GMP News - Packaging

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.

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?

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.

In December 2021, the FDA published its long-awaited Draft Guideline on 100% Visual Inspection of Parenterals. Comments were accepted until mid-February 2022. Members of the Advisory Board of the ECA Visual Inspection Group took advantage of this opportunity and submitted numerous comments.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a revised draft guidance entitled Verification Systems Under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act for Certain Prescription Drugs. This document addresses the verification systems that manufacturers, repackagers, wholesale distributors, and dispensers must have in place.

The new USP general chapters <665> and <1665> have now finally been approved. Chapter <665> establishes a baseline for the qualification of plastic components used in the manufacturing of pharmaceutical and / or biopharmaceutical drugs.

Stainless steel is predominantly used in pharmaceutical equipment engineering. The 316L variant is basically regarded as standard; material incompatibilities of the steel with the product are more or less neglected. This is different with plastics. In addition to leach-out, aging and surface finish, other quality characteristics are often specified. But are there generally applicable requirements for plastics in pharmaceutical equipment engineering?