§ 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	🇮🇸Iceland	🇪🇺European Union
Authority & dossier
Regulatory authority	IMA	EMA
English submissions	Yes	Yes
CTD accepted	Yes	Yes
eCTD accepted	Yes	Yes
Reliance pathway	Available	Available
Reference agencies	EMA (Centralised Procedure — mirrored via EEA Joint Committee), EU/EEA Member States (DCP / MRP), EU CMDh	—
Lead pathway (timeline & fees) — EU Centralised Procedure (EEA mirror) · Centralised Procedure
Pathway name	EU Centralised Procedure (EEA mirror)	Centralised Procedure
Approval timeline	240–330 days	210–277 days
Application fee	EUR 350,000	EUR 358,800
Annual renewal	EUR 130,000	EUR 122,500
Local representative	Not required	Required
Local manufacturing	Not required	Not required
GMP inspection	Required	Required
MAH & local presence
Local entity required	No	Yes
Local responsible person	Yes	Yes
RP role	QPPV established in the EEA (any EEA member) per EU GVP Module I; QPPV is the contact for IMA pharmacovigilance. Icelandic-language pharmacovigilance literature monitoring required for products marketed in Iceland. A Pharmacovigilance System Master File (PSMF) location must be declared.	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	Accelerated Assessment (EMA CP), Conditional Marketing Authorisation (CMA), PRIME (Priority Medicines) +1	Accelerated Assessment, Conditional Marketing Authorisation, Authorisation under Exceptional Circumstances +3
Post-approval lifecycle
Variations framework	EU variations framework (Commission Regulation 1234/2008 as amended) — Type IA / IAIN (do-and-tell), Type IB (tell-wait-do), Type II (prior approval), Extensions and Article 61(3) notifications. IMA processes variations for nationally / DCP / MRP authorised products; EMA processes variations for centrally-authorised products with EEA mirror in Iceland.	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	Standard renewal at 5 years post first authorisation; subsequent unlimited validity unless IMA / EMA decides on safety grounds to require further renewal. CMAs renewed annually until conversion to full MA.	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	EU pharmacovigilance framework (Directive 2010/84/EU and Regulation 1235/2010) implemented via the Icelandic Medicinal Products Act (Lyfjalög) and IMA regulations. EudraVigilance reporting mandatory; PSURs per EURD list submitted to EMA PSUSA. Icelandic ADR reports collected by IMA via the national e-reporting portal (for healthcare professionals and consumers). Iceland participates as observer at PRAC. Strong epidemiological surveillance is enabled by Iceland's near-complete population health registers (the Icelandic National Patient Register, the Prescription Medicines Register, and population-wide kennitala-linkable records — among the most comprehensive globally for a defined small population).	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	60–106 days	60–106 days
GCP standard	ICH E6(R3) GCP; EU Clinical Trials Regulation 536/2014 (EU CTR); Icelandic Medicinal Products Act and Act on Scientific Research in the Health Sector (Lög um vísindarannsóknir á heilbrigðissviði nr. 44/2014)	ICH E6(R3) — Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2748 transposing R3, applicable from 23 July 2025
Pricing & reimbursement
Price regulation	Regulated	Regulated
Reference pricing	Yes	Yes
HTA required	Yes	Yes
HTA body	Lyfjagreiðslunefnd (Drug Pricing Committee / LGN) sets maximum prices and reimbursement; HTA-style assessment increasingly informed by Nordic collaboration through FINOSE (joint Nordic HTA between Finland, Norway and Sweden, with Iceland and Denmark observing) and the EU HTA Coordination Group.	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

IcelandIMA
European UnionEMA

English submissions

IcelandYes
European UnionYes

CTD accepted

IcelandYes
European UnionYes

eCTD accepted

IcelandYes
European UnionYes

Reliance pathway

IcelandAvailable
European UnionAvailable

Reference agencies

IcelandEMA (Centralised Procedure — mirrored via EEA Joint Committee), EU/EEA Member States (DCP / MRP), EU CMDh
European Union—

