The new veterinary regulation (Regulation 2019/6) and its implications on regulatory submissions for veterinary medicinal products

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The new veterinary regulation (NVR), Regulation 2019/6 applied to all EU Member States from 28 January 2022. The new legislation represents a significant change in how veterinary medicinal products are authorised, monitored and controlled in the EU.

The Regulation was developed in order to implement a fit-for-purpose veterinary legislation which would no longer be based on the equivalent human medicines authorisation system.

The legislation repeals Directive 2001/82/EC.

The changes are intended to:

  • reduce the administrative burden on companies and regulatory authorities
  • enhance the availability of veterinary medicinal products
  • stimulate innovation of new and existing medicines
  • strengthen the EU response to fight antimicrobial resistance.

The new Regulation 2019/6 is broken down into the following chapters:

I. Subject matter, scope and definitions

II. Marketing authorisations

III. Procedures for marketing authorisations

IV. Post marketing authorisation measures

V. Homeopathic veterinary medicinal products

VI. Manufacturing, import and export

VII. Supply and use

VIII. Inspections and controls

IX. Restriction sand penalties

X. Regulatory network

XII. Common and procedural provisions

XII. Transitional and final provisions

Here is a summary of some of the noteworthy regulatory changes that have been introduced in chapters II, III & IV of the new veterinary regulation:

Chapter II – Marketing Authorisations:

An MA for a veterinary medicinal product shall be valid for an unlimited period of time. Hence, there is no longer a requirement for a renewal procedure or the sunset clause.

Chapter III – Procedures for marketing authorisations

  • Decentralised Procedure:
    • Scope and timelines remain unchanged
    • Responsibilities of RMS, CMS and applicant have changed at some steps of the procedure. For example,
      – CMSs will also provide comments directly to the applicant at Day 100 and Day 145 instead of to the RMS only (therefore, comments are no longer anonymised).
      – at Day 100-105 and Day 145-150, the applicant will now compile and circulate the LoQs.
      – at Day 210, RMS will now be required to circulate a Final Assessment Report (FAR).
    • Possibility now for re-examination request by applicant according to Article 50 of the NVR. For further information on this change, note that CMDv have published a Best Practice Guide for Re-examination of RMS assessment report procedure.
  • Mutal Recognition Procedure:
    • Scope remains the same. However, a minimum of six months is required between the decision granting the national MA and submission of an application for a MRP.
    • 90 day procedure length remains unchanged but there are changes to some of the time-points in the procedure.
    • Responsibilities of RMS, CMS and applicant have changed at some steps of the procedure, similar to those outlined above for the DCP.
  • Centralised Procedure:
    • Scope of the mandatory use of the procedure has been widened. Refer to Article 42 (point no. 4) for details.
  • National Procedure:
    • No significant changes.
  • Subsequent Recognition Procedure (SRP):
    • Previously known as the “Repeat Use Procedure” is now officially recognised under Article 53 of the NVR.
    • Timelines and other requirements have been changed.

Due to the changes caused by the new regulation, CMDv have published updated guidance for DCP, MRP and SRP procedures:

https://www.hma.eu/veterinary-medicines/cmdv/procedural-guidance/applications-for-marketing-authorisation/authorisation-procedures.html

Chapter IV: Post marketing authorisation measures (Variations)

In terms of variations to marketing authorisations, one of the main changes arising from Regulation EU 2019/6 is that instead of the previous categories of Type IA, IB and II variations there will now only be two categories of variations:

  • Variations Not Requiring Assessment = VNRA
  • Variations Requiring Assessment = VRA

 

 

 

VNRAs consist of all the previous type IA and some Type IB variation categories.

VRAs will consist of most of the previous Type IB and all of the Type II variation categories.

Commission Regulation 1234/2008 will now no longer apply to veterinary medicinal products due to the introduction of new veterinary regulation (2019/6).

 Variations Not Requiring Assessment (VNRA)

The Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/17*, includes a list of all variations not requiring assessment along with any associated conditions and documentation requirements and is published in the EU Official Journal here.

