The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has updated its rules on declarations of interests for scientific committee members and experts. The updates further strengthen EMA’s policy by restricting involvement of experts in the scientific assessment of medicines if they plan to take up a job in the pharmaceutical industry. The updates also include a revised guide on how to complete the Agency’s declaration of interest form.

EMA’s declaration of interest policy aims for a balanced approach by effectively restricting the involvement of experts with possible conflicts of interests in the Agency’s work while maintaining EMA’s ability to access the best available expertise.

“The effective management of conflicts of interests is key to ensuring the independence and integrity of the Agency’s scientific recommendations,” says Noël Wathion, EMA’s Chief Policy Adviser. “EMA continually reviews its policy to ensure that the rules are fit for purpose.”

For more details, go to: http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/news_and_events/news/2015/05/news_detail_002322.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058004d5c1