The representative of the International Office of Epizootics (OIE) reported on a proposal to establish an International Cooperation on the Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH) under the auspices of OIE and with the collaboration of COMISA. The proposed VICH is being developed in response to a need to harmonize, on an international basis, the technical requirements to be fulfilled by the veterinary pharmaceutical industry for drug registration. The advantages expected from such an international harmonization included greater efficiency and effectiveness for both industry and the competent authorities in the registration of veterinary products, without compromising safety, efficacy and quality.
The Committee strongly supported the creation of VICH since the technical requirements of veterinary drug registration were not normally considered by the CCRVDF. The Committee noted that the proposed VICH would complement and not duplicate related Codex activities, and asked OIE to report progress to future meetings of the CCRVDF.
The Committee thanked the representative of the OIE for his presentation.
