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The EMC contains up‐to‐date, easily accessible information about medicines licensed for use in the UK. It can be found at: www.medicines.org.uk/emc. The EMC contains more than 14 000 documents, which have been checked and approved by either the UK or European government agencies which license medicines. These agencies are the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The EMC is updated continually and you can browse for medicines or active ingredients using the A–Z buttons. The EMC contains regulated and approved information on medicines available in the UK including the following.

 Summaries of Product Characteristics (known as SPCs or SmPCs) : an SmPC informs healthcare professionals how to prescribe and use a medicine correctly. It is based on clinical trials that a pharmaceutical company has carried out and gives information about dose, use and possible side‐effects. A SmPC is always written in a standard format.

 Patient Information Leaflets (PILs, Package Leaflets or PLs) : a PIL is the leaflet included in the pack with any medicine. The PIL is a summary of the SmPC and is written for patients.

 Risk Minimisation Materials (RMMs) : RMMs are resources for healthcare professionals which aim to optimise the safe and effective use of a medicine. RMMs can come in a number of forms, such as educational programmes, prescribing or dispensing guides, patient brochures or alert cards.

 Safety Alerts : these are issued by the regulator and/or marketing authorisation holder and contain important public health messages or safety‐critical information about a medicine.

 Product Information : this is any additional information about a product. It may include important information such as change of packaging or issues related to stock levels.

Within the EMC there are audio and video resources that provide additional information in a user‐friendly format, promoting the safe and effective use of a medicine. For example, a video clip may demonstrate how to administer a certain medicine correctly.