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About the EGA | Activities

Six Main Activities of the EGA

The Activities of the Association fall into six main areas:

To monitor, study and analyse those scientific, legal and technical developments at European and international level that impact upon the common interests of its membership.

To facilitate this activity, the EGA has established six committees:

• Regulatory and Scientific Affairs Committee
• Legal Affairs and Intellectual Property Committee
• Health Economics Committee, and
• EU Accession Committee.
• Biotechnology and Biosimilars Committee.
• National Associations Committee

The EGA also creates ad hoc working groups to follow specific issues or developments, such as the Safety and Pharmacovigilance Working Group or the Anti-counterfeit Priority Action Group. These committees and working groups meet periodically throughout the year in various locations in Europe and coordinate EGA policy, submissions and participation in external meetings.

To inform its members of trends, developments and implications of any scientific, legal and technical issues impacting the generic pharmaceutical industry.

As part of this activity, EGA members receive a regular 20-30 page EGA-EU Brief covering regulatory, scientific, intellectual property, international and EU enlargement issues. Produced by legal, regulatory and policy experts in the EU and pharmaceuticals field, the EGA-EU Brief provides a unique and up-to-date source of information to its members. The EGA-EU Brief is sent to EGA members in electronic format and is complete with links to relevant Web sites for more detailed information if required.

To provide educational and technical assistance to its members and the general public.

As part of this activity the EGA holds regular conferences, seminars, and workshops for its members. Some of these events, such as the EGA Annual Conference, are also open to the general public, although EGA members are entitled to preferential prices. These events take place in various parts of Europe. Regulatory and scientific seminars and conferences usually meet in London. In addition, the EGA is also a co-organiser of the annual conference of the International Generic Pharmaceutical Alliance (IGPA). Information to the general public is also made available through the EGA website.

To provide a network of information and a system of cooperative assistance with other generic pharmaceutical associations at the national, regional and international levels.

The EGA places a priority on encouraging the formation of generic pharmaceutical and bulk chemical associations in European countries where they do not exist. An EGA National Associations Committee facilitates the network of scientific, regulatory and legal information and provides mutual assistance between the various national generic medicines associations and companies in Europe. The EGA is a founding member of the International Generic Pharmaceutical Alliance (IGPA) and is a member of the IGPA Management Committee. The IGPA was established in 1998, principally as a network to share information and coordinate activities at an international level.

To provide scientific, regulatory and legal expertise at the request of national, European and international bodies.

The generic industry is regularly requested to provide expert opinion and knowledge during the establishment of national, European and international regulatory guidelines and legal instruments. The EGA coordinates and facilitates the input of experts from national companies and associations to these bodies. The EGA may also contract expert consultants to assist in this activity.

To represent the common interests of its members at EU level as well as seeking measures aimed at ensuring access to affordable medicines for patients in Europe.

The EGA assists its members in influencing the decision-making process at EU level. For this purpose the EGA maintains and develops relations with EU Member States, the European Commission and the European Parliament. In September 2002 EGA moved into new offices in the heart of the European quarter, only a minute’s walk from the European Parliament and the main offices of the European Commission.

Structure of the EGA