§ 02 — Comparison

Compare regulatory pathways side-by-side

Benchmark MAHMAH, GMPGMP, HTAHTA and pathway requirements across up to three markets.

Country A

Country B

Country C

Highlight differences

Criterion	🇬🇧United Kingdom	🇪🇺European Union
Authority & dossier
Regulatory authority	MHRA	EMA
English submissions	Yes	Yes
CTD accepted	Yes	Yes
eCTD accepted	Yes	Yes
Reliance pathway	Available	Available
Reference agencies	FDA, EMA, Health Canada, Swissmedic +4	—
Lead pathway (timeline & fees) — International Recognition Procedure (IRP) · Centralised Procedure
Pathway name	International Recognition Procedure (IRP)	Centralised Procedure
Approval timeline	60–110 days	210–277 days
Application fee	GBP 35,305	EUR 358,800
Annual renewal	GBP 0	EUR 122,500
Local representative	Not required	Required
Local manufacturing	Not required	Not required
GMP inspection	Not required	Required
MAH & local presence
Local entity required	Yes	Yes
Local responsible person	Yes	Yes
RP role	Qualified Person (Pharmacovigilance) — QPPV — must reside in the UK or EEA. UK Responsible Person (Import) for batch certification of products imported into GB. Local pharmacovigilance contact in the UK required for risk minimisation activities.	Qualified Person Responsible for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) — must reside and operate in the EU/EEA — is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the pharmacovigilance system. A Qualified Person (QP) in the EU/EEA performs batch certification under Article 51 of Directive 2001/83/EC. Local Contact Person for pharmacovigilance required in each Member State where the product is marketed (since 2012 GVP).
Accelerated pathways
Designations available	4 designations	6 designations
Examples	Early Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS), Conditional Marketing Authorisation, Authorisation under Exceptional Circumstances +1	Accelerated Assessment, Conditional Marketing Authorisation, Authorisation under Exceptional Circumstances +3
Post-approval lifecycle
Variations framework	Variations classified per UK Variations Regulations (mirroring EU Reg 1234/2008): Type IA, IAIN, IB, II, and Extensions. MHRA Worksharing available for grouped variations across multiple authorisations.	Commission Regulation (EC) 1234/2008 establishes four categories: Type IA (minor — Do and Tell, 12-month notification), Type IAIN (minor — immediate notification), Type IB (minor — Tell, Wait, and Do, 30-day default), Type II (major — prior approval, 60–90 days), and Extensions (Annex I changes — full review). Worksharing procedures consolidate variations across multiple authorisations.
Renewal cycle	Initial 5-year renewal; thereafter MA is granted for unlimited duration unless MHRA determines on PV grounds that one further 5-year renewal is justified.	Initial 5-year renewal — application 9 months before expiry. After the first renewal, MA is granted for unlimited duration unless the CHMP/NCA, on justified grounds relating to pharmacovigilance, decides on one additional 5-year renewal.
Pharmacovigilance	MHRA operates the Yellow Card Scheme for ADR reporting. PSURs follow the EU Reference Date list pre-Brexit, with MHRA UK-specific PSUR list since 2021. RMPs required for new MAs and significant variations. Black triangle (▼) for additional monitoring.	Comprehensive PV framework under Directive 2010/84/EU and Regulation (EU) 1235/2010, codified in Good Pharmacovigilance Practices (GVP). Pharmacovigilance System Master File (PSMF) required. Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSURs) on EU-harmonised birth-date list. Risk Management Plans for all new MAs and significant variations. Suspected serious ADR reporting to EudraVigilance within 15 days. Black triangle (▼) for additional monitoring of selected products.
Unlicensed access
Named Patient Supply	Available	Available
Compassionate Use	Available	Available
Emergency Import	Available	Available
Parallel Import	Permitted	Permitted
Clinical trials
CTA approval	Required	Required
Ethics approval	Yes	Yes
CTA timeline	30–60 days	60–106 days
GCP standard	ICH E6(R3) (MHRA adopted via Good Clinical Practice Guide; UK statutory instruments 2004/1031 as amended)	ICH E6(R3) — Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2748 transposing R3, applicable from 23 July 2025
Pricing & reimbursement
Price regulation	Regulated	Regulated
Reference pricing	No	Yes
HTA required	Yes	Yes
HTA body	NICE (England, Wales, NI), SMC (Scotland), AWMSG (Wales)	EU HTA Coordination Group (EUnetHTA legacy); national HTA bodies (NICE, HAS, G-BA/IQWiG, AIFA, AEMPS, etc.)

Verdict colours indicate lower, moderate, or higher regulatory burden — they're not value judgements on a market.

