Compliance · The complete guide

MOH (Israel)

TL;DR

Israel Ministry of Health (משרד הבריאות — Misrad HaBriut) — operating through the Pharmaceutical Administration (אגף הרוקחות — Agaf HaRokchut) + the Institute for Standardization and Control of Pharmaceuticals (ISCP — Makhon Letiyun U'Bakarat Tarukot) + the Medical Devices and Accessories Division (AMAR — Aganfor Medical Accessories and Equipment Registration) + the Israel Pharmacovigilance Centre + the Public Health Services + the National Food Service + the Central Laboratories in Jerusalem + Tel HaShomer + Abu Kabir — is the State of Israel's national regulatory authority for human medicines + biologicals + biosimilars + advanced therapy medicinal products + vaccines + medical devices + IVDs + cosmetics + dietary supplements + pharmacy practice + controlled substances + clinical trials across the entire territory of the State of Israel (including East Jerusalem under Israeli administration + the Golan Heights). The Israel MoH operates under the Pharmacists Ordinance (New Version) 1981 (פקודת הרוקחים [נוסח חדש] תשמ"א-1981) + Pharmacists Regulations (Medicinal Preparations) 1986 + Public Health Ordinance (1940, as amended) + Medical Devices Law 5772-2012 (חוק ציוד רפואי) + Medical Devices Regulations 2013 + Cosmetics Regulations + Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (New Version) 1973 + Israel National Health Insurance Law 5754-1994 + Genetic Information Law 5761-2000 + Public Health Regulations (Clinical Trials in Human Subjects) 1980 + MoH Director-General Circulars + Pharmaceutical Administration Procedures (Nohalim) + ISCP Guidance Documents. The Israel MoH is headquartered in Jerusalem with the ISCP and Pharmaceutical Administration operating from the Jerusalem campus + AMAR operating from the Jerusalem campus + the Central Virology + Microbiology + Toxicology + Food Reference Laboratories operating from Tel HaShomer (Chaim Sheba Medical Center campus) + Abu Kabir (Forensic Institute). The Israel MoH is one of the most operationally significant non-EU Middle Eastern pharmaceutical regulators + is a PIC/S Member (since 2009 — one of the earliest non-EU PIC/S Members globally) + WHO PIDM Member + WHO PQ programme participant + maintains substantial EMA bilateral cooperation under the EU-Israel Association Agreement (2000) + the EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products for Pharmaceuticals (2012 — one of only a handful of countries globally with such an arrangement) + substantial FDA + Health Canada + TGA + Swissmedic + MHRA + MFDS + Japanese PMDA bilateral cooperation reflecting Israel's position as a global biotechnology + pharmaceutical-innovation hub. This page covers the Israel MoH's regulatory architecture for Israeli + foreign manufacturers + sponsors targeting Israel (~9.9 million population, world's ~28th-largest economy by nominal GDP + ~17th-highest GDP per capita, one of the world's most pharmaceutical-innovation-intensive economies with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries — the world's largest generic-medicines manufacturer — headquartered in Petah Tikva, ~10+ Israeli-domestic manufacturers including Teva + Taro + Dexcel + Perrigo Israel + Trima + Rekah + CTS Chemical Industries + Tzamal Medical + Promedico + Megapharm; substantial Israeli biotechnology + medical-device + digital-health export industry to USA + EU + GCC (Abraham Accords) + Arab League + EMRO + sub-Saharan Africa + Latin America + South-East Asia markets, Hebrew + Arabic + English overlay labelling, substantial Climate Zone II coastal + IVa Negev interior stability requirements).

Reviewed · By V5 Ultimate compliance team· 3,940 words · ~18 min read

01What the Israel MoH actually is

The Israel Ministry of Health (משרד הבריאות — Misrad HaBriut) — operating through the Pharmaceutical Administration (אגף הרוקחות — Agaf HaRokchut), the Institute for Standardization and Control of Pharmaceuticals (ISCP), the Medical Devices and Accessories Division (AMAR), the Israel Pharmacovigilance Centre, the Public Health Services, the National Food Service, and the Central Laboratories in Jerusalem + Tel HaShomer + Abu Kabir — is the State of Israel's national regulatory authority for human medicines + biologicals + biosimilars + advanced therapy medicinal products + vaccines + medical devices + IVDs + cosmetics + dietary supplements + pharmacy practice + controlled substances + clinical trials. The MoH operates under the Pharmacists Ordinance (New Version) 1981 + Pharmacists Regulations (Medicinal Preparations) 1986 + Public Health Ordinance + Medical Devices Law 5772-2012 + Medical Devices Regulations 2013 + Cosmetics Regulations + Dangerous Drugs Ordinance + Israel National Health Insurance Law 5754-1994 + Public Health Regulations (Clinical Trials) 1980 + MoH Director-General Circulars + Pharmaceutical Administration Procedures (Nohalim) + ISCP Guidance Documents.

MoH organisational structure includes:

  • Minister of Health (שר הבריאות) — political head; appointed by the Prime Minister.
  • Director-General of the Ministry of Health (מנכ"ל משרד הבריאות) — senior civil-service head; appointed by the Minister.
  • Deputy Director-General for Health Services + Deputy Director-General for Public Health Services + Deputy Director-General for Pharmaceutical Affairs.
  • Pharmaceutical Administration (אגף הרוקחות) — Director-led; responsible for drug + biological + biosimilar + vaccine + ATMP + generic-medicine registration + Pharmacists Ordinance enforcement.
  • Institute for Standardization and Control of Pharmaceuticals (ISCP — Makhon Letiyun U'Bakarat Tarukot) — pharmaceutical quality-control laboratory + technical scientific review arm of the Pharmaceutical Administration; ISO/IEC 17025 + WHO PQ-Lab.
  • Medical Devices and Accessories Division (AMAR) — medical-device + IVD registration substantively aligned with EU MDR + IVDR.
  • Department of Cosmetics + Dietary Supplements — cosmetic-product notification substantively aligned with EU Cosmetics Regulation + dietary-supplement notification.
  • Department of Pharmacy Practice — pharmacy + pharmaceutical-establishment licensing.
  • Department of Controlled Substances + Dangerous Drugs Division — narcotics + psychotropics coordination with INCB + Israel Police + Israel Customs.
  • Israel Pharmacovigilance Centre — WHO PIDM-affiliated; contributes ADR data to VigiBase via Uppsala Monitoring Centre.
  • Department of Clinical Trials + Helsinki Committee Coordination — CTA + institutional Helsinki Committee (וועדת הלסינקי) + Supreme Helsinki Committee (וועדת הלסינקי העליונה for genetic + ATMP + IVF + embryonic-research trials) coordination per Public Health Regulations (Clinical Trials) 1980.
  • Central Laboratories — Jerusalem + Tel HaShomer (Chaim Sheba Medical Center campus — Central Virology Laboratory + National Microbiology Reference Centre) + Abu Kabir (Forensic Institute — toxicology + counterfeit-medicine forensics).
  • International Affairs Department — EMA + FDA + Health Canada + TGA + Swissmedic + MHRA + MFDS + PMDA + PIC/S + WHO + ICH + GCC (Abraham Accords) + Arab League + bilateral coordination.

Israel's distinctive global pharmaceutical-innovation context: Israel is one of the most pharmaceutical-innovation-intensive economies globally — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (headquartered in Petah Tikva) is the world's largest generic-medicines manufacturer + one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies overall. Israel hosts ~10+ Israeli-domestic manufacturers including Teva + Taro + Dexcel + Perrigo Israel + Trima + Rekah + CTS Chemical Industries + Tzamal Medical + Promedico + Megapharm covering substantial domestic generics + branded + specialty + ophthalmics + dermatology + women's-health + oncology + CNS production. Israel hosts substantial biotechnology + medical-device + digital-health innovation industry — ~500+ Israeli biotechnology + ~700+ Israeli medical-device + ~600+ Israeli digital-health companies with substantial USA + EU export presence + venture-capital flows. Israel's substantial academic-medical-centre clinical-research capacity — Hadassah-Ein Kerem + Hadassah-Mount Scopus + Tel Aviv Sourasky-Ichilov + Sheba Tel HaShomer + Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson + Rambam + Soroka + Carmel + Shaare Zedek + Assuta + Assaf Harofeh + Bnai Zion + the Weizmann Institute + the Technion + Hebrew University-Hadassah + Tel Aviv University + Ben-Gurion University + Bar-Ilan University faculties — makes Israel one of the most operationally significant Phase I-IV clinical-trial hubs globally per-capita.

MoH is distinct from + complementary to: the Israel Pharmacists Association (Histadrut HaRokchim B'Israel — professional licensing body for individual pharmacists); Pharma Israel (Innovative Pharmaceutical Companies Association of Israel); the Israel Pharmaceutical Industry Association (representing generics manufacturers); the Israeli Medical Association (HaHistadrut HaRefuit B'Israel); the four Health Maintenance Organisations (Kupot Holim — Clalit + Maccabi + Meuhedet + Leumit) responsible for substantial pharmaceutical-reimbursement coordination under the National Health Insurance Law via the Health Basket (Sal HaBriut) annual update process led by the Public Committee for Updating the Health Basket; the Israel Innovation Authority (substantial biotechnology + medical-device + digital-health R&D grant funding); and substantial Israeli biopharmaceutical-research infrastructure including Weizmann + Technion + Hebrew University + Tel Aviv University + Ben-Gurion University + Bar-Ilan University + Sheba ARC + Hadassah BioVentures + Rabin Medical Center research-and-development. Israel's pharmaceutical environment is uniquely characterised by: world-leading pharmaceutical-innovation industry with Teva as the world's largest generic-medicines manufacturer; substantial biotechnology + medical-device + digital-health export industry; substantial EU-Israel Association Agreement (2000) + EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Pharmaceuticals (2012) operational alignment with EMA unique among non-EU non-EEA countries; PIC/S Member status (since 2009 — one of the earliest non-EU PIC/S Members globally); substantial USA + EU + GCC (Abraham Accords 2020 with UAE + Bahrain + Sudan + Morocco) + Arab League + EMRO + sub-Saharan African + Latin American + South-East Asian export markets; substantial Israeli academic-medical-centre clinical-research capacity making Israel one of the most operationally significant Phase I-IV clinical-trial hubs globally per-capita; Hebrew + Arabic + English overlay labelling; Climate Zone II coastal (Tel Aviv + Haifa + Ashdod + Ashkelon + Netanya + Hadera + Mediterranean coast) + IVa Negev interior (Beersheba + Mitzpe Ramon + Eilat) stability requirements.

Israel MoH is a PIC/S Member (since 2009 — one of the earliest non-EU PIC/S Members globally) + WHO PIDM Member + WHO PQ programme participant + maintains substantial EMA bilateral cooperation under the EU-Israel Association Agreement (2000) + the EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products for Pharmaceuticals (2012 — one of only a handful of countries globally with such an arrangement, enabling substantial Israel-EU pharmaceutical mutual-recognition) + substantial FDA + Health Canada + TGA + Swissmedic + MHRA + MFDS + Japanese PMDA + Indian CDSCO + GCC (Abraham Accords) + Arab League bilateral cooperation reflecting Israel's position as a global biotechnology + pharmaceutical-innovation hub.