Lead pathway (timeline & fees) — EU Centralised Procedure (EEA mirror) · Centralised Procedure

Pathway name

IcelandEU Centralised Procedure (EEA mirror)
European UnionCentralised Procedure

Approval timeline

Iceland240–330 days
European Union210–277 days

Application fee

IcelandEUR 350,000
European UnionEUR 358,800

Annual renewal

IcelandEUR 130,000
European UnionEUR 122,500

Local representative

IcelandNot required
European UnionRequired

Local manufacturing

IcelandNot required
European UnionNot required

GMP inspection

IcelandRequired
European UnionRequired

MAH & local presence

Local entity required

IcelandNo
European UnionYes

Local responsible person

IcelandYes
European UnionYes

RP role

IcelandQPPV established in the EEA (any EEA member) per EU GVP Module I; QPPV is the contact for IMA pharmacovigilance. Icelandic-language pharmacovigilance literature monitoring required for products marketed in Iceland. A Pharmacovigilance System Master File (PSMF) location must be declared.
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

Iceland4 designations
European Union6 designations

Examples

IcelandAccelerated Assessment (EMA CP), Conditional Marketing Authorisation (CMA), PRIME (Priority Medicines) +1
European UnionAccelerated Assessment, Conditional Marketing Authorisation, Authorisation under Exceptional Circumstances +3

Post-approval lifecycle

Variations framework

IcelandEU variations framework (Commission Regulation 1234/2008 as amended) — Type IA / IAIN (do-and-tell), Type IB (tell-wait-do), Type II (prior approval), Extensions and Article 61(3) notifications. IMA processes variations for nationally / DCP / MRP authorised products; EMA processes variations for centrally-authorised products with EEA mirror in Iceland.
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

IcelandStandard renewal at 5 years post first authorisation; subsequent unlimited validity unless IMA / EMA decides on safety grounds to require further renewal. CMAs renewed annually until conversion to full MA.
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

IcelandEU pharmacovigilance framework (Directive 2010/84/EU and Regulation 1235/2010) implemented via the Icelandic Medicinal Products Act (Lyfjalög) and IMA regulations. EudraVigilance reporting mandatory; PSURs per EURD list submitted to EMA PSUSA. Icelandic ADR reports collected by IMA via the national e-reporting portal (for healthcare professionals and consumers). Iceland participates as observer at PRAC. Strong epidemiological surveillance is enabled by Iceland's near-complete population health registers (the Icelandic National Patient Register, the Prescription Medicines Register, and population-wide kennitala-linkable records — among the most comprehensive globally for a defined small population).
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

IcelandAvailable
European UnionAvailable

Compassionate Use

IcelandAvailable
European UnionAvailable

Emergency Import

IcelandAvailable
European UnionAvailable

Parallel Import

IcelandPermitted
European UnionPermitted

Clinical trials

CTA approval

IcelandRequired
European UnionRequired

Ethics approval

IcelandYes
European UnionYes

CTA timeline

Iceland60–106 days
European Union60–106 days

GCP standard

IcelandICH E6(R3) GCP; EU Clinical Trials Regulation 536/2014 (EU CTR); Icelandic Medicinal Products Act and Act on Scientific Research in the Health Sector (Lög um vísindarannsóknir á heilbrigðissviði nr. 44/2014)
European UnionICH E6(R3) — Commission Regulation (EU) 2024/2748 transposing R3, applicable from 23 July 2025

Pricing & reimbursement

Price regulation

IcelandRegulated
European UnionRegulated

Reference pricing

IcelandYes
European UnionYes

HTA required

IcelandYes
European UnionYes

HTA body

IcelandLyfjagreiðslunefnd (Drug Pricing Committee / LGN) sets maximum prices and reimbursement; HTA-style assessment increasingly informed by Nordic collaboration through FINOSE (joint Nordic HTA between Finland, Norway and Sweden, with Iceland and Denmark observing) and the EU HTA Coordination Group.
European UnionEU HTA Coordination Group (EUnetHTA legacy); national HTA bodies (NICE, HAS, G-BA/IQWiG, AIFA, AEMPS, etc.)