Harmonization of Drug Regulation in Canada
Harmonizing standards on drug regulation among countries makes sense since it can reduce the workload on individual regulatory agencies and allow them to draw on each other’s strengths.
However, harmonization must be to the highest standards, protect safety, ensure that only drugs that are truly effective are marketed, and protect a country’s ability to act independently. This report looks at the history of harmonization in general and, in particular, examines what has been happening in Canada. It finds that the evidence to date suggests that harmonization in Canada has been to a lower standard.
