The Council of Europe/European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM) and the European Union (EU), through the European Commission, have concluded a new contribution agreement, with equal financing, which will run until 2024. This agreement further enhances their already well-established co-operation in the field of substances of human origin (SoHO).
SoHO, such as blood, organs, tissues and cells, are used in essential therapies that save lives and improve the quality of life of millions of Europeans every year.
The agreement will contribute to providing all Council of Europe member states, including the EU 27, with a coherent European regulatory SoHO framework and to supporting professionals of the sector in implementing this framework and in strengthening their SoHO systems.
The Council of Europe and the EU have a long-standing partnership in several public health policy areas. Their co-operation in the pharmaceutical field dates back 60 years, and technical co-operation in SoHO has been under way for over a decade. By renewing their co-operation and expanding its scope through this agreement, both organisations reaffirm the importance of making the best use of their respective strengths and resources, and reiterate their shared commitment to improving the quality, safety and availability of substances of human origin.
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