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TGA international engagement strategy: operations plan 2018-19
Acronym | Area |
---|---|
TGA | Therapeutic Goods Administration |
MRD | Medicines Regulation Division |
PSAB | Pharmacovigilance & Special Access Branch |
SEB | Scientific Evaluation Branch |
PMAB | Prescription Medicines Authorisation Branch |
COMB | Complementary and OTC Medicines Branch |
MDPQD | Medical Devices and Product Quality Division |
MQB | Manufacturing Quality Branch |
LB | Laboratories Branch |
MDB | Medical Devices Branch |
RPSD | Regulatory Practice & Support Division |
RECB | Regulatory Education & Compliance Branch |
REPB | Regulatory Engagement & Planning Branch |
RSLB | Regulatory Legal Services Branch |
Introduction
International engagement is pivotal to the work of Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
To support Australian regulatory decisions we consider international reports and evaluations, monitor early warnings and other post-market signals. We participate in international initiatives to influence and align international requirements with Australian standards of safety, quality and effectiveness.
Therapeutic goods regulators have many shared priorities and international engagement provides opportunities for ongoing collaboration, shared learnings, and the alignment of policies, standards and regulatory processes. International regulatory collaboration benefits:
- regional public health by working towards disease elimination
- industry through faster market access and lower costs
- patients through earlier access to medicines and medical devices
- regulators through effective processes, less duplication and reduced workloads.
TGA's International Engagement Strategy 2016-2020 set three main goals. Within this framework, broad themes of work to progress each goal have been identified:
- Contribute to public health and safety through regulation
- Strengthen the performance of regulatory authorities in our region.
- Enhance surveillance of substandard and counterfeit medicines.
- Participate in international regulatory forums.
- Work with others to improve the regulatory system
- Enable consumer access to products evaluated in part or comprehensively by comparable overseas regulators.
- Increase flexibility in pre-market assessment/market authorisation processes.
- Pharmacovigilance and post-market monitoring.
- Participate in information sharing and regulatory convergence activities
- Develop collaboration frameworks with international counterparts.
- Support ongoing development of globally consistent science-based standards.
- Enablers - activities to support TGA's international engagement.
This International Engagement Operations Plan is for the 2018-19 Financial Year. The plan identifies projects and activities, the benefits to be realised from those activities, and the line areas responsible for delivering on the three goals for international engagement.
Contribute to public health and safety through regulation
An effective regulatory framework makes a significant contribution to public health and safety in Australia and overseas.
Throughout 2018-19, the TGA will step up its involvement in the Indo-Pacific region to support regulatory authorities to address the capacity gaps in product registration and market authorisation. This will increase the availability of quality new and priority products to combat potential health security threats.
Strengthen the performance of regulatory authorities in our region
Project | Activities to be undertaken in 2018-19 | Area |
---|---|---|
Indo-Pacific Health Security Regulatory Strengthening Program (RSP) | TGA will work to strengthen the capabilities of national regulatory authorities (NRAs) in our region, including Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, to increase the availability of safe and effective essential medicines and medical devices, most immediately for malaria and tuberculosis products, through improved regulatory practice and coordination. Activities include:
| LB |
Indo-Pacific Health Security Pacific Medicines Testing Program | The TGA will work with Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to provide Pacific Island countries access to Australian laboratory testing for medicines quality assurance and discuss options for improving their quality assurance systems. Activities planned for 2018-19:
| LB |
Asian Harmonisation Working Party (AHWP) | Work with counterpart regulators to harmonise medical device regulations across the Asia Pacific region, including adoption of the Global Harmonisation Task Force (GHTF) / International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) model for the regulation of medical devices, including IVDs. | MDB |
Enhance surveillance of substandard and counterfeit medicines
Our commitment to public health and safety includes working to reduce the incidence and impact of substandard and counterfeit medicines through improved surveillance across our region.
Project | Activities to be undertaken in 2018-19 | Area |
---|---|---|
International Laboratory Forum on Counterfeit Medicines (ILCM) | Engage, as required, with eight other major regulatory authorities to routinely share information on counterfeit medicines. | LB |
Permanent Forum on International Pharmaceutical Crime (PFIPC) | The TGA's ongoing engagement with members of PFIPC assists the continuing work of Operation Pangea and allows for intelligence building, information exchange and interoperability between regulators to reduce distribution of substandard or falsified medicines. | RECB |
Strengthen intelligence about counterfeit products | Greater interoperability between regulators will assist in combatting online trading and reduce the transit of counterfeit goods. Activities planned for 2018-19:
| RECB |
Participate in international regulatory forums
Engaging in international regulatory forums aids the development of consistent regulatory processes when considering vaccines, medical devices, complementary or prescription medicines or the implementation of pharmacovigilance activities. Combined with ongoing professional development for staff, this work ensures emerging regulatory policy is aligned with international best practice.
