GHC Participates in APEC RHSC SOM1 2026 and Strengthens Global Collaboration

The Global Harmonization Center (GHC) participated in the Regulatory Harmonization Steering Committee (RHSC) Plenary Meeting held during the APEC First Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM1) 2026 in Guangzhou, China, from February 1 to 2, 2026. During the meeting, GHC shared its key achievements and discussed ways to further strengthen international collaboration.

At the meeting, GHC presented the outcomes of its international regulatory harmonization and capacity-building activities conducted throughout 2025. In collaboration with international organizations and overseas regulatory authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), GHC organized global workshops, webinars, vaccine hands-on training programs, and ICH guideline training courses. These activities engaged a total of 2,515 participants from 26 countries.

In addition, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) of the Republic of Korea shared progress and future plans under the RHSC Regulatory Harmonization Roadmap as the Champion Economy for Pharmacovigilance and the Co-Champion Economy for Medical Devices, contributing to discussions on advancing regulatory harmonization across the Asia-Pacific region.

On the sidelines of the meeting, GHC held discussions with Japan’s Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) on opportunities to share educational programs and strengthen cooperation between GHC and Japan’s Asia Training Center (ATC). GHC also met with representatives of China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) to discuss the resumption of bilateral cooperation that had been suspended following the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore new opportunities for collaboration in the field of medical products regulation.

GHC will continue to expand cooperation with international organizations and regulatory authorities worldwide and remain committed to advancing regulatory harmonization and strengthening regulatory capacity through various education and collaborative initiatives.

<GHC presenting its achievement and future plans at the 2026 APEC RHSC Plenary meeting>

<Group photo of participants attending 2026 APEC RHSC Plenary meeting>