The activities of the 17th. Asian Harmonization Work Group (AHWG)Conference & Meeting- China (Taipi) were concluded. AHWG includes 23 member states from East Asia, Arab Countries, Africa and South America. The conference was held in period 2-6 November 2012and was chaired by H.E. Dr. Saleh bin Sulaiman Al Tayar, SFDA Vice President for Medical Devices & Products Sector, KSA.

Several strategies of monitoring medical devices & products were discussed and experiences of some leading countries were reviewed in critical fields that present a challenge for control authorities in many countries. USA, Japan, China, EU, and People Republic of China experiences in the field of monitoring of medical devices & products were reviewed especially in complex medical devices .

Dr. Saleh bin Sulaiman Al Tayar, Chairman of the Conference, explained that the conference is critical for the Group and is held annually in one of the member countries and was hosted by the Kingdom in 2010.He added, many training workshops were conducted on monitoring fundamentals and discussion of the areas of cooperation between the Group and several international organizations in the field of training, capability building and assistance to developing countries in developing the basis of monitoring medical devices & products and applying them, such as World Health Organization, Asian Economic Group, US Control Professionals Organization and the International Forum for Government Authorities for Monitoring Medical Devices & Products, where its membership includes USA,EU, Canada, Japan, Australia, Brazil & KSA, representing AHWG, headed by SFDA-KSA during 2012-2014.

Dr. Al Tayar reveled that the last day of the AHWG conference for medical devices & products was dedicated for discussion of several issues related to the strategies of the Group such as AHWG Strategic Plan  2014-2020, AWHG Accession Conditions and requirements, mechanism of accepting experts in management of the technical committees and technical workforces of the Group in addition to discussion of revision and approval of some laws and regulations of the Group

Dr. Al Tayar emphasized that the Kingdom’s Leadership of this International Group, which includes several industrial countries, confirms the leadership role of the Kingdom and its political and economic position among the countries. He concluded his speech by thanking the Government of the Custodian of The Two Holy Mosques and The Crown Prince, SFDA Chairman for the direction and support given to SFDA that lead to positioning  of SFDA  in this place among other developed countries in this critical field of monitoring of medical devices & products.

It worth mentioning that the Conference was attended by 400 observers and professionals from Control Authorities, manufacturers and scientists and that Saudi Business Sector had an outstanding participation therein. Mr. Fahad Al Moammar, Head of Medical Devices & Products Manufacturers Group of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce & Industry explained that such attendance was due to the important topics that were discussed and approved in this conference as they represent a challenge for this sector at one hand, and have important positive and economic impact for the sector at the other hand whereas this sector will benefit from harmonization in the local markets, in order to enhance practices, technical standard and increase their share in the local market and exports, in addition to encouragement of local investors and reputed international firms to increase their investments and enter into new ones.