Project | Activities to be undertaken in 2018-19 | Area |
---|---|---|
Influenza Essential Regulatory Laboratories (ERLs) Laboratories are located in: Australia, Japan, UK and USA | In collaboration with the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS) network, the TGA contributes to the development, standardisation and regulation of influenza vaccines. Activities planned for 2018-19:
| LB |
International Coalition of Medical Regulatory Agencies (ICMRA) Further information about ICMRA is available from the ICMRA website | Throughout 2018-19, the TGA will continue to engage with ICMRA as Vice-Chair of the Coalition and participate with its working groups to build a global architecture to support information sharing, crisis response and address regulatory science issues. ICMRA's working groups include:
This work promotes efficient and informed, risk-based allocation of regulatory resources to avoid duplication of effort. | MRD/REPB |
International Pharmaceutical Regulators Programme (IPRP) IPRP will provide an environment for exchange of information on issues of mutual concern and foster greater regulatory cooperation across member regulators. | In collaboration with IPRP members, the TGA will work to promote convergence of regulatory requirements for new chemical and biological entities and generic medicines, identify emerging regulatory issues, align activities and share learnings. Over 2018-19, the TGA will be actively engaged with and/or monitor progress of IPRP's working groups:
| MRD/REPB |
Australia, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland (ACSS) Consortium The goal of ACSS is to maximise international cooperation and reduce duplication. | The TGA's ongoing involvement with ACSS will allow us to progress the current information and work-sharing initiatives (details provided under Goal 2). ACCS working groups include:
| MRD/REPB |
International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) The aim of IMDRF is to build on the strong foundational work of the Global Harmonization Task Force on Medical Devices and to accelerate international medical device regulatory harmonisation and convergence. Further information about IMDRF is available on the IMDRF website | IMDRF is an international forum to develop a globally harmonised approach to regulating medical devices, improve international standards, adverse event terminology and develop an unique device identification (UDI) system. The TGA will be actively engaged in a range of work throughout 2018-19, including:
Details for these projects provided under Goals 2 and 3. | MDB |
Pharmaceutical Inspection Cooperation Scheme (PIC/S) Further information about PIC/S is available on the PIC/S website | As a foundation member, the TGA leads the international development, implementation and maintenance of harmonised Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and quality systems of inspectorates for medicines. Throughout 2018-19 work will progressing:
| MQB |
Centre for Innovation in Regulatory Science (CIRS) CIRS is an independent research organisation providing science-based insights to advance global regulatory and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) policies. Further information about CIRS is available on the CIRS website | The TGA's involvement with CIRS, including as Vice Chair of Scientific Advisory Council, advances global regulatory science policies that enhance patient access to medicines. CIRS also benchmarks the performance of major regulators through its Regulatory Review Times Database. These regulators include US FDA, EMA, PMDA, Health Canada, the TGA and Swissmedic. Throughout 2018-19, the TGA will provide metrics to the CIRS database about:
| TGA |
Continuing education, learning and development to maintain an effective regulatory framework | Through attendance at major international meetings, TGA staff will improve their understanding of scientific, clinical and regulatory developments. This will enhance our decision making capabilities and maintain a contemporary knowledge base to inform future policies for regulating and assessing therapeutic goods. | TGA |
Work with others to improve the regulatory system
Faster market authorisation processes provide patients with earlier access to medicines and medical devices and minimises associated costs to industry.
Working collaboratively with international counterparts will allow us to achieve this while ensuring the TGA's strong focus on patient safety is maintained.
