Swissmedic, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products, is a public institution of the Swiss government. It is affiliated to the Federal Department of Home Affairs. The legal basis of Swissmedic is the Federal Act on Medicinal Products and Medical Devices (Therapeutic Products Act - TPA).
Swissmedic started operation when the TPA came into force on 1 January 2002. The Agency was formed from a merger of the Intercantonal Office for the Control of Medicines and the Therapeutic Products Section of the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health. The new area of responsibility takes into account the growing demands for international health protection and quality standards.
Swissmedic is financed from fees, payments from the Federal govermnet in return for services of public interest and from services rendered to third parties. The public services are described in a service mandate from the Federal Council and in an annual service agreement with the Federal Department of Home Affairs. To ensure the efficiency of its control activity, the Agency is managed according to the principles of good business practice.