The variations are classified as follows:

  1. Administrative changes
  2. Changes to the quality part of the dossier
  3. Changes to the safety, efficacy and pharmacovigilance part of the dossier
  4. Changes to the vaccine antigen master file (VAMF) part of the dossier

VNRAs will be processed as follows:

  • The MAH will:

– Record the change in the Product Union Database (UPD) within 30 days of implementation including required documents (no application form is necessary).
– Documents submitted directly to UPD. No CESP submission. Documents include those listed in the Implementing Act as well as SPC, package leaflet, labels.

  • The relevant CA/RMS will

– Approve/reject the variation
– Inform MAH & CMS by recording decision in database and by e-mail

CMDv has written a Best Practice Guide for variations not requiring assessment in order to provide detailed guidance on the new process.

The EMA website includes a video tutorial showing how to submit a VNRA via the Union Product Database here.

Variations Requiring Assessment (VRA)

Every change not listed in the Implementing act mentioned above (2021/17)* will require a variation that needs to be assessed.

CMDv and EMA have written a new classification guideline for the VRAs:
Guidance on the details of the classification of variations requiring assessment according to Article 62 of Regulation (EMA/CMDv/7381/2021).

The format and categorisation is similar to the previous regulation which applied (Commission Regulation 1234/2008 ), however there are many differences.

The variations are divided into chapters as follows:

E. Administrative changes
F. Quality changes
G. Safety, Efficacy and Pharmacovigilance changes
H. VAMF or, PTMF changes
I. Changes of active substance(s), strength, pharmaceutical form, route of administration or food producing target species

Z-categories have also been included to address unlisted variations and VNRA, if requirements laid down in the Implementing Regulation are not met.

The timetable for VRAs is also outlined in the new guidance as follows:

  • a standard timetable, denoted by ‘S’ which will be 60 days
  • a reduced timetable, denoted by ‘R’ which will be 30 days
  • an extended timetable, denoted by ‘E’ which will be 90 days

For details on how to submit a VRA, CMDv have written a Best Practice Guide for Variations Requiring Assessment (EMA/CMDv/144277/2021). It has been prepared in order to facilitate the processing of VRAs for MRP/DCP products. The same general principles will apply to purely nationally authorised products.

Recommendation for the classification of variations not already listed

A procedure for requesting a recommendation for the classification of variations not already listed in either the above-mentioned Implementing Regulation or the EMA/CMDv Guidance on variations requiring assessment has also been established. This is similar to the previous CMDv recommendations for classification of unforeseen variations, according to Article 5 of Regulation 1234/2008.

Refer to CMDv new guideline for detailed advice this new process entitled: Procedural advice for requests for the classification of variations not already listed in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/17 or EMA/CMDv Guidance on the details of the classification of variations requiring assessment according to Article 62 of Regulation 2019/6 (EMA/CMDv/144284/2021).

Worksharing and Grouping

Grouping and worksharing procedures do not apply to VNRA, they only apply to VRA.
As a consequence, no VNRAs can be included in a grouping or worksharing even if they are consequential or related to the VRAs included in the grouping or worksharing procedure.
However, the introduction section of CMDv Best Practice Guide for Variations Requiring Assessment (which also covers grouping), outlines the different approaches to follow when there is a need to co-ordinate changes that are related or consequential but are classified as VNRA and VRA.

The worksharing procedure is outlined in Article 65 of the NVR and it will be compulsory to follow this procedure, when the same change is being applied in different member states. Information related to worksharing is also mentioned in the CMDv BPG for Variations Requiring Assessment. However a specific guide on worksharing has also been written by CMDv: Best Practice Guide for Worksharing (EMA/CMDv/204024/2021).

Union Product Database

Due to the new regulation, the EMA has introduced new IT systems. The main one will be the Union Product Database (UPD).

It will contain information for all authorised veterinary medicines in the EU (including all nationally authorised products). For MAHs, it will provide self-service access for specific regulatory activities, including the management of variations that do not require assessment.

For more information on implementation, training, registration and access of the UPD, refer to the following link here on the EMA website.

The UPD will be linked to the other 3 other databases in the future. These databases are at different stages of development and introduction:

  • Union Pharmacovigilance Database

On 28 January 2022, the Union Pharmacovigilance Database (EVV) was successfully released. User guidance and the release notes are available here.