Enable consumer access to products evaluated in part or comprehensively by comparable overseas regulators
Project | Activities to be undertaken in 2018-19 | Area |
---|---|---|
Complementary Medicines comparable overseas regulators | Establish a list of overseas regulators whose reports can be used to expedite evaluation of new listed medicine ingredients and assessed listed complementary medicines. This will reduce regulatory burden and evaluation times for sponsors and allow streamlined evaluations of new substances. | COMB |
Prescription Medicines Comparable Overseas Regulators (CORs) | Engage with Canada, Singapore, Switzerland, UK, Europe (EMA) and USA (FDA) to progress the COR report-based process for prescription medicines. Planned activities include:
| MRD |
European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EDQM) Certificate of Suitability (CEP) Program | The EDQM CEP program uses a centralised process to assess applications describing the manufacture and quality control of substances for pharmaceutical use. Among other benefits, issuing a CEP simplifies exchanges between regulators and industry and facilitates the assessment of marketing authorisations for medicinal products. In particular this reduces the regulatory burden of sponsors and assessment times within the TGA. Throughout 2018-19, the TGA will continue to participate in the EDQM CEP program by allowing our staff to work at the EDQM. This builds the trust of TGA evaluators in relation to the assessments performed by the EDQM, and further strengthens the international reputation of both the TGA and the EDQM CEP program. | SEB |
Australia, Canada, Singapore, Switzerland (ACSS) Work-sharing Trials Generic Medicines Work Sharing Trial (GMWST) New Chemical Entities Work Sharing Trial (NCE) | In collaboration with the ACSS Consortium we will continue to focus on work-sharing initiatives to reduce regulatory burden through:
| MRD |
Medical Device Single Audit Program (MDSAP) The MDSAP program promotes the use of a single program of Quality Management System Audits for medical device manufacturers performed by 3rd parties on behalf of a consortium of comparable regulators including Brazil, Canada, Japan, and the USA | Throughout 2018-19 activities will include:
We will also support MDSAP assessments that are to be performed in the Western Pacific Region. | MDB |
Increase flexibility in pre-market assessment / market authorisation processes
Project | Activities to be undertaken in 2018-19 | Area |
---|---|---|
Early access initiatives | Through engagement with MHRA, TGA will gain a better understanding of the UK's early access initiative. Activities to be developed include:
| PMAB, SEB |
Complementary Medicines | Engage with Health Canada to investigate efficacy monographs for potential adoption or further development for complementary medicine ingredients. | COMB |
Medical Devices comparable overseas regulators | Establish policies and guidelines for effective work-sharing processes with the EU, Canada, Japan and USA. | MDB |
Development of joint safety and efficacy evaluation templates for new complementary medicine ingredients and products as part of the ACSS consortium | The four ACSS regulators (Australia, Canada, Singapore and Switzerland) will collaborate on joint safety and efficacy evaluation templates to reduce duplication. This will also promote mutual understanding of each agency's regulatory system and approach, and advance the TGA's commitment to use comparable overseas regulator reports as part of its evaluations. | COMB |
Regulated Product Submission (IMDRF Working Group) | We will work with counterpart regulators within the IMDRF to develop a common 'Table of Contents' for medical device regulatory submissions. This format standardisation also supports electronic transmission of regulatory submissions. | MDB |
Personalised Medical Devices (IMDRF Working Group) | This IMDRF working group is developing guidance that establishes definitions and regulatory pathways for Regulatory Authorities to consider in the regulation of medical devices that are intended for individual patients. This work will promote global harmonisation in terminology and premarket requirements for such devices. | MDB |
Good Regulatory Practice (IMDRF Working Group) | Ongoing work with IMDRF to develop a common set of competency, training and conduct requirements for regulatory reviewers to build confidence in the consistency of regulatory reviews across jurisdictions. | MDB |
Global Medical Device Nomenclature (GMDN) Agency | We will be participating in a project to exchange information and develop a consistent approach for nomenclature of medical devices. | MDB |
Pharmacovigilance and post-market monitoring
The TGA's international engagement on pharmacovigilance and post-market monitoring activities will focus on enhanced information sharing relating to quality, safety, efficacy and market authorisation decisions.
Project | Activities to be undertaken in 2018-19 | Area |
---|---|---|
Medicines shortages | The TGA will engage with international counterparts on a regular basis to identify medicine shortages. This includes regular contact with the EMA (EU), FDA (USA), Health Canada (Canada), HSA (Singapore), Medsafe (NZ), SwissMedic (Switzerland) and MHRA (UK). | PSAB |
Quality Management System (QMS) audits | Quality system audits of manufacturing facilities will include:
| MDB |
International post-marketing surveillance | Ongoing information sharing of pharmacovigilance and signal investigation activities to strengthen TGA's regulatory intelligence with respect to provisionally approved medicines and biological medicines. Engagement includes:
| PSAB |
International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) Working Groups | Adverse Event Terminology Working Group Consistency helps when sharing information between participating regulators, industry and others. TGA will work with this IMDRF group to progress harmonisation of terms relating to the event type, evaluation, patient injury and device component. Broad consultations are planned prior to publishing documents on patient injury and device component terms. National Competent Authority Report (NCAR) Exchange Program Throughout 2018-19 TGA will continue to participate in this program to facilitate the exchange of information about medical device problems between participating regulators. | MDB |
Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) Inspections | Over the year, we will continue developing processes for joint inspections with partner Regulators to reduce regulatory burden to industry. Activities will include:
| MQB |
Participate in information sharing and convergence activities
Throughout 2018-19, the TGA will continue to work with our international counterparts to make informed and internationally consistent decisions about therapeutic goods in Australia.
This will be facilitated by developing frameworks for sharing information and supporting the development of globally consistent science-based standards.
Develop collaboration frameworks with international counterparts
We will develop and maintain up-to-date memoranda of understanding (MOUs) or Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) with regulatory counterparts and make these readily available to our staff. This will increase awareness of existing international arrangements, promote their use and reduce unnecessary duplication of effort across regulators.