02Israeli pharmaceutical regulatory framework

Israeli pharmaceutical regulation operates under a layered framework of Ordinances + Laws + Regulations + MoH Director-General Circulars + Pharmaceutical Administration Procedures (Nohalim) + ISCP Guidance Documents — substantially aligned with EU pharmaceutical acquis under the EU-Israel Association Agreement (2000) + the EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Pharmaceuticals (2012):

  • Pharmacists Ordinance (New Version) 1981 — foundational pharmaceutical law.
  • Pharmacists Regulations (Medicinal Preparations) 1986 — drug registration framework substantively aligned with EU Directive 2001/83/EC.
  • Public Health Ordinance (1940, as amended) — overarching public-health framework.
  • Medical Devices Law 5772-2012 + Medical Devices Regulations 2013 — substantively aligned with EU MDR 2017/745 + IVDR 2017/746.
  • Cosmetics Regulations — substantively aligned with EU Cosmetics Regulation 1223/2009.
  • Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (New Version) 1973 — narcotics + psychotropics framework.
  • Israel National Health Insurance Law 5754-1994 — Health Basket (Sal HaBriut) reimbursement framework via Public Committee for Updating the Health Basket.
  • Public Health Regulations (Clinical Trials in Human Subjects) 1980 — Helsinki Committee + Supreme Helsinki Committee framework.
  • Israel MoH GMP Guide — substantively aligned with PIC/S GMP Guide + EU GMP + ICH Q7 + WHO TRS 986 Annex 2.
  • Israel MoH GDP Guide — substantively aligned with EU GDP + WHO GDP.
  • Israel MoH GCP Guide — substantively aligned with ICH E6(R2) + Israeli Helsinki Committee Procedures.
  • Israel MoH GVP Guide — substantively aligned with EU GVP + ICH E2.
  • Pharmacopoeia recognition — recognises European Pharmacopoeia + British Pharmacopoeia + USP + Indian Pharmacopoeia + Japanese Pharmacopoeia; no separate Israeli Pharmacopoeia.
  • Israeli Essential Medicines List — substantively aligned with WHO Essential Medicines List + Health Basket.
  • Variations + 5-year Drug Registration Renewal framework substantively aligned with EU Variations Regulation.
  • EU-Israel Association Agreement (2000) + EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products for Pharmaceuticals (2012) — substantial EU pharmaceutical mutual-recognition unique among non-EU non-EEA countries.
  • Abraham Accords (2020) Pharmaceutical Cooperation — substantial bilateral pharmaceutical cooperation with UAE + Bahrain + Sudan + Morocco enabling substantial GCC + Arab League + EMRO market-access opportunities.

03Drug + biological registration pathways at the Israel MoH

PathwayUse caseClock + content
New Drug RegistrationFirst-in-Israel new chemical entity / new biological / new indication; full Pharmaceutical Administration + ISCP scientific review + Drug Registration Committee opinion + GMP inspection where required.MoH target review: 270-360 calendar days for new drug registration; subject to clock-stops for company-response.
Generic Drug RegistrationGeneric version of registered Reference Drug; bioequivalence study where required per MoH BE Guidance.MoH target review: 180-270 calendar days for generic registration; substantially reduced for EMA + SRA-approved generics.
Biosimilar RegistrationBiosimilar version of registered reference biological; per MoH + EMA biosimilar guidance.MoH target review: 270-360 calendar days; comparability + clinical pathway substantively aligned with EMA.
Vaccine RegistrationVaccines for human use including Israeli National Immunisation Programme + travel + pandemic vaccines.MoH target review: 180-360 calendar days; EMA + WHO PQ + FDA + Health Canada reliance accepted; substantial Israeli academic vaccine-research capacity.
ATMP RegistrationAdvanced Therapy Medicinal Products (gene therapy, cell therapy, tissue-engineered products); per MoH + EMA ATMP guidance; Supreme Helsinki Committee oversight where applicable.MoH target review: 270-360 calendar days; comparability + clinical pathway substantively aligned with EMA ATMP framework; substantial Israeli ATMP-innovation industry.
EMA / SRA RelianceReliance on EMA + FDA + Health Canada + TGA + Swissmedic + MHRA + MFDS decisions.MoH target review: substantially reduced timeline for SRA-approved products; central given EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Pharmaceuticals (2012).
EU-Israel ACAA Protocol PathwayEU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products for Pharmaceuticals (2012) — substantial Israel-EU pharmaceutical mutual-recognition pathway unique among non-EU non-EEA countries.Substantially reduced timeline + dossier preparation effort for EMA-approved products + bidirectional Israel-EU GMP-inspection mutual-recognition.
WHO PQ Programme ParticipationIsraeli-manufactured medicines + vaccines submitted to WHO PQ for substantial UN-agency humanitarian procurement + LMIC market access via Israeli-domestic manufacturers (notably Teva).Substantial Israeli-domestic manufacturer WHO PQ engagement for UN-agency humanitarian procurement opportunities.
Abraham Accords PathwayDistinctive Abraham Accords (2020) bilateral pharmaceutical cooperation pathway with UAE + Bahrain + Sudan + Morocco enabling substantial GCC + Arab League + EMRO market-access opportunities.Emerging bilateral mutual-recognition + harmonised dossier-element reuse arrangements with Abraham Accords signatory regulators.
Variations + 5-year RenewalVariations + mandatory 5-year renewal of registration substantively aligned with EU.Variations 30-180 calendar days substantively aligned with EU Variations Regulation; renewal 90-180 calendar days.
Clinical Trial Application (CTA)Israeli clinical trials require MoH CTA + institutional Helsinki Committee + Supreme Helsinki Committee (genetic + ATMP + IVF + embryonic-research) approval + GCP compliance; substantial Israeli academic-medical-centre clinical-research capacity.MoH target review: 30-90 calendar days for CTA; substantial Israeli clinical-trials hub role — one of the world's most operationally significant per-capita Phase I-IV trial hubs.
Compassionate Use + Section 29(C) Named PatientCompassionate-use + Section 29(C) Pharmacists Regulations named-patient access frameworks for unmet-medical-need patients per MoH guidance.Expedited MoH review on case-by-case basis.
Orphan Drug DesignationMoH orphan-drug designation framework substantively aligned with EMA orphan-drug framework.MoH designation review with substantial regulatory + Health Basket reimbursement benefits.
Health Basket Reimbursement CoordinationNational Health Insurance Law Health Basket (Sal HaBriut) annual update via Public Committee for Updating the Health Basket — substantial cost-effectiveness + budget-impact analysis framework.Parallel Health Basket review post-registration; annual update process December-January; substantial cost-effectiveness threshold.

