Korea and China agreed to strengthen cooperation for regulations on pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and cosmetic goods.

Minister of Food and Drug Safety Ryu Young-jin signed a “memorandum of understanding on cooperation for regulations on drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices” with the National Medical Products Administration of the People’s Republic of China (NMPA) in Beijing, Monday.

Minister of Food and Drug Safety Ryu Young-jin (left) and Jia Hong, head of the National Medical Products Administration of China (NMPA), sign a memorandum of understanding to cooperate for regulations on drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics at the NMPA in Beijing, Monday.

The agreement aims to promote cooperation and exchange in the fields of medicines, medical devices and cosmetics.

The scope of cooperation includes exchange of information on laws, ordinances and regulations on drugs, medical devices and cosmetics, better understanding of regulatory framework, regulatory requirements and procedures of both sides, exchange of safety information, including drug surveillance and adverse events, information exchange on approval for drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics, detection and enforcement of illicit drugs, medical devices and cosmetics, and education-related cooperation.

During his visit to China, Ryu held a meeting with high-ranking officials from the State Administration for Marketing Regulation of China (SAMR) and NMPA.

Ryu’s visit aimed at resuming a high-level meeting between Korea and China in the food and drug sector that was suspended in 2015. As China revamped the government structure in March last year, Ryu visited China to secure a cooperation channel with his counterpart.

China scrapped the China Food and Drug Administration and newly established a ministerial-level body SAMR and vice-ministerial-level NMPA in 2018.

Under the State Council, SAMR is responsible for laws and institutions related to commerce, intellectual property, competition, and food and pharmaceutical products in China.

NMPA, which signed the MOU with Korea’s food and drug safety ministry, is under the SAMR and responsible for approval and safety management of drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices.

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