Global Harmonization Working Party (GHWP; or the “Working Party”)

Goals
To study and recommend ways to harmonize medical device regulations in the Asian and other regions and to work in coordination with the Global Harmonization Task Force, APEC and other related international organizations aiming at establishing harmonized requirements, procedures and standards.

Membership
The Working Party is a group of experts from Medical Device Regulatory Authorities (“Regulatory Authorities”) and the medical device industry including government agencies not Medical Device Regulatory Authorities (“Industry”). Membership is open to those representatives from the Asian and other regions that support the above stated goals. Any economies interested in joining the Working Party may be admitted subject to a majority support from existing members.
The full list of members will be kept by the GHWP Secretariat. Upon joining, each member economy should nominate two Primary GHWP Representatives and two Secondary GHWP Representatives, with one each from the Regulatory Authority and one each from the Industry. Representatives from the Regulatory Authority shall be responsible persons in the development and implementation of medical device regulatory frameworks while those from the Industry shall be senior managers from the industry of the member economy such that they could represent the views of both the Regulatory Authority and Industry of their economies.

The Primary GHWP Representative from the Regulatory Authority of a member economy shall be nominated by the medical device regulatory authority of the corresponding government. He/she could in turn nominate the Secondary GHWP Representative for his/her economy. All organizations from the Industry should nominate a representative to subscribe to the GHWP Secretariat for serving as the contact person.

Leadership
One GHWP Chair and one GHWP Vice-chair shall be elected from Primary GHWP Representatives at the GHWP Annual Meeting through voting by all Primary GHWP Representatives for a term of office of about three years until the next election. The GHWP Chair shall come from a Regulatory Authority and the GHWP Vice-chair shall come from the Industry. The GHWP Chair and Vice-chair will normally rotate among member economies. In the absence of the GHWP Chair and/or GHWP Vice-chair at a given GHWP Meeting, their respective member economies may nominate suitable persons as acting GHWP Chair and/or GHWP Vice-chair accordingly for the purpose of the said meeting.

Decisions and Resolutions
The Working Party shall operate on a consensus basis. Decisions and resolutions on key issues and controversial matters should be made only after thorough discussions before voting at GHWP Meetings. Though member economies should adopt as far as possible the decisions and resolutions so passed, such decisions and resolutions are not binding on member economies such that they may elect alternatives and decide their own implementation plans taking account of their local situations.

Relationship with Other Parties
The Working Party shall work closely with GHTF, APEC, WTO, WHO, ASEAN, ASEM, LGHWP and other international organizations to identify areas of compatibility and cooperation towards harmonization of medical device regulations.

Observers to Meetings
It is our belief that the message of harmonization will be better spread and promoted with observers from different corners of the world participating in the meetings. All GHWP Meetings are open to interested parties to join as observers on a space availability basis.

Language
English will be used as the only language in documents and communications of the GHWP. Member economies may arrange for translation and/or employ interpreters for their own use if needed.

GHWP Meetings
The Working Party shall meet at regular intervals (normally once a year). The GHWP Chair may organize ad hoc meetings when needed. Meeting locations shall preferably be rotated among member economies.
Global Harmonization Working Party Technical Committee (GHWPTC; or the “Technical Committee”) GHWPTC
Roles and Responsibilities
GHWPTC is the executive arm of the Working Party. It performs the following roles and
responsibilities to support the Working Party:

• Execute the Working Party’s decisions and resolutions;
• Make recommendations to the GHWP Chair for decisions;
• Submit resolutions to the GHWP Meetings for decisions of key issues related to the policy, direction, organization, structure and operation of the Working Party;
• Provide expert opinions and advices;
• Develop technical documents and policy papers;
• Plan and organize meetings, training, seminars, workshops and experience sharing sessions;
• Work with related organizations and participate in their activities; and Report on the progress of its activities to the GHWP Meetings. 

GHWPTC Membership
Each member economy should nominate two Primary GHWPTC Representatives and two Secondary GHWPTC Representatives, with one each from the Regulatory Authority and one each from the Industry. The Representatives shall be knowledgeable experts in medical device regulatory services and be able to represent the views of the Regulatory Authority and Industry of their economy. The Primary GHWP Representative from the Regulatory Authority could nominate both the Primary and Secondary GHWPTC Representatives for the Regulatory Authority of his/her economy. The Primary and Secondary GHWPTC Representatives from the Industry should be elected by the industry representatives of their own economy.

