Thailand joins global pharmaceutical inspection scheme

BANGKOK – The global PIC/S Secretariat (Pharmaceutical Inspection Convention and Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme) has formally informed Thailand's Food and Drug Administration that its membership application has been accepted and will become effective from August 1. This makes Thailand the 49th Participating Authority, following Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia from ASEAN countries.

In a Client Alert, lawyers Baker & McKenzie say that with PIC/S status, Thai pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities can be inspected and certified by the Thai FDA for PIC/S standards without having to be inspected again by other countries.

B&M says some of the potentials benefits to come with this development and the prospect of countries sharing common pharmaceutical product manufacturing standards are:
• Avoiding duplication of inspections within ASEAN;
•  Saving time, resources and costs and facilitating exports across ASEAN;
• Enhancing the market access attributed by highly recognised manufacturing standards; and
• Quicker access by patients and consumers to medicinal products at reasonable prices.
www.bakermckenzie.com (ATI).