New WHO Collaborating Center
The Institute for Biological Product Control (IBPC) of the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (NIFDC) in China was designated as WHO Collaborating Center for standardization and evaluation of biologicals on 1st January 2013. This designation is the result of a productive collaboration with colleagues from NIFDC who provided technical support to numerous WHO projects in the development of international standards for vaccines and other biologicals in the past years. The initial period of designation is 4 years and the work plan for that period includes various activities that would contribute to the development of international standards for vaccines and other biologicals as well as to their implementation into regulatory practice. It is expected that productive collaboration from previous years will continue and will contribute to WHO initiative in providing technical assistance at the global, regional and country level.
WHO norms and standards
WHO has played a key role for over 50 years in establishing the WHO Biological Reference Materials necessary to standardize biological materials as well as developing WHO guidelines and recommendations on the production and control of biological products and technologies. These norms and standards, based on scientific consensus achieved through international consultations, assist WHO Member States in ensuring the quality and safety of biological medicines and related in vitro biological diagnostic tests worldwide. The Organization accomplishes this work through its biological programme, the WHO Collaborating Centers, and the WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization (ECBS). This also involves close collaboration with the international scientific and professional communities, regional and national regulatory authorities, manufacturers and expert laboratories worldwide.
Written guidance and reference materials
The activities of the WHO biological standardization programme include the development and establishment of written guidance and biological reference materials.
Written guidelines and recommendations describe procedures for the manufacture and quality control testing of biological medicinal products to ensure safe and effective products. Guidelines provide more general information on a range of topics of interest to National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) and manufacturers, whereas recommendations establish the technical specifications for manufacturing and quality control of specific products. By adopting these guidance documents in their pharmacopoeias or equivalent legislation, national governments ensure that the products produced and used in their country conform to current international standards. Regulatory guidance documents also advise NRAs and manufacturers on the control of biological products, with the aim of establishing a harmonized regulatory framework for products moving in international markets.
