National Regulatory Authorities in the EU (competent authority)

The European Medicines Agency works closely with the national competent authorities of the Member States of the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) responsible for human medicines.

The national competent authorities are primarily responsible for the authorisation of medicines available in the EU that do not pass through the centralised procedure.

While most countries have one entity for licensing and inspections of pharmaceutical manufacturers, importers and distribution, the Netherlands has opted to split the responsibility of licensing and inspecting between two government agencies; the IGJ and Farmatec.