Authority & dossier

Regulatory authority

United KingdomMHRA
European UnionEMA

English submissions

United KingdomYes
European UnionYes

CTD accepted

United KingdomYes
European UnionYes

eCTD accepted

United KingdomYes
European UnionYes

Reliance pathway

United KingdomAvailable
European UnionAvailable

Reference agencies

United KingdomFDA, EMA, Health Canada, Swissmedic +4
European Union—

Lead pathway (timeline & fees) — International Recognition Procedure (IRP) · Centralised Procedure

Pathway name

United KingdomInternational Recognition Procedure (IRP)
European UnionCentralised Procedure

Approval timeline

United Kingdom60–110 days
European Union210–277 days

Application fee

United KingdomGBP 35,305
European UnionEUR 358,800

Annual renewal

United KingdomGBP 0
European UnionEUR 122,500

Local representative

United KingdomNot required
European UnionRequired

Local manufacturing

United KingdomNot required
European UnionNot required

GMP inspection

United KingdomNot required
European UnionRequired

MAH & local presence

Local entity required

United KingdomYes
European UnionYes

Local responsible person

United KingdomYes
European UnionYes

RP role

United KingdomQualified Person (Pharmacovigilance) — QPPV — must reside in the UK or EEA. UK Responsible Person (Import) for batch certification of products imported into GB. Local pharmacovigilance contact in the UK required for risk minimisation activities.
European UnionQualified Person Responsible for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) — must reside and operate in the EU/EEA — is responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the pharmacovigilance system. A Qualified Person (QP) in the EU/EEA performs batch certification under Article 51 of Directive 2001/83/EC. Local Contact Person for pharmacovigilance required in each Member State where the product is marketed (since 2012 GVP).

Accelerated pathways

Designations available

United Kingdom4 designations
European Union6 designations

Examples

United KingdomEarly Access to Medicines Scheme (EAMS), Conditional Marketing Authorisation, Authorisation under Exceptional Circumstances +1
European UnionAccelerated Assessment, Conditional Marketing Authorisation, Authorisation under Exceptional Circumstances +3

Post-approval lifecycle

Variations framework

United KingdomVariations classified per UK Variations Regulations (mirroring EU Reg 1234/2008): Type IA, IAIN, IB, II, and Extensions. MHRA Worksharing available for grouped variations across multiple authorisations.
European UnionCommission Regulation (EC) 1234/2008 establishes four categories: Type IA (minor — Do and Tell, 12-month notification), Type IAIN (minor — immediate notification), Type IB (minor — Tell, Wait, and Do, 30-day default), Type II (major — prior approval, 60–90 days), and Extensions (Annex I changes — full review). Worksharing procedures consolidate variations across multiple authorisations.

Renewal cycle

United KingdomInitial 5-year renewal; thereafter MA is granted for unlimited duration unless MHRA determines on PV grounds that one further 5-year renewal is justified.
European UnionInitial 5-year renewal — application 9 months before expiry. After the first renewal, MA is granted for unlimited duration unless the CHMP/NCA, on justified grounds relating to pharmacovigilance, decides on one additional 5-year renewal.

Pharmacovigilance

United KingdomMHRA operates the Yellow Card Scheme for ADR reporting. PSURs follow the EU Reference Date list pre-Brexit, with MHRA UK-specific PSUR list since 2021. RMPs required for new MAs and significant variations. Black triangle (▼) for additional monitoring.
European UnionComprehensive PV framework under Directive 2010/84/EU and Regulation (EU) 1235/2010, codified in Good Pharmacovigilance Practices (GVP). Pharmacovigilance System Master File (PSMF) required. Periodic Safety Update Reports (PSURs) on EU-harmonised birth-date list. Risk Management Plans for all new MAs and significant variations. Suspected serious ADR reporting to EudraVigilance within 15 days. Black triangle (▼) for additional monitoring of selected products.

Unlicensed access

Named Patient Supply

United KingdomAvailable
European UnionAvailable

Compassionate Use

United KingdomAvailable
European UnionAvailable

Emergency Import

United KingdomAvailable
European UnionAvailable

Parallel Import

United KingdomPermitted
European UnionPermitted

Clinical trials

CTA approval

United KingdomRequired
European UnionRequired

Ethics approval

United KingdomYes
European UnionYes

CTA timeline

United Kingdom30–60 days
European Union60–106 days

GCP standard

United KingdomICH E6(R3) (MHRA adopted via Good Clinical Practice Guide; UK statutory instruments 2004/1031 as amended)
European UnionICH E6(R3) — Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2748 transposing R3, applicable from 23 July 2025

Pricing & reimbursement

Price regulation

United KingdomRegulated
European UnionRegulated

Reference pricing

United KingdomNo
European UnionYes

HTA required

United KingdomYes
European UnionYes

HTA body

United KingdomNICE (England, Wales, NI), SMC (Scotland), AWMSG (Wales)
European UnionEU HTA Coordination Group (EUnetHTA legacy); national HTA bodies (NICE, HAS, G-BA/IQWiG, AIFA, AEMPS, etc.)