About CCMO

The CCMO executes the WMO and the Embryo’s Act. Research that falls under the WMO or the Embryo’s Act must be reviewed by an independent committee of experts. Research is not allowed to start without a positive decision of this committee.

Mission statement

The CCMO protects participants taking part in medical research by reviewing the research on the basis of the statutory provisions laid down for them and taking into account the interests of medical progress.

Organisation

The CCMO consists of committee members and deputy members representing the various disciplines as stipulated in the WMO. The secretariat of the CCMO supports the committee in its legal tasks and is managed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The secretariat consists of the following departments: Legal Affairs and Supervision, Europe, the National Clinical Trial Office and Operational Management. The National Clinical Trial Office supports the committee and 10 accredited medical research ethics committees (MRECs) in reviewing research with a medicinal product. The other departments support the committee in its other legal tasks.

Competent authority

CCMO is a National Competent Authority (NCA) for medical scientific research involving human subjects. Unlike most countries, the Netherlands has two NCAs, namely the CCMO and the Medicines Evaluation Board.

CCMO works closely with other NCAs in the EMRN, the European Medicines Regulatory Network. The EMRN embraces and actively supports cooperation with regulatory authorities in third countries. This collaboration aims to strengthen global regulatory systems, promote mutual reliance, and enhance public health worldwide. 

For direct contact with other National Competent Authorities (NCAs) within the EMRN, please refer to the NCA Contact List on the HMA website.

Rules and regulation

The organisation and operation of the CCMO is laid down in her rules and regulations. These regulations, including the complaints procedure, have been approved by the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS). With regards to the organisation’s operation, the CCMO has authorised its chair and/or executive director for certain (aspects of its) jurisdictions. These are laid down in standing orders which have also been approved by the Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport (the standing orders are only available in Dutch).