The 13th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA), co-organised by the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (Swissmedic) and the WHO took place from 16-19 September, in Bern, Switzerland.  Key topics of concern in the meetings include counterfeit drugs and issues in the production of new medical products.

ICDRA provides drug regulatory authorities of WHO Member States with a forum to meet and discuss ways to strengthen collaboration. The ICDRAs have been instrumental in guiding regulatory authorities, WHO and interested stakeholders and in determining priorities for action in national and international regulation of medicines, vaccines, biomedicines and herbals.

The conferences have been held since 1980 with the aim of promoting exchange of information and collaborative approaches to issues of common concern. As a platform established to develop international consensus, the ICDRA continues to be an important tool for WHO and drug regulatory authorities in their efforts to harmonize regulation and improve the safety, efficacy and quality of medicines.

Regulatory authorities are continually faced with new issues - such as globalization and extension of free trade - while increased responsibilities from expansion of the market and the improvement and sophistication of products place heavy demands on regulatory systems and knowledge bases. The development of cutting edge technologies and health care techniques and extensive use of the Internet impose further complex challenges.

Senior officials from Singapore HSA attended this conference and successfully bidded for the hosting right of the next ICDRA Conference to be held in 2010.

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