  • Manufacturing and Wholesale Distribution Database

The Manufacturers and Wholesale Distributors database (MWD) was released on 28 January 2022. The system is an enhanced and upgraded version of EudraGMDP, the EU database of manufacturing authorisations and certificates of good manufacturing practice, with changes affecting both the veterinary and the human domains. The MWD Project Group has also adopted requirements for aligning the GDP module with the change made to the system so far. Changes to the module will be delivered in a subsequent release scheduled for Q1 2022. In addition, enhanced search facilities on the GMP module will be delivered in the same release.

  • Database for the Collection of Data on Sales and Use of Antimicrobials in Animals.

IT development on the Collection of Antimicrobials Sales and Use Data (ASU) project started in January 2022. Information on the progress of this project will be published on the EMA website as this project develops.

Q&A on transitional arrangements

CMDv has prepared a Q&A document in order to assist both MAHs and NCAs in the management of the transition between the requirements of Directive 2001/82/EC and Regulation (EU) 2019/6. This Q&A document will be regularly updated and can be found under the following link.

This document includes an Annex which outlines how individual Member States will handle renewals of marketing authorisations after 28 January 2022.

Should you need any support with Veterinary Procedures feel free to contact us & the Ivowen team will be here to help.

Written by Claire Brown

New UK National Procedure – Expedited 150 day procedure

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There are now several routes to obtain a marketing authorisation in the United Kingdom (UK), Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) or Northern Ireland. The options available will be determined by the intended market and the type of application. In this article we will discuss the purely National procedure.

To help you to decide what type of license you will require, here is a brief explanation of the new types of MA you can obtain:

MA prefix for UK Possible MA types Territory Leg & Guidance
PL UK wide Authorised for use in United Kingdom (Great Britain & Northern Ireland) EU & MHRA rules apply
PLGB GB Authorised for use in Great Britain only (England, Scotland and Wales only) MHRA rules apply
PLNI NI Authorised for use in Northern Ireland only EU rules apply

One option you can pursue is the National procedure (a 150-day procedure) to obtain a marketing authorisation (MA) in the UK, Great Britain or/in Northern Ireland. The MHRA has introduced this accelerated procedure aimed at expediting the availability of medicines for patients in the UK and proposes to reach its opinion on marketing authorisation applications (MAAs) within 150 days of filing an application (excluding the time taken to provide further information or data required).

Applications should be submitted via the MHRA Submission Portal, and the appropriate national fee will apply.

The accelerated assessment is available for all high-quality new MAAs for both new, and existing active substances, as well as orphan designations. Interested applicants should contact the MHRA in advance of submitting the application.

For medicines containing new active substances or biosimilar products, the MHRA encourages applicants to provide a summary of the dossier to share their intentions and to verify the new active substance status.

The pre-submission meeting offers the opportunity to discuss the arrangements for the UK Compliance Check (CC) on Paediatric Investigation Plans (PIPs). Additionally, it also offers the opportunity to enhance joint discussion with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) evaluation process.

The MHRA will operate a ‘fixed submission date’ system to facilitate consultation with the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) and will publish a set of dates to facilitate planning the submissions to coordinate with appropriate meeting dates of CHM. The submission slots will be linked to the dates of CHM meetings.

The assessment timetable will begin after the validation of the application. The assessment process will run in two phases totalling 150 days like so:

  • Phase I: completed 80 days after the clock starts. Issues that arose or requiring clarification from the initial assessment will be raised with the applicant and should be addressed within the clock off period of 60 days.
  • Phase II: commence on receipt of the applicant’s responses. The MHRA will provide a decision on the acceptability of the product by day 150.

If the MHRA refuses to grant the MA-based on advice from CHM, there is an opportunity for the applicant to request a review of the decision.

The conclusion of the assessment will lead to the publication of a UK Public Assessment Report for the product.

