MFDS Elected to ICMRA Executive Committee for First Time; Seoul to Host November Summit

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) has been elected for the first time to the executive committee of the International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (ICMRA), a global forum of medicines regulators.

MFDS said on the 3rd that it had been elected to the ICMRA executive committee, a heads-of-agencies-level international forum involving medicines regulatory authorities from 40 countries. ICMRA brings together 43 regulatory authorities from 40 countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote strategic coordination among medicines regulators and joint responses to global issues.

The executive committee is the key decision-making body that sets strategies and priorities for global regulatory cooperation, and determines working group activities and summit agendas. The new executive committee (2026–2029) will comprise 13 regulatory authorities from 11 countries, including Australia as chair, as well as the Republic of Korea, the United States, the European Union and Japan.

As a founding member of ICMRA, MFDS has participated in discussions on major global regulatory issues, including public health emergency response and artificial intelligence (AI). It has expanded its role in international regulatory cooperation, including by having all regulatory functions in the medicines and vaccines fields listed on WHO's Listed Authorities (WLA).

With its appointment to the executive committee, MFDS will directly participate over the next 3 years in discussions with major agencies worldwide to determine the direction and strategy of regulatory cooperation. The ministry expects to reflect Korea's international experience and positions from the stage at which ICMRA's mid- to long-term strategy and key cooperation priorities are set.

MFDS plans to advance international discussions and cooperation on major global regulatory issues, including the use of advanced technologies such as AI in regulation, greater joint reviews among countries, and faster access to innovative new drugs.

MFDS will also host the ICMRA summit and general assembly for the first time in Seoul this November. At the meeting, which will be attended by heads of 40 major medicines regulatory authorities worldwide, including those from the United States, the European Union and Australia, MFDS plans, as host country, to lead global regulatory discussions on AI and other topics and explore future directions for cooperation among member countries.

MFDS Commissioner Oh Yu-kyung said, "This first appointment to the executive committee is a meaningful achievement that confirms international confidence in our regulatory capabilities has risen to a new level." She added, "We will continue to expand our regulatory leadership so that, through the November summit, we can establish ourselves as a key country leading global regulatory discussions."

Noh Yeon-hong, chairman of the Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association, said, "I sincerely congratulate MFDS on its election to the ICMRA executive committee." He added, "I hope this will enable MFDS to further strengthen its leadership in global regulatory discussions and actively support the global expansion of Korea's pharmaceutical and bio industry."