Project | Activities to be undertaken in 2018-19 | Area |
---|---|---|
Over-the-counter (OTC) medicines | Engage with Medsafe (NZ) to progress opportunities for closer collaboration and develop improved framework for assessment and post-market monitoring of OTC medicines. | COMB |
Long term rotations of evaluators with counterpart agencies | Develop an activity that builds mutual confidence in greater use of international evaluations from regulators in UK, Japan, Singapore and Switzerland. | PMAB |
Senior Australia - New Zealand Evaluator's meetings | The TGA and Medsafe plan on continuing to meet monthly via teleconference. Outcomes inform evaluators and progress alignment efforts through:
| PMAB |
Mutual Recognition Agreements | Review and update, where necessary, MRAs with other regulatory authorities to ensure manufacturing quality through:
| MQB |
Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) | Engagement with the German regulator will progress harmonisation of requirements in regard to plasma master files (PMF) and vaccines and use of the annual PMF certification in Germany as a surrogate for TGA evaluation, in accordance with the MOU between the PEI and TGA. Activities planned include:
| SEB |
MHLW/PMDA | Invite Japanese regulators to discuss opportunities for formal confidence building and possible staff exchanges. TGA will gain familiarisation with Japanese assessment reports and processes which will enhance potential for staff exchanges, formal confidence-building arrangements and report-sharing. | PMAB |
Australia-Indonesia MoU on health cooperation | Work with Indonesia as required and in accordance with the established framework for collaboration, to exchange information in relation to:
| TGA |
Support ongoing development of globally consistent science-based standards
Complying with ISO and other international standards demonstrates manufacturers compliance with Australian Regulations (the Essential Principles) for medical devices. Involvement in the development of these standards ensures they set high benchmarks for safety and performance and reflect our requirements as a regulator.
Project | Activities to be undertaken in 2018-19 | Area |
---|---|---|
Participate in the development of relevant ISO Standards and other relevant International Standards | Throughout 2018-19, the TGA will participate in the work of ISO's technical committees to develop standards for medical devices, including standards that underpin:
Participate in Standards Australia's (SA) local standardisation committees. SA is Australia's nominating body to ISO and the local committees serve to ensure that ISO standards are suitable for use in Australia before they are adopted here. This work will influence standards for:
Participate on American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) committees and standards. ASTM standards are used to demonstrate compliance with Australian regulations. | MDB |
ISO Technical Committee 198 (TC198) Sterilisation of health care products | Standards and guidance documents developed by ISO TC198 are used internationally and within Australia by industry and regulators as an adjunct to Annex 1 Manufacture of sterile medicinal products to the PIC/S Code of GMP and as a basis for manufacturing standards for cell-based health care products. Throughout 2018-19, the TGA will represent Australia at the ISO TC198 plenary meeting and technical meetings, as well as continue development of a range of ISO TC198 standards for:
| LB |
International Council on the Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) | The TGA will participate in meetings with ICH Expert Working Groups to provide guidance on data requirements for BCS based biowaivers, including work on:
| SEB & PMAB |
World Health Organisation (WHO)
| WHO's International Pharmacopoeia is a key source of pharmaceutical standards for developing countries and regions. Planned activities for 2018-19:
| LB, SEB, PSAB |
International Medical Device Regulators Forum (IMDRF) Working Groups | Work to progress identification of commonly recognised standards and analyse differences on adoption/recognition between members. Standards Working Group
Personalised Medical Devices Working Group
| MDB |
Enablers - activities to support TGA's international engagement
Project | Activities to be undertaken in 2018-19 | Area |
---|---|---|
Horizon Scanning Model | Develop a model to facilitate the timely capture and communication of global issues and opportunities affecting the regulation of medicines and medical devices. | REPB |
Regulatory Intelligence Standard Operating Procedures for international engagement | Develop a consistent and coordinated approach, including an inter-agency template, to track intelligence activities about regulatory intelligence matters. | RECB |
Directory of contacts with comparable regulators | Develop a resource that allows TGA staff to engage at level with international regulators, reducing the loss of corporate knowledge if and when staff change positions. | REPB |
Technology resource support strategy | Given Australia's geographic location, time and cost of travel, we will enhance the TGA's capacity to engage in international regulatory forums by identifying resources required and consistent protocols to take advantage of video and phone technology. | REPB |
Communications portal | Collect, compile, edit or write information about international activities, resources and protocols for use by TGA staff and make available from the TGA's intranet and internet sites, as appropriate. | REPB |
Hosting international delegations and training | Coordinate resources as required to facilitate international visitors coming to the TGA. | REPB |
Coordinate training | Coordinate and develop, in collaboration with international counterparts, training for staff from other regulatory authorities wishing to visit Australia, specifically those from the Western Pacific Region. | REPB |