Here are some useful links to obtain further information:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-a-licence-to-market-a-medicine-in-the-uk#national-procedure

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-note-on-new-assessment-routes

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/guidance-on-150-day-assessment-for-national-applications-for-medicines

https://services.intralinks.com/branding/3997623225/?clientID=3997623225

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mhra-fees

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/commission-on-human-medicines/about/membership

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/marketing-authorisation-application-submission-dates-for-150-days-national-and-european-commission-decision-reliance-procedures

If you need any clarification or support to help you to navigate the new post Brexit procedures, please contact us and Ivowen will gladly assist you in a timely manner.

BREXIT – MHRA post-transition period information

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The UK has left the EU and the transition period after Brexit comes to an end this year.

The MHRA have issued new guidance for industry and organisations effective from 01st January 2021.  From this date the MHRA will be the UK’s standalone medicines and medical devices regulator.

Areas covered in the new guidance include:

Clinical Trials

From 1 January 2021, for registering clinical trials, existing and established international registers will still be used, such as ISRCTN registry (UK), or ClinicalTrials.gov (USA), to ensure the public is aware of your trial. For trials involving both UK and EU sites a record in the EU Clinical Trials Register will exist (other than adult Phase 1 studies).  In the UK, any favourable opinion given by a research ethics committee is subject to the condition that the clinical trial is registered on a publicly accessible database. The time frame for publishing the summary of results is within 6 months of the end of trial for paediatric clinical trials or within one year of the end of trial for non-paediatric clinical trials. You do not need to submit this clinical trial summary report to the MHRA as well; however, you must send a short confirmatory email to CT.Submission@mhra.gov.uk once the result-related information has been uploaded to the public register and provide a link.

 

Pharmacovigilance

Guidance on qualified person responsible for pharmacovigilance (QPPV) including pharmacovigilance system master files (PSMF) from 1 January 2021

From 1 January 2021, the following legal obligations will apply to holders of UK marketing authorisations (MA). These include those that cover the whole of the UK, or are specific to Northern Ireland or to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland):

  • To operate a pharmacovigilance system for UK authorised products.
  • To have an appropriately qualified person responsible for pharmacovigilance (QPPV) that resides and operates in the EU or the UK and is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the pharmacovigilance system for UK authorised products.
  • To maintain and make available upon request a pharmacovigilance system master file (PSMF) that describes the pharmacovigilance system for UK authorised products. The PSMF must be accessible electronically or physically from the UK at the same site at which reports of suspected adverse reaction may be accessed.

Statutory guidance concerning the QPPV for UK authorised products is described in the Good Pharmacovigilance Practices (GVP) Module I. This guidance will be supplemented by the ‘Exceptions and modifications to the EU guidance on good pharmacovigilance practices that apply to UK marketing authorisation holders’, which will be published in due course.

Updated guidance on pharmacovigilance procedures

Detailed guidance on pharmacovigilance procedures from 1 January 2021 is published on the MHRA website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-pharmacovigilance-procedures-in-the-event-from-1-january-2021/updated-guidance-on-pharmacovigilance-procedures

 

Marketing Authorisations

New guidelines have been outlined for Marketing Authorisations, to include Conditional MAs, registering new packaging information, guidance on the handling of applications for Centrally Authorised Products (CAPs),  Article 29 applications, converting parallel distribution notices to UK parallel import licences, handling of ASMFs and CoS from January 2021, reference medicinal products, converting CAPs to UK MAs, guidance on licencing biosimilars, bioequivalence/therapeutic equivalence studies and renewing marketing authorisations.

 New Submission Registrations

For planned applications for submission to the UK (for example, a Marketing Authorisation for the UK market), you will need to submit the information through the MHRA national portals.

All current Eudravigilance Gateway users who wish to gain access to the new MHRA Gateway will need to first gain access to MHRA Submissions. The steps for gaining MHRA Gateway access are contained within MHRA Submissions.  MHRA Submissions will not be used to send or receive ICSRs.

A useful webinar on how to gain access to MHRA submissions portal is available on the MHRA website at the following link https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/webinars-preparing-to-make-submissions-to-the-mhra-from-1-january-2021

Within the recent MHRA guidelines, the following areas are also covered:

  • Devices
  • Importing and Exporting
  • IT Systems
  • Paediatrics

IN DEPTH DETAILS ON THE NEW MHRA GUIDANCE CAN BE FOUND ON THE LINK BELOW:-

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mhra-post-transition-period-information

 

If you need any clarification or support to help you to navigate the end of transition period please contact us and Ivowen will gladly assist you in a timely manner.

