Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) Opens RAPS Europe In Brussels

Main Category: Regulatory Affairs / Drug Approvals
Article Date: 01 Jun 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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The Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS), the world's largest international membership organization of regulatory professionals in the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology sectors, announced the opening of its European office in Brussels. RAPS Europe will support RAPS programs, events and operations throughout Europe and serve as the organization's base for European operations. RAPS, which is headquartered near Washington, DC, USA, also opened an office in Tokyo last year.

The growing internationalization of the healthcare product sector is driving increased global involvement among regulatory professionals. According to RAPS' own research, about 70% of regulatory professionals say their work encompasses regulatory issues in multiple geographic regions.

"RAPS' membership includes healthcare product regulatory professionals all over the world, including many in Europe," said RAPS Executive Director Sherry Keramidas, PhD, CAE. "RAPS' new office in Brussels allows us to better serve our European members and be more responsive to their needs, as well as more closely track trends at both EU and individual country levels. It also will enable us to support additional efforts to reach out to and serve the entire European regulatory community with relevant RAPS products and services."

Additionally, RAPS is planning more European events. RAPS will hold two programs in June covering EU regulatory essentials -- one in Brussels (http://www.raps.org/eubrussels) and one in Vienna ( http://www.raps.org/euvienna) -- and a workshop in Brussels in November covering US submissions and compliance. RAPS also will explore more opportunities to help Europe-based professionals learn about and prepare for Regulatory Affairs Certification (RAC). The RAC is the only professional certification specifically for those in the healthcare regulatory field and continues to be highly valued in the international regulatory community.

RAPS has contracted with Interel, an association management and public affairs firm, which will provide operational and communications support for RAPS Europe in Brussels. RAPS Europe will be located at 22-24 Rue du Luxembourg, B-1000 Brussels, Belgium; and can be reached at rapseurope@raps.org.

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Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS)