• To improve industry confidence in the centralised system, to encourage companies to apply under the new system (by 2nd quarter 1998); • to continue to achieve 100 percent compliance with regulatory deadlines for completion of marketing authorisation applications and variations under the centralised system (throughout 1998); • to complete standardisation of summary of product characteristics, label and package leaflet for centralised opinions to ensure consistency of presentation (by 1st quarter 1998); • to ensure consistency of all CVMP assessment reports and EPARs is maintained fully according to established quality control standards (by 4th quarter 1998); • to review contents of CVMP assessments and EPARs, to monitor quality standards (by 2nd quarter 1998); • to initiate a programme of workshops on pre-evaluation, evaluation and procedural phases of centralised procedures to streamline the process (by 2nd quarter 1998); • to provide full and efficient co-ordination of EU regulatory input into VICH initiatives to complete phase I topics and progress phase II topics (by 3rd quarter 1998); • to examine further ways of fostering a culture of openness and transparency in the sector’s work (throughout 1998); and • to define and implement a crisis management plan for veterinary medicines (by 2nd quarter 1998).