 

Written by Mary Canning

Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) classification

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Did you know, that pharmaceutical companies can consult the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to determine whether a medicine they are developing is considered an advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP)?

In doing so, they are allowed to receive confirmation that a medicine, which is based on genes, cells or tissues, meets the scientific criteria for defining an ATMP. The criteria for ATMPs are set out in Article 17 of Regulation (EC) No 1394/2007.

In order to submit an application for ATMP classification, applicants have to complete a:

  • pre-submission request form
  • ATMP-classification request form and briefing information

and return both forms to the EMA.

Applies to your company? Ivowen are here to assist you.

For more information on Ivowen’s services and how we can help you, contact us.

Written by Alice D’Alton

Ivowen - Pharmacovigilance

How to get an Assessor’s opinion before you contact the Competent Authorities

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Firstly, in this very unusual time for us all I want to let you know that our dedicated team are all healthy, safe and working from home, business as usual, to ensure that we continue to provide you with the high quality and efficient service you have come to expect from Ivowen.

Have you ever wished you could get the opinion of an Assessor before you go to the National Competent Authorities with your queries? 

Well, I am delighted to introduce you to to our newest team member Claire Brown.

Claire has come directly to Ivowen from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) and brings with her a wealth of experience as a pharmaceutical assessor of human medicinal products. Claire has been part of the team here in Ivowen since 2019 and has more than 12 years experience working in the HPRA. She started there as a Scientific Officer working mostly on veterinary medicinal products and was promoted to Pharmaceutical Assessor after 3 years.

Claire completed her undergraduate work in Chemistry and her postgraduate work in Neuropharmacology and Industrial Pharmaceutical Science.

Claire adds her extensive experience to our knowledgeable team so that we can enhance the services we provide to you and continue to give you an ‘Assessor’s eye’ opinion on your applications before you submit them.

I invite you to visit our updated Meet the Team page to see all the talented people who enable us to guide you through all aspects of regulatory strategy, dossier preparation, MA submissions through to national phase, post-approval variations, product development, quality overviews, medical devices and much much more.

If you could use some assistance to navigate the complex world of regulatory, please feel free to contact us for further information.

Written by Alice D’Alton.

BREXIT – EVERYTHING stays the same for 2020

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 The United Kingdom has formally left the EU as of 31 January 2020 and has become what is referred to as a third country.

On 1 February 2020 a transition period started which is due to end on 31 December 2020.

During the transition period, EU pharmaceutical law will continue to be applicable to the UK, meaning that pharmaceutical companies can continue to carry out activities in the UK until the end of 2020.

Companies have until 31 December 2020 to make the necessary changes to ensure that their authorised medicines comply with EU law and can remain on the EU market.

  • The UK will remain on CESP for the duration of transition period (after that, if no further extension to the transition period is proposed, it will be necessary to use the MHRA portal for submissions https://pclportal.mhra.gov.uk/)
  • Marketing authorisation holders and applicants can still be established in the UK in 2020
  • Qualified Persons for Pharmacovigilance (QPPVs) and pharmacovigilance system master files (PSMFs) can still be based in the UK until the end of 2020.
  • Manufacturing sites, Quality control testing and Batch release sites can also still be based in the UK until the end of 2020
  • orphan designation holders can still be located in the UK until 31 December 2020
  • minor use/minor species (MUMS)/limited markets classification holders can still be located in the UK until 31 December 2020

The withdrawal agreement foresees that following its departure from the EU on 31 January 2020, the UK will no longer participate in EU institutions and their decision-making. For the CMDh this means that as of 1 February 2020, no one who represents the UK, or is appointed or nominated by the UK can systemically participate in the CMDh meetings.

During the transition period, the UK will not be able to act as RMS in MRP/DCP, but the UK can participate in MRP/DCP as CMS.

