VICH - The International Cooperation on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for the Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products

Guidelines

Although the Canadian Centre for Veterinary Biologics (CCVB) intends to adopt VICH guidelines as primary guidance documents, they are to be viewed as administrative instruments and not specified requirements of the Health of Animals Act and regulations and therefore allow for flexibility of approach. Alternate approaches to the principles and practices described in the guidelines may be acceptable, provided they are supported by adequate scientific justification. Alternate approaches should be discussed in advance with the CCVB to help ensure that regulatory requirements can be met.

• VICH Guidelines Adopted by Canada
  • VICH GL 25 - Testing of Residual Formaldehyde
  • VICH GL 26 - Testing of Residual Moisture
  • VICH GL 50 - Harmonisation of criteria to waive target animal batch safety testing (TABST) for inactivated vaccines for veterinary use - PDF (500 kb)
  • VICH GL 55 - Harmonisation of criteria to waive target animal batch safety testing (TABST) for live vaccines for veterinary use - PDF (505 kb)
  • VICH GL 59 - Harmonisation of criteria to waive laboratory animal batch safety testing (LABST) for vaccines for veterinary use - PDF (231 kb)

Background

The International Cooperation on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for the Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH) is a trilateral program that brings together regulatory authorities and experts from the animal health industry in the European Union, Japan and the United States. Regulatory authorities and industry experts from Australia, New Zealand and Canada participate in an observer capacity. VICH was officially launched in April 1996 and is conducted under the auspices of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH; founded as Office International des Épizooties (OIE)). Its primary objective is aimed at harmonizing technical requirements for registration of new veterinary medicinal products.

Canadian government representatives at VICH are from the Veterinary Drugs Directorate (VDD) of Health Canada and the Canadian Centre for Veterinary Biologics (CCVB) of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The VDD provides expertise regarding veterinary drugs while the CCVB fulfills a similar role for veterinary biologicals. The VDD also serves as the Canadian Secretariat. More comprehensive information on Canada's participation in VICH, stakeholder consultation process and publication of guidelines can be found at the Veterinary Drugs Directorate website.

The primary outputs of the VICH process are the development of harmonized guidelines which result from scientific consensus of the requirements of the participating regions. For more information on the history, structure, activities and guidelines can be found at the International Cooperation on Harmonization of Technical Requirements for the Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products website.