04ISCP Quality Control + PIC/S Member capability + Central Laboratories

The Institute for Standardization and Control of Pharmaceuticals (ISCP — Makhon Letiyun U'Bakarat Tarukot) is the Israel MoH's central pharmaceutical quality-control laboratory + technical scientific review arm of the Pharmaceutical Administration with substantial ISO/IEC 17025 + WHO PQ-Lab capacity. Israel MoH is a PIC/S Member (since 2009 — one of the earliest non-EU PIC/S Members globally) enabling substantial mutual-recognition agreements with EU + UK + Switzerland + Japan + Australia + Canada + Singapore + Indonesia + Malaysia + Korea + Türkiye + Iran + Argentina + USA-FDA bilateral inspections. The MoH Pharmaceutical Inspection function conducts substantial inspections of Israeli-domestic + foreign manufacturing facilities both domestically + via PIC/S mutual-recognition + bilateral arrangements.

  • ISO/IEC 17025 — ISCP operates with substantial ISO/IEC 17025 accredited scope.
  • WHO PQ-Lab — ISCP is WHO PQ-Lab participating; substantial WHO PQ programme participation.
  • PIC/S Member (since 2009) — one of the earliest non-EU PIC/S Members globally; substantial mutual-recognition agreements with EU + UK + Switzerland + Japan + Australia + Canada + Singapore + Indonesia + Malaysia + Korea + Türkiye + Iran + Argentina + USA-FDA bilateral inspections; one of the most operationally significant Israel MoH capabilities for foreign-manufacturer GMP-inspection coordination.
  • Vaccine lot release — ISCP + Central Virology Laboratory (Tel HaShomer / Chaim Sheba Medical Center campus) conduct vaccine lot-release testing for Israeli National Immunisation Programme.
  • Pharmaceutical pre-registration + post-market testing — pre-registration quality testing + substantial post-market surveillance + targeted enforcement testing.
  • Medical-device + IVD testing — pre-market + post-market quality testing substantively aligned with EU MDR + IVDR via AMAR.
  • Cosmetic-product + dietary-supplement testing — safety + ingredient compliance testing substantively aligned with EU Cosmetics Regulation.
  • Counterfeit-medicine forensics — substantial forensic analytical support via Abu Kabir Forensic Institute toxicology + Israel Police + Israel Customs + WHO Global Surveillance & Monitoring System contributions.
  • Central Virology Laboratory (Tel HaShomer) — National Microbiology Reference Centre + substantial vaccine + biological-products + viral-diagnostics capacity.
  • Capacity-building — substantial WHO + EMA + USP + bilateral-donor capacity-building programmes + training for Israeli pharmaceutical analysts.
  • GMP Inspectorate — substantial PIC/S Member capability for Israeli + foreign manufacturing facility GMP inspections both domestically + via PIC/S mutual-recognition + bilateral arrangements + EU-Israel ACAA Protocol; substantial export-market support for ~10+ Israeli-domestic manufacturers including Teva.
  • Israeli domestic manufacturer support — supports world-leading Israeli pharmaceutical industry including Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (world's largest generic-medicines manufacturer) + Taro + Dexcel + Perrigo Israel + Trima + Rekah + CTS Chemical Industries + Tzamal Medical + Promedico + Megapharm.

05Medical Device + IVD + Cosmetic + Dietary Supplement Registration (AMAR)

Israel MoH medical-device + IVD regulation operates through the Medical Devices and Accessories Division (AMAR — Aganfor Medical Accessories and Equipment Registration) under the Medical Devices Law 5772-2012 + Medical Devices Regulations 2013 substantively aligned with EU MDR 2017/745 + IVDR 2017/746 reflecting EU-Israel ACAA Protocol operational implications. Israel hosts substantial medical-device + IVD + digital-health export industry with ~700+ Israeli medical-device + ~600+ Israeli digital-health companies with substantial USA + EU export presence.

  • Risk-based Classification (Class I / IIa / IIb / III) — substantively aligned with EU MDR; IVDs classified under separate framework substantively aligned with EU IVDR.
  • Israeli Authorised Representative — Israel-resident legal entity required for foreign manufacturers; bears post-market vigilance responsibility + MoH regulatory interface.
  • ISO 13485:2016 — recognised by MoH as QMS evidence framework; substantial Israeli-domestic manufacturer ISO 13485 capacity.
  • Reliance pathways — AMAR accepts CE Mark + FDA 510(k) + FDA PMA + Health Canada + TGA + Swissmedic + MFDS + Japan-approval evidence as supporting evidence; CE Mark particularly central given EU-Israel ACAA Protocol operational alignment + FDA 510(k) given substantial USA export market.
  • Reliance-track Registration — AMAR operates substantial reliance-track expedited pathway for CE Mark + FDA + Health Canada + TGA + Swissmedic-registered devices substantially reducing registration timeline.
  • Post-market vigilance — AMAR operates medical-device adverse-event reporting; reporting timelines substantively aligned with EU MDR + IMDRF Adverse Event Reporting Codes.
  • IVD Reactivigilance — AMAR operates IVD reactivigilance reflecting Israel's substantial clinical-laboratory infrastructure including academic-medical-centres + Health Maintenance Organisation networks.
  • Cosmetic Notification — cosmetics require MoH Cosmetic Notification + Hebrew labelling; INCI-aligned ingredient listing + safety substantiation; substantively EU Cosmetics Regulation-aligned framework.
  • Dietary Supplement Registration — MoH National Food Service Dietary Supplements framework; substantively aligned with EU food-supplement framework + Codex Alimentarius.
  • Digital-Health + Software-as-a-Medical-Device (SaMD) — distinctive Israeli digital-health framework substantively aligned with IMDRF + FDA SaMD guidance; substantial Israeli digital-health export industry.
  • Substantial Export-Market Support — MoH AMAR + Israeli ISO 13485 Notified Body designations provide substantial Israeli-domestic manufacturer export-market support to EU + USA + GCC (Abraham Accords) + Arab League + EMRO + sub-Saharan Africa + Latin America + South-East Asia markets via CE Mark + GMP Certificate + Free Sale Certificate + Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product issuance.

