to optimise the use of expertise, laboratory resources and analytical data available;
• organise collaborative studies on the validation of methods;
• facilitate knowledge and work sharing;
• promote the future development of harmonised standards;
• collaborate with relevant institutions within and beyond Europe; and
• contribute to the establishment of reference substances and preparations.

There are two levels of collaboration within the network.

Firstly, general activities are open to all the member and observer states of the European Convention on the Elaboration of a European Pharmacopoeia. These activities are as follows:

• the Quality Assurance (QA) Programme;
• the Proficiency Testing Scheme (PTS) studies;
• the general Market Surveillance Scheme (MSS);
• educational activities; and
• applied analytical research and standardisation development.

Secondly, certain activities involve countries from the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) only. These are as follows:

• the Centrally Authorised Products (CAP) Sampling & Testing Programme;
• the Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP) and the Decentralised Procedure (DCP) Post Marketing Surveillance Scheme; and
• the Official Control Authority Batch Release (OCABR) for human biological medicinal products, and OCABR and Official Batch Protocol Review (OBPR) for immunological veterinary medicinal products (IVMPs).

Within Europe, OMCLs are nominated by the national authority responsible for the quality control of medicines in their country. Regular meetings are held with members of the Network and collaborative studies are organised.

Laboratories from non-European countries can participate as associate members of the work programme.

For further information, contact us via the HelpDesk.