On May 19, CCCMHPIE Vice President Liu Zhanglin met with Gerald Heddell, Director of the Inspection and Standards (I&S) Division, and Mr. Sandor Beukers, International Policy Manager of the British Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The two sides talked over issues to be discussed on the China-British Pharmaceutical Regulatory Cooperation Dialogue to be held on May 24.
Similar to China’s State Food and Drug Administration, MHRA is responsible for Britain’s regulation of medicines, medical devices and equipment used in healthcare, as well as formulation and implementation of relevant policies and regulations. After a series of exchanges, smooth and friendly channels of communication has been established between CCCMHPIE and MHRA.
During the meeting, Vice President Liu raised several issues of concern on the Chinese side, including the management of traditional Chinese herbal medicines in the United Kingdom and EU; the drafting of monographs on herbal medicines; the implementation of the new GMP; whether UK recognizes Chinese enterprises that have already obtained certification at PIC/S organizations; trade in API; how Chinese pharmaceutical enterprises can gain access into UK’s pharmaceutical distribution channels, and etc. Vice President Liu also extended invitations to MHRA to send personnel and assist in CCCMHPIE’s future training programs on GMP certification in UK.
Regarding those issues raised by Vice President Liu, Mr. Gerald Heddell responded in details. Heddell also indicated that MHRA would pay close attention to CCCMHPIE’s trainings on GMP, and give active participation. Other attendants of the meeting included officials from the British embassy in China, UKTI and He Chunhong, deputy director of CCCMHPIE’s technical service center.