06Israel MoH Pharmacovigilance + Israel Pharmacovigilance Centre

Israel MoH operates the Israel Pharmacovigilance Centre under the Pharmaceutical Administration. Israel is a WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring (PIDM) member + contributes substantial ADR data to VigiBase via Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC). The Israel Pharmacovigilance Centre coordinates with academic-medical-centres + Health Maintenance Organisations (Clalit + Maccabi + Meuhedet + Leumit) + Israeli Pharmacists Association + Israeli Medical Association + Marketing Authorisation Holders. Israeli pharmacovigilance is uniquely shaped by world-leading pharmaceutical-innovation industry + substantial EU-Israel ACAA Protocol operational alignment + substantial Israeli academic-medical-centre clinical-research capacity + substantial Israeli ATMP-development surveillance commitments.

  • Israel Pharmacovigilance Centre — coordinated by the Pharmaceutical Administration.
  • WHO PIDM Member — Israel contributes substantial ADR data to VigiBase via Uppsala Monitoring Centre.
  • Israeli PV Network — coordinated national network with effector centres in major Israeli academic-medical-centres (Hadassah-Ein Kerem + Hadassah-Mount Scopus + Tel Aviv Sourasky-Ichilov + Sheba Tel HaShomer + Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson + Rambam + Soroka + Carmel + Shaare Zedek + Assuta + Assaf Harofeh + Bnai Zion) + four Health Maintenance Organisations + Israeli Pharmacists Association + Marketing Authorisation Holders.
  • ADR Reporting — MoH operates ADR reporting via Israel Pharmacovigilance Centre portal; available for healthcare professionals + consumers + Marketing Authorisation Holders + with substantial healthcare-professional reporting culture given universal Health Maintenance Organisation coverage.
  • E2B(R3) ICSR — MoH accepts E2B(R3) format ICSR submissions; 15-day SUSAR reporting timeline for clinical trials + post-market substantively aligned with EU GVP.
  • PSUR / PBRER — periodic safety update reports substantively aligned with ICH E2C(R2) + EU GVP.
  • Risk Management Plans (RMP) — MoH requires ICH E2E + EU GVP-aligned Pharmacovigilance Plan + Risk Management Plan for new drugs + biosimilars + vaccines + ATMPs + high-risk products.
  • Active surveillance — Israel Pharmacovigilance Centre operates substantial active-surveillance programmes leveraging substantial Health Maintenance Organisation electronic-health-record data (one of the world's most comprehensive longitudinal EHR datasets per-capita) for COVID-19 vaccines + childhood immunisation + ATMPs + high-risk products — substantial pharmacoepidemiology research output.
  • AEFI Surveillance — Israeli vaccine adverse-event surveillance aligned with WHO methodology; central to Israeli National Immunisation Programme.
  • Matériovigilance + Cosmétovigilance — AMAR operates parallel matériovigilance for medical devices + cosmétovigilance for cosmetics substantively aligned with EU MDR + IVDR + Cosmetics Regulation.
  • Counterfeit + substandard medicine surveillance — substantial role given Israel's geographic position as Mediterranean basin crossroads + substantial Abu Kabir Forensic Institute toxicology + counterfeit-medicine forensics capacity.
  • EU GVP Operational Alignment — substantial EU GVP operational alignment under EU-Israel Association Agreement + EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Pharmaceuticals.
  • PIC/S Mutual-Recognition — substantial PIC/S Member pharmacovigilance + GMP-inspection mutual-recognition.

07Israel MoH international engagement

  • PIC/S Member (since 2009) — one of the earliest non-EU PIC/S Members globally + one of the most operationally significant Israel MoH capabilities; substantial mutual-recognition agreements with EU + UK + Switzerland + Japan + Australia + Canada + Singapore + Indonesia + Malaysia + Korea + Türkiye + Iran + Argentina + USA-FDA bilateral inspections.
  • WHO PIDM Member — Israel contributes substantial ADR data to VigiBase via Uppsala Monitoring Centre.
  • WHO PQ Programme Participant — Israeli-manufactured medicines + vaccines via WHO PQ enable substantial UN-agency humanitarian procurement + LMIC market access for Israeli-domestic manufacturers notably Teva.
  • EU-Israel Association Agreement (2000) — substantial EU operational alignment foundation.
  • EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products for Pharmaceuticals (2012) — one of only a handful of countries globally with such an arrangement; substantial Israel-EU pharmaceutical mutual-recognition unique among non-EU non-EEA countries.
  • EMA Cooperation — substantial EMA bilateral cooperation under EU-Israel Association Agreement + EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Pharmaceuticals.
  • FDA Bilateral — substantial FDA cooperation reflecting Israel's substantial USA export market + substantial Israeli biotechnology + medical-device + digital-health innovation industry.
  • Health Canada + TGA + Swissmedic + MHRA + MFDS Bilateral — Israel MoH maintains substantial Stringent Regulatory Authority bilateral cooperation.
  • Japanese PMDA Bilateral — substantial bilateral cooperation reflecting Israel-Japan pharmaceutical + biotechnology cooperation.
  • Indian CDSCO Bilateral — substantial trade-driven cooperation reflecting India as substantial generic-medicines + API trade partner.
  • Abraham Accords (2020) Bilateral Cooperation — substantial bilateral pharmaceutical cooperation with UAE MoHAP + Bahrain NHRA + Sudanese NMRA + Moroccan DMP enabling substantial GCC + Arab League + EMRO market-access opportunities.
  • Jordan JFDA + Egyptian EDA Bilateral — substantial bilateral cooperation under Israel-Jordan Peace Treaty (1994) + Israel-Egypt Peace Treaty (1979) operational frameworks.
  • Türkiye TİTCK Bilateral — regional EMEA peer + substantial bilateral cooperation reflecting Mediterranean basin operational coordination.
  • ICH Observer + Observer-Pathway-Engagement — substantial ICH guideline implementation in Israeli regulatory practice including ICH Q1-Q14 + E1-E20 + M1-M11 + S1-S12.
  • ICDRA + IMDRF + IPRP participation — substantial International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities + International Medical Device Regulators Forum + International Pharmaceutical Regulators Programme participation.
  • OECD + International Generic and Biosimilar Medicines Association (IGBA) — substantial OECD + international generic + biosimilar cooperation reflecting Israel's OECD membership + world-leading generic-medicines industry.
  • Donor + Bilateral Cooperation — substantial bilateral cooperation with USA NIH + EU Horizon Europe + Israel Innovation Authority + bilateral-donor pharmaceutical-regulatory + healthcare programming.

