Government drug control laboratories in Middle East, North Africa join quality improvement network

Six government drug control laboratories in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) will join together with the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) in an effort to improve their capabilities to test the quality of drugs. The MENA Regional Laboratory Network aims to promote communication and exchange of information among participating countries, strengthen the performance and technical skill of the laboratories and their personnel, harmonize methods that facilitate approval of drugs across countries in the region, and help eliminate substandard and counterfeit drugs.

The Network was agreed to by senior officials of government laboratories from Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia in a meeting with USP officials on October 10. USP representatives were in Amman to participate in the Sixth USP Science & Standards Symposium cosponsored with the Jordanian Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (JAPM) and the Jordan Food and Drug Administration (FDA). JAPM was involved in developing the Network concept.

"USP is pleased to help launch this new Network as part of our mission of improving the quality of medicines, supplements and food ingredients around the world," said Roger L. Williams, M.D., USP chief executive officer. "This initiative is possible because of the increased focus of MENA governments on high quality medicines, vigorous trade in pharmaceutical goods, and the desire to harmonize procedures for testing drugs," he added. "It will complement efforts under way in several of these countries to improve and help ensure the quality of their laboratories," Williams said.

USP will provide program management, initial funding, reference standards, and technical analyses. One of the key activities planned for the initial year is the inter-laboratory testing activity. Once a drug product is selected for testing, USP will provide samples to participating laboratories which will then test the products and send results and details of their testing procedures to USP. Analyses of this information by USP will lead to feedback on each laboratory's performance, including recommendations for improvement. Participating laboratories will make key decisions about the product to be tested and how information is shared within the network.

Government agencies signing onto the Network included:

Abu Dhabi: Health Authority of Abu Dhabi, UAE
Egypt: National Organization for Drug Control & Research
Jordan: Drug Quality Control Laboratory, Jordan Food and Drug Administration
Morocco: Direction de Médicament Et de la Pharmacie
Saudi Arabia: Products Evaluation and Standards-setting and National Drug and Cosmetic Control Laboratories (NDCCL) in Drug Sector, Saudi Food and Drug Authority
Tunisia: Laboratoire National de Controle des Medicaments
If the Network is deemed successful by participants, additional government drug control laboratories in the region may be invited to join.

Provided by US Pharmacopeia