Premier Sean Chen today celebrated the milestones of Taiwan joining the Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S) next month and implementing pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for 30 years at a symposium held by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Entering the PIC/S is a very important step forward, as it enables Taiwan and other participating authorities to mutually certify pharmaceuticals, bringing Taiwan's pharmaceutical inspection and regulations in line with international standards and helping safeguard public health and bolster Taiwan's pharmaceutical industries, the premier said.
Chen said the public and private sectors have worked together for the last 30 years to promote pharmaceutical GMP, and a total of 44 companies are certified at present. The premier thanked the FDA for its contributions in this respect and expressed hope that today's symposium would generate helpful suggestions for further improving public health and the pharmaceutical industry.
Following these remarks, a plaque commemorating Taiwan's achievements in pharmaceutical GMP and PIC/S membership was unveiled. Attendees of the ceremony included Premier Chen, the Executive Yuan's Secretary-General Steven S.K. Chen, Minister of the Department of Health Chiu Wen-ta, PIC/S representative Vasiliki Revithi and Malaysia's National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau Director Ann Ling Tan.
Taiwan's traditional pharmaceutical manufacturers have transformed to meet the pharmaceutical GMP standards launched in 1982, and following a two and a half years of preparation, Taiwan will officially become the 43rd member of the PIC/S on January 1, 2013, the FDA said.