Ivowen are here to assist you with all your Brexit related needs and dossier amendments.

For more information on Ivowen’s services and how we can help you, contact us.

Written by Alice D’Alton

News from the HPRA

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The HPRA are always striving to improve their processes and ways of working.  The following updates in the Human Medicines Department should help us all in our dealings with each other.

New electronic workflow system

The human medicines department within the HPRA have transitioned to using a new (internal) electronic workflow system. Due to this the following changes are worth noting for MA (marketing authorisation) applications and the issuing of licences and summary of product characteristics (SmPCs) by the HPRA:

  • Product Specific Details (PSD)

The product specific information (which included the product composition and the manufacturers’ details) will no longer form part of the product licence document that is issued by the HPRA.
Previously the product licence document consisted of the licence cover page, PSD and Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). In future, the product licence document will consist of the licence cover page and the SmPC only. The information previously detailed in the PSD will be logged on the HPRA database and remain a registered part of the product marketing authorisation.

  • Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC)

Updated SmPCs and Package Leaflets will publish on the website 24 hours after case closure.
(For details relating to the font/format of SmPC documents, further details are found in HPRA newsletter number 62).

  • PA numbers 

PA, or Product Authorisation numbers, are the Irish version of the MA number.  Newly allocated PA numbers for new holders will now contain 5 digit prefix.

  • Case Reference Number (CRN)

Previously CRNs were displayed as seven digits. These will now be alpha numerical for any new cases e.g. CRN00011X. The HPRA will still be able to identify any closed or ongoing cases using the old CRN.

  • Digital communications

All cases on the new system will be assigned a dedicated e-mail address e.g. [CaseNumber]@case.hpra.ie. This will enable you to send the HPRA case specific communications directly to the case and the allocated team. E-mail correspondence sent to you from the HPRA that is relevant to the case will come from this dedicated e-mail address. The European e-mail boxes will still be used where applicable.  You should consult with your IT department to ensure that e-mails of this nature are not blocked in your organisation.

 

National Scientific Advice Guide

The HPRA have recently updated their National Scientific Advice Guidance (which commenced in 2017) to include additional therapeutic areas for stakeholders. These areas include: anti-infective products, vaccines, disorders of haemostasis and thrombosis, cardiovascular diseases, common allergic conditions, advanced therapies in certain clinical indications and biostatistics. The updated guidance can be found at the following link:

(Guide for national scientific advice)

 

Written by:

Claire Brown

 

Brexit – extension, extension, extension

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Brexit extension date is now 31 October 2019, but there’s not time to be complacent.

Are you planning to submit a Marketing Authorisation Application (MAA) for a Non-Prescription Medicine?

If you are preparing an MAA for a Non-Prescription Medicine for a Decentralised (DCP) or Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP) you will need to prepare a ‘Justification for Non-Prescription Classification’ document in accordance to CMDh best practice guide issued in January 2019 (CMDh/250/2012, Rev 1).

 https://www.hma.eu/fileadmin/dateien/Human_Medicines/CMD_h_/procedural_guidance/Application_for_MA/CMDh_250_2012_Rev.1_2019_01_clean_-_BPG_for_NPM_in_DCP_MRP.pdf

Ideally this document should be submitted as part of the initial MAA.  Otherwise, you will be requested to provide it at the validation stage.

This document should be titled, “Justification for Non-Prescription Classification” and should be provided in Module 1.2.  It should contain all the supporting data and evidence required to justify classification of the medicinal product as not subject to medical prescription as set out in the Guideline on Changing the Classification for the Supply of a Medicinal Product for Human Use [https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/files/eudralex/vol-2/c/switchguide_160106_en.pdf].

If you need any clarification or advise to prepare a justification for Non-Prescription classification report to support a Marketing Authorisation Application, Ivowen will gladly assist you in a timely manner. Please contact us.

 

Related news in relation to Brexit

The current Brexit extension date is 31 October 2019.  The UK remains an EU Member State for the duration of the extension, with all the rights and obligations set out in the treaties and under EU law.

Nevertheless, all pharmaceutical companies in the EU are reminded to continue their preparedness for the UK’s withdrawal.

