Understanding the Challenge: Compliance Complexity at Regional and Global Levels
For regional and global teams in the pharmaceutical industry, ensuring compliance across multiple jurisdictions is an ongoing challenge. While the EFPIA Code provides an overarching framework, its application differs significantly across key European markets. The Big 5 markets (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK) each have unique local interpretations and additional requirements that must be considered when developing strategy, materials, and operational plans.
Pharmaceutical compliance is a necessity. But maintaining bespoke training materials in-house, country by country, is inefficient, expensive, and often leads to inconsistencies. The reality is that many compliance teams already have their hands full ensuring that day-to-day operations remain risk-free. Developing and updating training on top of that can be an avoidable drain on resources.
However, many above-country teams lack visibility into these country-specific differences, leading to inefficiencies, delays, and compliance risks. Without a clear understanding of how EFPIA standards translate locally, organisations face challenges such as:
- Delays in market execution – Global and regional materials often require extensive localisation and review, slowing down commercialisation efforts.
- Non-compliance risks – Without a clear grasp of jurisdictional variations, teams may unknowingly create materials or processes that are not fully compliant.
- Wasted resources – Time and investment in global asset creation can be lost if materials cannot be easily adapted to meet country-specific regulations.
- Siloed operations – Misalignment between regional, global, and local teams can lead to duplicated efforts and inefficiencies.
The Mistakes Companies Make
Many organisations attempt to address these challenges in ways that are ineffective or incomplete:
- Relying solely on the EFPIA Code. While EFPIA provides a strong foundation, it does not account for the nuanced requirements of individual country regulations.
- Assuming local affiliates will handle compliance. This often leads to inefficiencies, with above-country teams producing materials that require extensive local revision or rejection.
- Learning through trial and error. Companies sometimes move forward without a structured approach, leading to regulatory pushback and unnecessary rework.
- Applying a one-size-fits-all training approach. Generic compliance training often fails to equip above-country teams with the precise knowledge needed to navigate key markets effectively.
Pharma Integrity Academy’s Solution: EFPIA Code & Country Comparison Training
To help global and regional teams navigate these challenges effectively, Pharma Integrity has developed the EFPIA Code & EFPIA Country Comparison training. These modules are designed specifically for above-country teams who need an awareness-level understanding of how compliance requirements in key European markets differ from the EFPIA Code, without replacing the need for local in-country expertise.
Unlike in-depth, country-specific compliance training for local affiliates, these modules provide essential insights for regional and global teams to plan effectively while ensuring compliance alignment.
- EFPIA Code Core Training. Covers the fundamental principles of the EFPIA Code, providing a strong foundation for understanding how compliance operates across Europe.
- EFPIA Country Comparison Training – Highlights the key compliance differences across France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK, equipping teams with the knowledge to anticipate challenges and align strategy with local requirements.
Through these modules, global teams can understand:
- Risk Mitigation:. By understanding jurisdictional nuances, teams can reduce the risk of non-compliance, ensuring activities are planned with regulatory confidence.
- Operational Efficiency & Faster Approvals. Awareness of local expectations helps teams develop materials, campaigns, and cross-border projects that align with market-specific compliance needs from the outset, reducing costly rework and delays.
- Strategic Considerations for Above-Country Projects. Teams can plan and execute initiatives with clarity, avoiding common pitfalls such as non-compliant meeting formats or misaligned promotional content in different jurisdictions.
Our modules empower Pharma teams to operate with confidence at the regional and global level, ensuring compliance is embedded into strategic decision-making from the start.
Aligning Compliance with Business Strategy
The impact of getting this right is significant. Teams that integrate EFPIA Code compliance awareness into their workflows experience:
- Reduced time-to-market. Fewer delays in approval and localisation.
- Better collaboration. Improved synergy between regional/global and local teams.
- Stronger compliance governance. A proactive rather than reactive approach to regulatory requirements.
- Increased confidence. Teams operate with clarity, ensuring that commercial and medical initiatives are built on a compliant foundation.
Why Reinvent the Wheel? Get Compliance Training Right the First Time
At Pharma Integrity, we take the hassle out of compliance training so your team doesn’t have to. With expert-led content, country-specific insights, and continuously updated modules, we provide a seamless, cost-effective solution for our clients.
The Pharma Integrity Academy combines deep industry expertise with practical, operational training designed to support both global compliance oversight and local execution. Our training solutions help regional and global teams bridge the compliance gap, ensuring that above-country strategies align seamlessly with local regulations.
By leveraging our training, your team will gain the critical insights needed to navigate compliance confidently, avoiding the inefficiencies, risks, and wasted resources associated with poorly aligned global strategies.
Why waste time and resources maintaining training in-house when there’s a smarter, more efficient way?
Discover how Pharma Integrity Academy can streamline your compliance training today. Explore our courses now.