The European Medicines Agency (EMA), which approves and registers medicines and medical appliances for use and sale within the EU was originally located in London in recognition of the UK's strong position and world-wide reputation in the testing, approval, assessment and regulation of medicines. The EMA is somewhat different in structure and accountability to most other regulators. It functions as a decentralised scientific agency of the EU with its main responsibility as the protection and promotion of public and animal health within the EU, EFTA and the EEA, through the evaluation and supervision of medicines for human and veterinary use. Its operation is overseen by a management board consisting of a representative from each member state, two each from the European Commission, the Parliament and patients organisations, and one each representating doctors' and veterinarians' organisations.