A clear written mission, based on priorities and functions, should be provided for drug regulation, indicating what it intends to achieve. Clear definition of the mission will facilitate assessment of the degree to which drug regulation has met its central goals, and of whether the perceived objective has changed between inception and implementation. Identifying the beneficiaries and stakeholders of drug regulation is also important since this helps ensure that an appropriate implementation strategy is designed.

Although the core mission of drug regulation for all countries is to promote public health by ensuring the quality, safety and efficacy of drugs, and appropriate and accurate product information, the mission may also include:

• providing unbiased information and promoting rational use of drugs;
• ensuring timely availability of drugs (through, for example, prompt registration of new products);
• ensuring geographical access to drugs (through decisions on location of retail outlets);
• encouraging domestic production of drug products.

Some examples of mission statements concerning drug regulation are given in Annex 4.