08Common Israel MoH registration issues + missteps

  • EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Pharmaceuticals (2012) under-leveraged — most operationally significant feature of Israeli pharmaceutical market access; substantial Israel-EU pharmaceutical mutual-recognition unique among non-EU non-EEA countries substantially under-leveraged by foreign manufacturers.
  • PIC/S Member (since 2009) mutual-recognition under-leveraged — one of the earliest non-EU PIC/S Members globally; substantial mutual-recognition under-leveraged for GMP-inspection coordination.
  • Israeli Authorised Representative not properly designated — application rejected at MoH intake or post-approval compliance failure; Israeli Authorised Representative must be Israel-resident legal entity with appropriate licensure.
  • Hebrew + Arabic labelling deficiencies — Hebrew required + Arabic required for areas with substantial Arabic-speaking population; many applicants provide insufficient Hebrew/Arabic-language patient leaflet content.
  • Israel MoH GMP gaps — applicants assuming EU GMP / PIC/S GMP / FDA GMP compliance is automatically sufficient without addressing Israel-specific MoH clarifications.
  • Israel climate-zone stability data missing — Israel is Climate Zone II coastal (Tel Aviv + Haifa + Ashdod + Ashkelon + Netanya + Hadera + Mediterranean coast) + Climate Zone IVa Negev interior (Beersheba + Mitzpe Ramon + Eilat); requires substantial zonal-specific stability data.
  • Health Basket reimbursement coordination not planned — National Health Insurance Law Health Basket (Sal HaBriut) annual update process December-January via Public Committee for Updating the Health Basket frequently under-planned; substantial cost-effectiveness + budget-impact analysis required for inclusion.
  • Reliance-track Registration (AMAR medical devices) under-utilised — substantial reliance-track expedited pathway for CE Mark + FDA + Health Canada + TGA + Swissmedic-registered devices substantially reducing registration timeline under-utilised.
  • EMA + SRA reliance under-utilised — substantial EMA + Stringent Regulatory Authority reliance substantially under-utilised despite EU-Israel ACAA Protocol operational alignment.
  • Abraham Accords pathway under-leveraged — substantial bilateral pharmaceutical cooperation with UAE + Bahrain + Sudan + Morocco enabling substantial GCC + Arab League + EMRO market-access opportunities substantially under-leveraged.
  • Helsinki Committee + Supreme Helsinki Committee CTA planning under-resourced — institutional Helsinki Committee + Supreme Helsinki Committee (genetic + ATMP + IVF + embryonic-research) approval process frequently under-planned; substantial Israeli clinical-trial hub role under-leveraged.
  • Israeli Health Maintenance Organisation EHR pharmacoepidemiology under-leveraged — substantial Clalit + Maccabi + Meuhedet + Leumit longitudinal EHR data (one of the world's most comprehensive per-capita) substantially under-leveraged for active surveillance + real-world-evidence + pharmacoepidemiology.
  • Bioequivalence centres + biowaiver — MoH BE Guidance provides BCS-based biowaivers substantively aligned with EU; applicants frequently submit BE studies where biowaivers would suffice.
  • Substantial Israeli export-market support not leveraged — substantial Israeli ISO 13485 Notified Body + MoH GMP Certificate + CE Mark + Free Sale Certificate + Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product capacity substantially under-leveraged for foreign-manufacturer Israeli-localised production + EU + USA + GCC (Abraham Accords) + Arab League + EMRO export markets.
  • Substantial Israeli academic-medical-centre clinical-research capacity not leveraged — world-leading per-capita Phase I-IV clinical-trial hub substantially under-leveraged.
  • ATMP + digital-health + medical-device + biotechnology innovation industry partnership opportunities not leveraged — substantial Israeli ATMP + digital-health + medical-device + biotechnology innovation industry partnership opportunities substantially under-leveraged.
  • Variations strategy not planned — variations procedure substantively similar to EU but with Israel-specific timelines + fee structure.
  • Registration renewal timing missed — 5-year renewal must be filed within prescribed window before expiry; missed deadline triggers de-registration.

09How V5 Ultimate supports Israel MoH readiness

V5 Ultimate provides the operational infrastructure Israeli + foreign-supplier sites need for Pharmacists Ordinance 1981 + Pharmacists Regulations (Medicinal Preparations) 1986 + Medical Devices Law 5772-2012 + Israel MoH GMP + Cosmetics Regulations + EU-Israel Association Agreement + EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Pharmaceuticals (2012) + PIC/S Member (since 2009) mutual-recognition + WHO PQ programme participation + Israel Pharmacovigilance Centre + Abraham Accords bilateral cooperation + substantial Israeli-domestic manufacturer export-market support to USA + EU + GCC (Abraham Accords) + Arab League + EMRO markets.

