The European pharmacovigilance framework entered a new phase on 12 February 2026, when Regulation (EU) 2025/1466 became applicable. Combined with a scheduled overhaul of the signal-management guidance, 2026 is a year in which safety systems need to be reviewed rather than left on autopilot.
What is actually changing in 2026
Three developments matter most for marketing authorisation holders (MAHs). First, Regulation (EU) 2025/1466 introduces amendments across the pharmacovigilance obligations that apply from February 2026. Second, an updated Good Pharmacovigilance Practices (GVP) Module IX on signal management is expected during 2026, sharpening expectations around how often companies screen EudraVigilance data. Third, there is a clear regulatory push to capture pregnancy and breastfeeding outcomes more systematically within individual case safety reports (ICSRs).
Reporting fundamentals still apply
The core reporting architecture has not moved. Serious cases are still reported within 15 calendar days and non-serious cases within 90 days, submitted electronically to EudraVigilance in E2B(R3) format. Crucially, every follow-up report must meet the same clock as the initial report, calculated from the day the new information reaches the company. What has increased is the expectation that each of those steps is documented: who assessed the case, on what basis, and how the timeline was protected.
Signal management under closer scrutiny
The direction of travel is that signal detection frequency should be calibrated to each product’s own safety profile rather than run on a single generic cadence. A newly launched biological, a product with an active risk-management plan, and a long-established generic do not warrant identical monitoring. Companies should be able to justify their screening intervals and show that EudraVigilance is being used as a live source of safety information.
Inspection readiness in practice
A pharmacovigilance system that reads well on paper is not the same as one that survives an inspection. The building blocks remain the Pharmacovigilance System Master File (PSMF) kept genuinely current, a Qualified Person for Pharmacovigilance (QPPV) with real oversight, defined signal-screening procedures, and audit-ready records that demonstrate data integrity end to end. The 2026 changes reward organisations that can trace a decision from source data to regulatory action.
PQRA sets up and runs pharmacovigilance systems for companies operating in Greece and the wider EU — from the PSMF and QPPV support to signal management and inspection readiness. If you are reviewing your system for the 2026 changes, we can help you close the gaps before an inspector finds them.
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