Based on the European Council decision, the deadline of 29 March 2019 referred to in Brexit related guidance should be understood as referring to 31 October 2019.

 

  • The MHRA have updated guidance on Exporting active substance manufactured in the UK in a no deal scenario on 03/06/2019.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/exporting-active-substance-manufacturer-in-the-uk-if-we-leave-the-eu-without-a-deal

A template for the Written Confirmation can be found on the European Commission website,

https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/files/gmp/2013_01_28_template.pdf

In the event of a no deal EU exit, the UK will be recognised as a Third Country for the export of active substances for human use to the EEA.

In the event of a no deal scenario, the UK will continue to accept importation of active substances into the UK without a Written Confirmation from the same list of countries as currently (namely the European Economic Area (EEA) countries, USA, Japan, Brazil, Australia, Israel and Switzerland).

A Written Confirmation will then be required for each shipment of active substances manufactured in the UK that is exported to the EEA.

Please contact us if you need any clarification or support to supply Written Confirmation(s) for the orderly import of Active Substances, Ivowen will gladly assist you in a timely manner.

  

  • The MHRA have issued a guidance on the Handling of Active Substance Master Files and Certificates of Suitability in the event of no deal published 18 March 2019.

After Brexit, the UK will no longer participate in ASMF work-sharing procedures with EU Member States or have access to the EU Communication and Tracking System (CTS) assessment report repository. Any reference in the above guideline to the CTS ASMF assessment repository or to EU/ASMF/XXXXX reference numbers will not be applicable to UK national applications after the UK leaves the EU.

Certificates of Suitability (CEPs) are not affected by the UK leaving the EU as they are issued by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Healthcare (EDQM), which is a Directorate of the Council of Europe and a body that is independent of the EU. On leaving the EU, the UK will remain a member of the Council of Europe and a signatory to the Convention on the Elaboration of a European Pharmacopoeia.

Please contact us if you need any additional information or if you need any clarification or advise on ASMFs or CEPs, Ivowen will gladly assist you in a timely manner.

 

 

 

Written by Marian Winder

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are you Brexit ready?

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Brexit in:

[wpcdt-countdown id=”796″]

Test your knowledge, take our Brexit quiz here 

What do you want to do next?  Do you want to continue to market your product in the EU only, or are you interested in both the EU and UK markets?  Read on to find out what you need to do for both scenarios.

If you would like to continue to market your product in the EU there are a few things that need to be finalised before Brexit on the 29th March 2019:

 

Reference Member State (RMS transfer)

This should have been done yesterday(!) The time it takes depends on the requested RMS’s workload.

Since July 2018 the MHRA is no longer accepting new applications with UK as RMS. However there are some currently authorised products wherein the UK is still the RMS.

If you have products and the UK is currently the RMS then it is vital a RMS transfer is initiated immediately. If there is only one CMS then this CMS should become the RMS (submission required). If there is more than one CMS, the preferred CMS needs to be consulted and a request sent asking them to be RMS. It is the responsibility of the MAH to secure a new RMS. The timeline for such transfers are solely dependent on the workload of the requested RMS.

 

Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH) transfer

Needs to be done immediately – the time it takes is dependent on where the application is submitted.

From the 29th March 2019 the MAH for a product licensed in an EU Member State (MS) other than the UK must be based in the EU. Therefore if the MAH is currently based in the UK there needs to be a MAH transfer to one based in the EU.

  • If this involves purely an address change (i.e. the marketing authorisation holder remains the same legal entity but they have an address in the EU) then this is a simple type IAin (A.1).
  • If the new MAH is a different legal entity then the MAH transfer must follow the guidelines of the currently registered RMS and CMS, at the very least documents such as transfer agreement, proof of establishment, , power of attorney(s), Pharmacovigilance (PV) update, etc., should be in place before submission of the request.

 

Batch release

Needs to be done within the next 4-8 weeks unless a product is a biological / immunological product in which case submission needs to be immediate.

