EMA – Handling of competing interests: revised rules for committee members and experts

EMA is revising its policy on handling of competing interests of scientific committee members and experts (‘Policy 0044’). Stakeholders are invited to comment on the draft revised policy until 10 November 2024 using an online questionnaire.

The adoption of the final version by EMA’s Management Board is expected by the end of the year.

EMA’s handling of competing interests reflects the balance the Agency has to strike to fulfil its legal obligations: ensuring that committee members and experts involved in the Agency’s activities have no conflicts of interest with pharmaceutical companies that could compromise their impartiality, while also securing access to the best scientific expertise.

The policy sets out the ground rules on which EMA involves experts in its work. It has provided a robust framework for managing possible competing interests over many years, by applying restrictions to experts’ involvement in a proportionate manner, considering in particular the nature of the declared interest and the type of activity where the expert was involved (e.g. decision-making committees vs advisory bodies).

More information on this news on the EMA Website.