GHWPTC Leadership
One GHWPTC Chair and two GHWPTC Co-chairs shall be elected by the GHWP Primary Representatives among the GHWPTC Representatives. The GHWPTC Chair and one GHWPTC Co-chair shall come from the Regulatory Authorities while one GHWPTC Co-chair shall come from the Industry. In the absence of the GHWPTC Chair at a given GHWPTC Meeting, the GHWPTC Co-chair from the Regulatory Authority shall assume the duties of the GHWPTC Chair. In the absence of both the GHWPTC Chair and Co-chair from the Regulatory Authority, the GHWPTC Co-chair from the Industry shall assume the duties of the GHWPTC Chair.

Working Groups (WGs) and Special Task Groups (STGs)
With the consent of the GHWP Chair, the GHWPTC Chair may create Working Groups and Special Task Groups for carrying out specific tasks and duties of the Technical Committee. Each Group shall have one Chair from the Regulatory Authority and one Co-chair from the Industry.
The GHWPTC Chair may appoint Acting Chairs and Co-chairs to take charge of the newly formed Groups until the next GHWP Meeting in which the Chairs and Co-chairs of the newly formed Groups are elected.

GHWPTC Meetings
The GHWPTC Chair may organize GHWPTC Meetings as and when needed. At least one of the GHWPTC Meetings shall be held in conjunction with the GHWP Annual Meeting in which the GHWPTC Chair shall report on the developments and achievements of the Technical Committee.


Terms of Representation, Resolutions & Decisions

Representation
The Regulatory Authorities are government bodies responsible for the regulation of medical devices. The Industry includes all business and services related to the manufacturing, supply, distribution, usage, procurement, maintenance, testing, conformity assessment and supporting services related to medical devices. Government, semi-government and non-government bodies not directly responsible for the regulation of medical devices are regarded as part of the Industry for the purpose of the Working Party.

Resolutions & Decisions
GHWP and GHWPTC Representatives may initiate resolutions and recommendations for discussions and voting at the GHWP Meetings and GHWPTC Meetings respectively. Requests shall be made to the GHWP Secretariat and copied to the GHWP Chair and GHWPTC Chair at least one week before the relevant Meeting. Any proposed amendments to the resolutions shall be made to the GHWP Secretariat and copied to the GHWP Chair and GHWPTC Chair at least one day before the relevant meeting.
A simple majority is needed for passing any resolutions and recommendations at the GHWP Meetings and GHWPTC Meetings respectively.


Voting, Nomination, Election, Terms of Service, Change of Office Bearers /Representatives and Representation in the Absence of Representatives

Voting
Each Primary GHWP Representative and Primary GHWPTC Representative shall have one vote at the GHWP Meeting and GHWPTC Meeting respectively.

Nomination
Primary GHWP Representatives may propose nominations for election as office bearers in the GHWP, GHWPTC, WGs and STGs.

Election
Nominees with the highest number of votes shall be elected as office bearers.

Terms of Office
The terms of office of all GHWP and GHWPTC office bearers will be around three years commencing from the date of appointment until the next election. All office bearers in the GHWP, GHWPTC, WGs and STGs, regardless of when they are elected into the office during the term of a given GHWP Chair, shall retire altogether at the same time with that GHWP Chair. The current GHWP Chair is responsible for organizing the next election of new office bearers in an GHWP Meeting in about three years’ time after his/her election. Change of Office Bearers and Representatives When there are changes to office bearers, the Primary GHWP Representative of the corresponding member economy shall nominate replacements to fill the vacancies arise. If the member economy fails to make nominations for such replacements for any reason, the GHWP Chair may appoint acting replacements until new office bearers are elected to fill the relevant vacancies in the next GHWP Meeting.

Representation in the absence of the Representatives
Secondary GHWP and GHWPTC Representatives could take up all the roles and responsibilities as well as voting rights of the corresponding Primary GHWP and GHWPTC Representatives in their absence. In case that both the Primary and Secondary GHWPTC Representatives are absent, the corresponding Primary GHWP Representative could take up all the roles and responsibilities as well as voting rights at the GHWPTC Meetings. Similarly, Primary GHWPTC Representatives could take up all the roles and responsibilities as well as voting rights at GHWP Meetings if the corresponding Primary and Secondary GHWP Representatives are both absent.