  • Israel MoH GMP control framework — PIC/S + EU GMP + ICH Q7 + WHO TRS 986 Annex 2-aligned controls with ALCOA+ data-integrity + Israel-specific clarifications + Climate Zone II coastal + IVa Negev interior stability monitoring.
  • Israel MoH registration dossier packaging — Israel CTD-aligned dossier structure with Israel Module 1 specifics + Module 3 stability + Hebrew + Arabic + English patient leaflet + Israeli Authorised Representative declarations + Pharmacists Regulations framework + substantial EU Module reuse.
  • EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Pharmaceuticals (2012) workflow — most operationally significant feature; substantial Israel-EU pharmaceutical mutual-recognition packaging unique among non-EU non-EEA countries.
  • PIC/S Member (since 2009) mutual-recognition workflow — one of the earliest non-EU PIC/S Members globally; substantial mutual-recognition packaging for GMP-inspection coordination.
  • WHO PQ programme workflow — Israeli-manufactured medicines + vaccines WHO PQ submission packaging for substantial UN-agency humanitarian procurement + LMIC market access (notably Teva).
  • EMA + SRA reliance workflow — MoH-EMA + MoH-FDA + MoH-Health Canada + TGA + Swissmedic + MHRA + MFDS + PMDA reliance packaging.
  • Abraham Accords pathway workflow — distinctive Abraham Accords (2020) bilateral pharmaceutical cooperation packaging with UAE MoHAP + Bahrain NHRA + Sudanese NMRA + Moroccan DMP for substantial GCC + Arab League + EMRO market-access opportunities.
  • Health Basket reimbursement coordination workflow — Public Committee for Updating the Health Basket coordination packaging for parallel cost-effectiveness + budget-impact analysis + annual update process December-January.
  • Reliance-track AMAR Registration workflow — substantial reliance-track expedited pathway for CE Mark + FDA + Health Canada + TGA + Swissmedic-registered devices packaging.
  • Trade-partner reliance workflow (India CDSCO / Türkiye TİTCK / Jordan JFDA / Egyptian EDA) — substantial trade-driven reliance packaging.
  • Israeli Authorised Representative workflow — foreign-manufacturer Israeli Authorised Representative designation + role-management + Israel-specific post-market surveillance.
  • Israeli clinical-trial workflow — MoH CTA + Hadassah / Tel Aviv Sourasky / Sheba / Rabin / Rambam / Soroka / Carmel / Shaare Zedek / Assuta institutional Helsinki Committee + Supreme Helsinki Committee coordination + Israeli SUSAR reporting via Israel Pharmacovigilance Centre; substantial Israeli clinical-trials hub role — one of the world's most operationally significant per-capita Phase I-IV trial hubs.
  • Israel Pharmacovigilance Centre integration — E2B(R3) ICSR generation + 15-day SUSAR timeline + PSUR / PBRER packaging + Israeli ICSR + Israeli PV Network coordination + VigiBase upload + Risk Management Plan packaging + AEFI vaccine adverse-event reporting + EU GVP operational alignment.
  • Health Maintenance Organisation EHR pharmacoepidemiology integration — substantial Clalit + Maccabi + Meuhedet + Leumit longitudinal EHR data integration packaging for active surveillance + real-world-evidence + pharmacoepidemiology (one of the world's most comprehensive per-capita EHR datasets).
  • Matériovigilance + Cosmétovigilance workflow — parallel matériovigilance + cosmétovigilance packaging substantively aligned with EU MDR + IVDR + Cosmetics Regulation.
  • Medical-device + IVD + cosmetic + dietary-supplement + digital-health + Software-as-a-Medical-Device workflow — AMAR frameworks dossier packaging + Class I-III classification + ISO 13485 + Israeli Authorised Representative + post-market vigilance.
  • ATMP workflow — MoH + Supreme Helsinki Committee ATMP registration packaging substantively aligned with EMA ATMP framework; substantial Israeli ATMP-innovation industry.
  • Israeli export-market support workflow — substantial Israeli ISO 13485 Notified Body + MoH GMP Certificate + CE Mark + Free Sale Certificate + Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product capacity packaging for foreign-manufacturer Israeli-localised production + USA + EU + GCC (Abraham Accords) + Arab League + EMRO export markets.
  • USA + EU + GCC (Abraham Accords) + Arab League + EMRO regional bridging — for companies operating across USA + EU + GCC + Arab League + EMRO jurisdictions, V5 surfaces MoH + FDA + EMA + UAE MoHAP + Bahrain NHRA + Saudi SFDA + Jordan JFDA + Egyptian EDA + Türkiye TİTCK + Moroccan DMP harmonised dossier-element reuse alongside national-specific extensions.

Frequently asked questions

Q.What does the Israel MoH regulate?+

The Israel Ministry of Health (משרד הבריאות) — operating through the Pharmaceutical Administration (אגף הרוקחות) + the Institute for Standardization and Control of Pharmaceuticals (ISCP) + the Medical Devices and Accessories Division (AMAR) + the Israel Pharmacovigilance Centre + the Public Health Services + the National Food Service + the Central Laboratories — is the State of Israel's national regulatory authority for human medicines (drugs, biologicals, biosimilars, vaccines, ATMPs), medical devices + IVDs + cosmetics + dietary supplements + pharmacy practice + controlled substances + clinical trials under the Pharmacists Ordinance (New Version) 1981 + Medical Devices Law 5772-2012. The MoH is a PIC/S Member (since 2009 — one of the earliest non-EU PIC/S Members globally) + WHO PIDM Member + WHO PQ programme participant.

Q.How does the EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Pharmaceuticals (2012) affect market access?+

The EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Conformity Assessment and Acceptance of Industrial Products for Pharmaceuticals (2012) — building on the EU-Israel Association Agreement (2000) — is one of only a handful of such arrangements globally + one of the most operationally significant features of Israeli pharmaceutical market access. The Protocol enables substantial Israel-EU pharmaceutical mutual-recognition unique among non-EU non-EEA countries — bidirectional GMP-inspection mutual-recognition + substantial dossier-element reuse + substantially reduced TİTCK-style review timeline for EMA-approved products. This substantially reduces dossier preparation effort + accelerates MoH review for EMA-approved products + enables substantial Israeli-domestic manufacturer EU + EMEA export-market access via Israeli ISO 13485 Notified Body + MoH GMP Certificate + CE Mark cross-recognition.

