The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care in the United Kingdom which is responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work and are acceptably safe. The MHRA was formed in 2003 with the merger of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the Medical Devices Agency (MDA). In April 2013, it merged with the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) and was rebranded, with the MHRA identity being used solely for the regulatory centre within the group. The agency employs more than 1,200 people in London, York and South Mimms, Hertfordshire. Structure The MHRA is divided into three main centres: MHRA Regulatory – the regulator for the pharmaceutical and medical devices industries Clinical Practice Research Datalink – licences anonymised health care data to pharmaceutical companies, academics and other regulators for research National Institute for Biological Standards and Control – responsible for the standardisation and control of biological medicines The MHRA has several independent advisory committees which provide the UK Government with information and guidance on the regulation of medicines and medical devices. There are currently eight such committees: Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products Herbal Medicines Advisory Committee The Review Panel Independent Scientific Advisory Committee for MHRA database research Medicines Industry Liaison Group Innovation Office Blood Consultative Committee Devices Expert Advisory Committee History In 1999, the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) took over control of the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) from the Office for National Statistics. The Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and the Medical Devices Agency (MDA) merged in 2003 to form MHRA. In April 2012, the GPRD was rebranded as the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). In April 2013, MHRA merged with the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) and was rebranded, with the MHRA identity being used for the parent organisation and one of the centres within the group. At the same time, CPRD was made a separate centre of the MHRA. Roles Operate post-marketing surveillance – in particular the Yellow Card Scheme – for reporting, investigating and monitoring of adverse drug reactions to medicines and incidents with medical devices. Assess and authorise of medicinal products for sale and supply in the UK. Oversee the Notified Bodies that ensure medical device manufacturers comply with regulatory requirements before putting devices on the market. Operate a quality surveillance system to sample