East African countries register first veterinary product under new Mutual Recognition Procedures

Arusha, 1st October 2018 – The first licences for a veterinary vaccine submitted for registration under the East African Community’s Mutual Recognition Procedure (MRP) have been issued. 

Obtaining approval to place veterinary medicines on the market requires a marketing authorisation (licence) from the National Regulatory Authority in each country where the product is to be sold. Until now, this involved applying for a licence separately in each country. The East African Community’s (EAC’s) MRP system overcomes this lengthy, resource-intensive and often unpredictable process. 

Through a partnership between EAC, Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed) and HealthforAnimals, EAC has implemented an initiative to harmonise the registration requirements and application procedure for veterinary immunologicals across all EAC countries leading to mutual recognition. MRP allows applicants to apply simultaneously for licences in multiple countries. This saves time and allows countries and applicants to use their resources more efficiently. MRP increases the likelihood for the sustainable supply of quality-registered vaccines in the region. 

David Balikowa, EAC’s Senior Livestock Officer in charge of implementing the project said “The process of developing the MRP system has been very helpful from a regional perspective allowing countries to learn from each other. We are looking forward to having more products registered through this innovative MRP regional system.”

Two other products are in the process of registration.   

***

For more information on MRP, visit https://www.eac.int/documents/category/livestock