Q.How long does Israel MoH registration take?+

Standard timelines: new drug registration 270-360 calendar days; generic registration 180-270 calendar days; biosimilar registration 270-360 calendar days; vaccine registration 180-360 calendar days; ATMP registration 270-360 calendar days; EMA + SRA reliance substantially reduced; EU-Israel ACAA Protocol pathway substantially reduced; WHO PQ programme participation for Israeli-domestic manufacturers; Abraham Accords pathway emerging bilateral mutual-recognition; Variations 30-180 calendar days substantively aligned with EU Variations Regulation; Clinical Trial Application 30-90 calendar days; Section 29(C) Named Patient + Compassionate Use expedited; Orphan Drug Designation; Health Basket Reimbursement Coordination annual update process December-January via Public Committee for Updating the Health Basket. EU-Israel ACAA Protocol + PIC/S Member mutual-recognition + EMA + SRA reliance + Abraham Accords bilateral cooperation + WHO PQ programme participation are essential acceleration strategies for sponsors targeting Israel.

Q.What is the significance of Israel's PIC/S Member status (since 2009)?+

Israel MoH PIC/S Member status (since 2009) is one of the most operationally significant Israel MoH capabilities + makes Israel one of the earliest non-EU PIC/S Members globally. PIC/S Membership enables substantial mutual-recognition agreements with EU + UK + Switzerland + Japan + Australia + Canada + Singapore + Indonesia + Malaysia + Korea + Türkiye + Iran + Argentina + USA-FDA bilateral inspections. This substantially reduces GMP-inspection burden + cost + timeline for foreign manufacturers operating Israeli-domestic facilities + for Israeli-domestic manufacturers (notably Teva — the world's largest generic-medicines manufacturer) exporting to PIC/S Member markets. PIC/S Member status enables substantial Israeli ISO 13485 Notified Body + MoH GMP Certificate + CE Mark + Free Sale Certificate + Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product issuance for substantial Israeli-domestic manufacturer export-market support to USA + EU + GCC (Abraham Accords) + Arab League + EMRO + sub-Saharan Africa + Latin America + South-East Asia markets.

Q.Is the Israel MoH part of PIC/S + WHO PIDM + WHO PQ?+

Yes — Israel MoH is a PIC/S Member (since 2009 — one of the earliest non-EU PIC/S Members globally) — one of the most operationally significant Israel MoH capabilities; a WHO PIDM Member contributing substantial ADR data to VigiBase via Uppsala Monitoring Centre; a WHO PQ programme participant enabling substantial UN-agency humanitarian procurement + LMIC market access via Israeli-domestic manufacturers notably Teva; maintains substantial EMA bilateral cooperation under the EU-Israel Association Agreement (2000) + the EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Pharmaceuticals (2012); substantial bilateral cooperation with FDA + Health Canada + TGA + Swissmedic + MHRA + MFDS + Japanese PMDA + Indian CDSCO + Türkiye TİTCK + Jordan JFDA + Egyptian EDA + Abraham Accords signatories UAE MoHAP + Bahrain NHRA + Sudanese NMRA + Moroccan DMP; ICH guideline implementation in Israeli regulatory practice including ICH Q1-Q14 + E1-E20 + M1-M11 + S1-S12; ICDRA + IMDRF + IPRP + OECD + IGBA participation.

Q.What's distinctive about Israel's pharmaceutical environment as a global biotechnology + innovation hub?+

Israel's pharmaceutical environment is uniquely characterised by: world-leading pharmaceutical-innovation industry — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (headquartered in Petah Tikva) is the world's largest generic-medicines manufacturer + one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies overall; ~10+ Israeli-domestic manufacturers including Teva + Taro + Dexcel + Perrigo Israel + Trima + Rekah + CTS Chemical Industries + Tzamal Medical + Promedico + Megapharm; ~500+ Israeli biotechnology + ~700+ Israeli medical-device + ~600+ Israeli digital-health companies; substantial EU-Israel Association Agreement (2000) + EU-Israel ACAA Protocol on Pharmaceuticals (2012) operational alignment with EMA unique among non-EU non-EEA countries; PIC/S Member status (since 2009 — one of the earliest non-EU PIC/S Members globally); substantial USA + EU + GCC (Abraham Accords) + Arab League + EMRO + sub-Saharan African + Latin American + South-East Asian export markets; world-leading per-capita Phase I-IV clinical-trial hub with substantial Israeli academic-medical-centre clinical-research capacity (Hadassah + Tel Aviv Sourasky + Sheba + Rabin + Rambam + Soroka + Carmel + Shaare Zedek + Assuta); substantial Israeli Health Maintenance Organisation (Clalit + Maccabi + Meuhedet + Leumit) longitudinal EHR data (one of the world's most comprehensive per-capita) enabling substantial active surveillance + real-world-evidence + pharmacoepidemiology research; Hebrew + Arabic + English overlay labelling; Climate Zone II coastal + IVa Negev interior stability requirements. For foreign manufacturers, Israel is one of the most operationally significant pharmaceutical regulators globally for biotechnology + ATMP + medical-device + digital-health innovation partnerships + USA + EU + GCC (Abraham Accords) + Arab League + EMRO market access via Israeli-localised production + EU-Israel ACAA Protocol + PIC/S Member mutual-recognition + WHO PQ programme participation + Abraham Accords bilateral cooperation.

Primary sources

Further reading

See MOH (Israel) working on a real shop floor

V5 Ultimate ships with the MOH (Israel) controls already wired in — audit trail, e-signatures, validation evidence. Free trial, no credit card, onboard in days, not months.