The 28th annual meeting of the General European OMCL Network (GEON) was held in Madrid (Spain) from 5 to 9 June 2023 and brought together about 350 participants – on-site and online – from all over Europe and beyond.
The four key strategic goals of the Network, which are pivotal for the future advancement of joint activities, structured the presentations and discussions:
- sharing and networking
- specialised centres
- communication and collaboration
- funding.
Highlights that generated increasing interest included the exploration of capillary electrophoresis techniques used in official medicines control laboratories (OMCLs) for their independent control testing of medicines. Practical examples were shared, and attendees engaged in insightful discussions on the numerous benefits these techniques offer, showcasing the expertise of specialised centres.
In-depth discussions among participants on the ongoing challenges faced by the Network covered the determination of nitrosamine impurities in medicines, identifying product-related risk signals to plan effective market surveillance testing, and addressing the increasing demand for testing of biologicals, including market surveillance testing and Official Control Authority Batch Release (OCABR).
Participants also dedicated time to discussing quality management system policies in connection with the ISO/IEC 17025 quality standard, which is the mandatory quality standard for Network members (Validation of computerized systems, Evaluation and reporting of results, Uncertainty of measurement).
The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare (EDQM), which co-ordinates the Network, is proud to see how the 2023 GEON annual meeting provided a remarkable platform for knowledge sharing, dynamic discussions, and collaborative efforts. The significant contribution of OMCL professionals to ensuring the quality and safety of medicines is the logical result of their commitment and dedication in the pursuit of enhancing market surveillance testing and batch release testing.
The EDQM, on behalf of the GEON, also thanks the Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS) for the excellent organisation of this event.
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