USP: New General Chapter Supplier Qualification <1083>
On August 01, 2023, the new USP Chapter "<1083> Supplier Qualification" will officially enter into force. In the USP Forum, the draft chapter could be viewed and commented on until the end of November 2021.
USP is Announcing a Proposal to Modify the Glass General Chapter <660>
Due to the current shortages of glass vials the USP is announcing a proposal to modify General Chapter <660> Container— Glass. In particular, the revision is anticipated to remove the glass classifications based on composition.
USP Proposes to Add Flexibility in the Selection of Parenteral Packaging
To help address concerns about the supply of glass vials, the USP intends to revise the packaging and storage statements in several USP monographs for parenteral products which currently prescribe a specific type of glass.
USP clarifies Requirements for Plastic Packaging Systems
The USP General Chapters—Packaging and Distribution Expert Committee is proposing a revision to the Scope section of chapter <661> Plastic Packaging Systems and Their Materials of Construction. The revision is published to clarify the testing expectations that are outlined in <661.1> and <661.2>.
FDA Warning Letter: Product Mix-Ups and Insanitary Conditions at US Repackager
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Warning Letter to a drug manufacturing facility in Missouri. The company failed to adequately investigate the presence of foreign tablets in the drug products. Furthermore, during an FDA inspection, one operator was observed to pick individual tablets up off of the floor and place them directly into the feed hopper.
The final version of Ph. Eur. 3.2.9. Rubber closures for containers for aqueous parenteral preparations, for powders and for freeze-dried powders has been published in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) 11.1. The supplement is now available and will become applicable as of 1 April 2023.
Due to a change in REACH, the Ph. Eur. is considering to replace the plasticiser DEHP and is therefore seeking information from manufacturers. The deadline for replies is 30 September 2022.
Elastomers for Pharmaceutical Packaging and Manufacturing
Following the recently adopted USP general chapter <665> for plastic materials used in manufacturing, the USP now published two draft chapters for elastomers for pharmaceutical packaging and manufacturing.
Recently, the CMDh has added a recommendation for the classification of a proposed packaging change to the list of unforeseen variations ("Article 5 Recommendations"). What is the recommended category for a change of the “total thickness” for a blister foil?
Currently there are no compendial standards available for metal packaging systems for pharmaceutical use. Thus any other guidance providing information on metal components like the revised EDQM technical guide “Metals and alloys used in food contact materials and articles” can be useful.
Following the previously published Ph. Eur drafts for COC / COP, a new Ph. Eur. chapter 3.1.18. Styrene block copolymers for containers and closures for parenteral preparations and ophthalmic preparations has been proposed in Pharmeuropa.
The FDA has issued a questions and answers document to assist industry and State and local governments in understanding the effects of the Uniform National Policy on drug product tracing.