The International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRAs) provide drug regulatory authorities of WHO Member States with a forum to meet and discuss ways to strengthen collaboration. The ICDRAs have been instrumental in guiding regulatory authorities, WHO and interested stakeholders and in determining priorities for action in national and international regulation of medicines, vaccines, biomedicines and herbals.

The conferences have been held since 1980 with the aim of promoting exchange of information and collaborative approaches to issues of common concern. As a platform established to develop international consensus, the ICDRA continues to be an important tool for WHO and drug regulatory authorities in their efforts to harmonize regulation and improve the safety, efficacy and quality of medicines.

Regulatory authorities are continually faced with new issues - such as globalization and extension of free trade - while increased responsibilities from expansion of the market and the improvement and sophistication of products place heavy demands on regulatory systems and knowledge bases. The development of cutting edge technologies and health care techniques and extensive use of the Internet impose further complex challenges.

The ICDRA programme is developed by a planning committee of representative drug regulators. Topics discussed during the four days of the ICDRA, may include quality issues, herbal medicines, homeopathy, regulatory reform, medicines safety, counterfeiting, access, regulation of clinical trials, harmonization, new technologies and e-commerce. Recommendations are proposed for action among agencies, WHO and related institutions.

19th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA)

New Delhi – India 14-18 October 2024

• 19th ICDRA Recommendations

Extraordinary (virtual) International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA)

Virtual, 20 to 24 September 2021

• Extraordinary (Virtual) ICDRA - Presentations and Recommendations

18th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA)

Dublin - Ireland 3 - 7 September 2018

• 18th ICDRA Recommendations

17^th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA)

Cape Town - South Africa, 29 November - 02 December 2016

• 17th ICDRA Recommendations

16^th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA)

Rio de Janeiro - Brazil - 24-29 August 2014

• 16th ICDRA Recommendations

15^th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA)

Tallinn - Estonia, 23-26 October 2012

• 15th ICDRA Recommendations