Products that only have batch release and quality control testing sites for finished product in the UK will have to change the batch release and testing sites for their EU products. For products that have other batch release and testing sites the MAH may choose to delete the UK site(s) or may choose to replace them. For finished products manufactured in the UK an importation site (in EEA) will need to be introduced. In many cases, a single site can perform manufacturing, testing, importation and/or batch release activities.

The timelimes will follow the type IA/IB or type II (biological / immunological product) categories depending on what change is applied for. Please see https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/files/eudralex/vol-2/c_2013_2008/c_2013_2008_doc/c_2013_2804_en.doc

 

PV

Needs to be done asap and in association with any MAH transfers – usually a type IA or type IAin

 

The Qualified Person for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) and Pharmacovigilance Site Master File (PSMF) must be based in the EU/EEA.

 

If you wish to continue to market the product in the UK in addition to the EU:

The MHRA have stated that after Brexit, all currently approved authorisations will be transferred into national procedures and will remain valid.

If an application is in-progress at the time of Brexit the application will need to be submitted to the MHRA again as a national application in the case of CP procedures and that for MR or DC procedures a transitional provision will be made.  HOWEVER, this is contingent on a Brexit deal that allows for a transition period.  This has not yet been agreed.

To ensure the product can remain on the market / licensed, the UK are proposing the following if there is a no-deal Brexit

  • a MAH should be established in the UK by the end of 2020. Until then, the MHRA will require a contact in the UK. A Change of Ownership will need to be submitted to MHRA to change from an EU MAH to a UK MAH for UK MAs
  • the Qualified Person for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) should be established in the UK on day one, although those without a current UK presence will have until the end of 2020 at the latest to do so, but would nevertheless be required to make arrangements for providing the MHRA with access to the relevant safety data related to UK Marketing Authorisations (MAs) at any time. Companies may choose to have the EU QPPV take on responsibility for UK MAs until the UK QPPV can be established. A variation should be submitted to the MHRA to change QPPV. Exact details of this will be consulted upon
  • a Qualified Person (QP) for products manufactured in the UK or directly imported into the UK from outside a country on a designated country list (whitelist) must reside and operate in the UK. A QP for products manufactured in a country on a whitelist or manufactured in a third country and imported into the UK from a country on a whitelist can reside in a country on the whitelist.

(https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-medicines-medical-devices-and-clinical-trials-would-be-regulated-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/how-medicines-medical-devices-and-clinical-trials-would-be-regulated-if-theres-no-brexit-deal)

 

Do you need help with any of the above or any other regulatory issue?

Contact us!  We’re here to help.

 

Written by Emily Fletcher

Emily Fletcher

 

CESP expands in Poland and Greece

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Latest news from Poland and Greece for CESP

From 3rd April 2017 it will be possible to submit the following procedures via Common European Submission Portal (CESP) to Poland:

  • Initial Marketing Authorisation Applications (MAAs)
  • Variations
  • Renewals

The submissions may concern national and European procedures (MRP, DCP) both for human and veterinary medicinal products.

 

Also from 3rd April 2017 the following submissions should be transmitted through CESP for Greece:

  • All submissions for Mutual Recognition/Decentralised Procedures (MRP/DCP)
  • national procedures relating to approvals, variations, renewals, PSURs, ASMFs etc., as well as any other documentation should be submitted using CESP.
  • Responses to deficiencies and any other additional information that can be requested from the EOF within the claims of assessment.

 

 

What does this mean for you?

To date in Poland, only submissions concerning initial MAAs were possible via CESP. There are still some national requirements in Poland, however.  All documents that require an original signature can be either submitted

  • in electronic version with a valid electronic signature or
  • must be submitted in parallel to CESP in paper.
  • Documentation once submitted via CESP should be submitted via this channel throughout its whole lifecycle.

For submissions into Greece, additional CD/DVDs are no longer required.  In addition, for each submission, a corresponding reference number will be automatically assigned and will be sent directly to the applicant.

 

Where can I find more information?

Full details are available on the Polish Ministry’s website (in Polish) here.

Full information is for Greece (in Greek) here.

 

We can help…

Ivowen are fully equipped to prepare and submit any applications on your behalf.  Please contact us or our EuDRAcon partners for more information and for support of your dossier compilation or updates.

Written by Majella Ryan