The European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines has awarded the ISO 17025 certification to the Moroccan National Laboratory for Drug Control (LNCM) for the fourth time, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday.

The LNCM, which ensures the quality of medicines and health products, has received the certification from the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines, part of the Council of Europe. This certification confirms that it meets the current international ISO 17025 standards.

This international standard covers the “general requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories,” which is the benchmark used during accreditation audits for all testing and analysis laboratories.

For several years, the LNCM has adopted a certification approach based on international quality control standards relevant to its field, such as ISO 17025 and the OMCL guide specific to drug control laboratories.

The LNCM was certified for the fourth time in 2024, following an audit in September 2023, confirming its status as a member of the European OMCL network. This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of the entire LNCM team, their commitment to best practices, and their ambition to maintain this status and expand certification to new technical components.

This recognition strengthens Morocco’s position as a pharmaceutical production hub in Africa and will boost the growth of generic medicines, which are significantly cheaper, ensuring access to medications for all citizens.

Beyond confirming the seriousness of the health administration in Morocco, this certification will also enhance the export potential of Moroccan pharmaceuticals across Africa.