The International Generic and Biosimilar medicines Association (IGBA) welcomes the WHO’s continuous interest in the development of a global identification system for biological substances, as well as the decision to perform an impact study assessment of the voluntary Biological Qualifier (BQ) proposal. However, IGBA does not support the BQ proposal since successful product identification and tracking using multiple identification components are already in force, such as the brand name or the INN combined with the company name, the lot number and various national codes.

February 5, 2016 – IGBA Files Recommendations for USTR 2016 Special 301 Review.

February 4, 2016 – Geneva, Switzerland – The International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA) represents companies that are actively engaged in the global manufacturing and trading systems for medicines. We support enhanced cooperation between regulators to foster the global trade in medicines, as well as measures aimed at the elimination of barriers to trade in medicines in order to increase access for patients.