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  1. International Arrangements

European Union (EU) Mutual Recognition Agreement

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The U.S.-EU Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) Sectoral Annex for Pharmaceutical Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) MRA entered into force on November 1, 2017. Initially the agreement included only pharmaceuticals intended for human use. On May 31, 2023 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Union (EU) announced their decision to expand the scope of the MRA to include inspections of veterinary pharmaceuticals. To date, the FDA has completed capability for all 27 of the EU countries' human drug regulatory authorities, and 18 of the EU countries’ veterinary drug regulatory authorities. 

FDA also has MRAs in force with Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

CountryRegulatory authority for medicinal products for human and/or veterinary use*TypeDate Recognized
AustriaAustrian Agency for Health and Food Safety / Österreichische Agentur für Gesundheit und Ernährungssicherheit (GmbH)

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

November 1, 2017

May 30, 2023

BelgiumFederal agency for medical and health products / Fedraal Agentschap voor geneesmiddelen en gezondheidsproducten/ Agence fédérale des médicaments et produits de santé

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

November 16, 2018

May 30, 2023

BulgariaBulgarian Drug Agency
ИЗПЪЛНИТЕЛНА АГЕНЦИЯ ПО ЛЕКАРСТВАТА
Human DrugsApril 29, 2019
BulgariaBulgarian Food Safety Agency / Българска агенция по безопасност на храните****Animal DrugsMay 30, 2023
CroatiaAgency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices / Agencija za lijekove i medicinske proizvode (HALMED)Human DrugsNovember 1, 2017
CyprusThe Cyprus Council of Veterinary Medicinal Products (CyCVMPs) – The Veterinary Services*****Animal DrugsOctober 8.2024
CyprusMinistry of Health – Pharmaceutical Services
Φαρμακευτικές Υπηρεσίες, Υπουργείο Υγείας
Human DrugsApril 29, 2019
Czech RepublicInstitute for State Control of Veterinary Biologicals and Medicines / Ústav pro státní kontrolu veterinárních biopreparátů a léčiv (USKVBL)Animal DrugsOctober 18, 2024
Czech RepublicState Institute for Drug ControlHuman DrugsMarch 1, 2018
DenmarkDanish Medicines Agency / Laegemiddelstyrelsen

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

November 16, 2018

May 30, 2023

EstoniaState Agency of Medicines / Ravimiamet

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

November 28, 2019

May 30, 2023

FinlandFinnish Medicines Agency / Lääkealan turvallisuus- ja kehittämiskeskus (FIMEA)

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

November 16, 2018

May 30, 2023

FranceFrench National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety / Agence nationale de sécurité du medicament et des produits de santéHuman DrugsNovember 1, 2017
France French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety – French Agency for Veterinary Medicinal Products / Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’alimentation, de l’environnement et du travail – Agence nationale du médicament vétérinaire (Anses-ANMV)Animal DrugsMay 30, 2023
GermanyZentralstelle der Länder für Gesundheitsschutz bei Arzneimitteln und Medizinprodukten (ZLG)

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

June 26, 2019

August 7, 2024

GreeceNational Organisation for Medicines

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

March 1, 2018

May 30, 2023

HungaryNational Institute of Pharmacy and NutritionHuman DrugsMarch 1, 2018
HungaryNational Food Chain Safety Office, Directorate of Veterinary Medicinal Products / Nemzeti Élelmiszerlánc-biztonsági Hivatal, Állatgyógyászati Termékek Igazgatósága (ÁTI)Animal DrugsMay 30, 2023
IrelandHealth Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA)

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

June 1, 2018

May 30, 2023

ItalyItalian Medicines Agency / Agenzia Italiana del FarmacoHuman DrugsNovember 1, 2017
ItalyMinistry of Health - Directorate General of Animal Health / Direzione generale della salute animale (DGSA)Animal DrugsOctober 22, 2024
LatviaState Agency of Medicines / Zāļu valsts aģentūraHuman DrugsNovember 16, 2018
LatviaFood and Veterinary ServiceAnimal DrugsNovember 28,2023
LithuaniaState Medicines Control Agency / Valstybinė vaistų kontrolės tarnybaHuman DrugsJune 1, 2018
LithuaniaState Food and Veterinary Service / Valstybine maisto ir veterinarijos tarnybaAnimal DrugsJuly 18, 2024
LuxembourgMinìstere de la Santé, Division de la Pharmacie et des Médicaments

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

June 10, 2019

May 30, 2023

MaltaMedicines Regulatory Authority***Human DrugsNovember 1, 2017
NetherlandsHealthcare Inspectorate / Inspectie voor de Gezondheidszorg (IGZ)Human DrugsJune 10, 2019
NetherlandsMedicines Evaluation Board (MEB) / College ter Beoordeling van Geneesmiddelen (CBG) Veterinary Medicinal Products Unit / Bureau DiergeneesmiddelenAnimal DrugsMay 30, 2023
PolandThe Main Pharmaceutical Inspectorate/
Główny Inspektorat Farmaceutyczny (GIF)

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

February 7, 2019

May 30, 2023

PortugalNational Authority of Medicines and Health Products / INFARMED, I.P / Autoridade Nacional do Medicamento e Produtos de Saúde, I.PHuman DrugsSeptember 14, 2018
PortugalGeneral Directorate of Food and Veterinary / Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária (DGAV)Animal DrugsMay 30, 2023
RomaniaNational Agency for Medicines and Medical DevicesHuman DrugsMarch 1, 2018
SlovakiaThe Institute for State Control of Veterinary Biologicals and Medicaments/ Ústav Štátnej Kontroly Veterinárnych Biopreparátov A Liečiv (USKVBL)******Animal DrugsOctober 22, 2024
SlovakiaState Institute for Drug Control / Štátny ústav pre kontrolu liečiv (ŠÚKL)**Human DrugsJuly 11, 2019
SloveniaAgency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices of the Republic of Slovenia
Javna agencija Republike Slovenije za zdravila in medicinske pripomočke (JAZMP)

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

February 7, 2019

May 30, 2023

SpainSpanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices/ Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

November 1, 2017

May 30, 2023

SwedenMedical Products Agency / Läkemedelsverket

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

November 1, 2017

September 26, 2023

United StatesFood and Drug Administration

Human Drugs

Animal Drugs

November 1, 2017

May 30, 2023

 

*Limitations: The capability determinations apply to routine surveillance inspections. In the future the following product and inspection types may be included in the coverage of the agreement, pending further consideration:

  • Vaccines for human use
  • Plasma derived pharmaceuticals
  • Investigational products (clinical trial material), specific to each agreement

The FDA and the EU have considered the issue of expanding the scope of the MRA to include vaccines and plasma-derived pharmaceuticals for human use. FDA has decided to consider the issue again in July 2025 based on further assessment.

Excluded from the MRA scope are: Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs), human blood, human plasma, human tissues and organs, and veterinary immunologicals.

** Malta – capability for human medicines excludes sterile or aseptically processed drugs and biological products; and nonsterile, highly potent drug products.

*** Slovakia – for human medicines only for inspections of chemically synthesized active pharmaceutical ingredients intended for use in drug products for human oral administration and manufactured in a dedicated, single product facility.

**** Bulgaria – capability for veterinary products excludes sterile veterinary drug products.

***** Cyprus – capability for veterinary products excludes sterile or aseptically processed drugs and biological products; and nonsterile, highly potent drug products.

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