Notice - Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB) International Regulatory Forum 2016

June 20, 2016

Our reference number: 16-103467-584

Dear Regulatory Colleagues,

Building on the continued success of our annual regulatory forum, Health Canada's Health Products and Food Branch (HPFB) is pleased to offer our eighth International Regulatory Forum (IRF) in Ottawa, Canada from October 19-21, 2016, at the Marriott Hotel. HPFB's 2016 Forum will be 2.5 days in duration rather than the customary five days.

This year we are happy to announce that the Forum will be held in collaboration with DIA Ottawa (Develop, Innovate, Advance). The DIA's Annual Canadian Meeting will be held from October 17-19, 2016 with HPFB's Forum beginning the afternoon of October 19^th. This collaboration allows us to develop our respective meeting programs such that they complement each other:  DIA will offer presentations of interest to both regulators and industry. There will also be opportunities for IRF participants to present during the DIA meeting.

The IRF program on the other hand will focus on more in-depth, concentrated learning opportunities through adding more case studies, mock submission reviews, etc. that address the Canadian regulatory process for health products, throughout the pre- and post-market product life cycle. Sessions will involve individual and panel presentations, discussion opportunities and special topic presentations. Topics discussed will be broadly applicable to health product regulation, but may be of particular interest to countries currently developing their regulatory systems.

The collaboration with DIA will also allow participating regulators and industry members to network and discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest.

To encourage interactive regulatory discussions, the Forum is only open to participants from Regulatory Agencies internationally. Through this approach, we hope to create a dynamic environment where participants can learn from each other's regulatory experiences and expertise. Simultaneous interpretation will be offered in English, French and Spanish for all IRF sessions but not during the DIA Meeting or plenary sessions.

DIA Ottawa has agreed to reduce the registration fee for its Annual Canadian Meeting for participants from Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) and will waive the registration fee should any IRF participants choose to be a presenter at the DIA meeting. Potential topics include regional coordination and clinical trials in general and, more specifically, joint reviews (e.g. Ebola). Please email at HPFB_Forum_DGPSA@hc-sc.gc.ca if you are interested in presenting. In order to facilitate the finalisation of the DIA program, please let us know your topic by June 30, 2016.

Registration

HPFB Forum

There is no registration fee for HPFB Forum participants. However, all expenses related to hotel, travel and transportation as well as visa formalities are the responsibility of each participant. Please indicate your interest in participating by completing the enclosed registration form and sending it to HPFB_Forum_DGPSA@hc-sc.gc.ca by June 30, 2016.

DIA Annual Meeting

A reduced registration fee of USD700.00 will be applied for HPFB Forum participants from low and middle income countries. Information with regards to registration for DIA will be provided the first week of July.