EMA extends virtual-only meeting policy through August
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) on Tuesday announced it is extending its decision to hold all upcoming meetings virtually through August 2020 as a safety measure amid the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.EMA first made the shift to virtual-only meetings because of COVID-19 in March and extended the policy in April to continue through the end of May. Since mid-March, most EMA staff have worked remotely as well. (RELATED: Coronavirus: WHO declares pandemic, EMA meetings go virtual, Regulatory Focus 11 March 2020).
While many countries in Europe have taken the first steps to reopen their economies in recent weeks as new cases of COVID-19 have fallen, much of business as usual remains on hold.
“EMA has taken steps to reduce the further spread of COVID-19, with the aim of protecting staff, delegates and experts and playing our part as responsible citizens in our host country, the Netherlands,” EMA writes.
As such, the agency says it will continue to hold all committee and working party meetings virtually through August, with stakeholder events either being held virtually or postponed.
EMA says the measures are being taken in line with the European Commission and the Dutch government’s recommendations for containing the virus.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has taken a similar approach, with most of the agency’s upcoming meetings postponed or moved to virtual formats, though several events scheduled for August or beyond are still slated for in-person attendance at this time.
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