GMP News - Pharmaceutical Technology

The VDI (Verein Deutscher Ingenieure, Association of German Engineers) has re-issued Part 2 of VDI Standard 6022 on the requirements for hygiene training of persons entrusted with HVAC systems. The latest valid version of this document dates from 1999.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published the final version of its guideline on the use of the different pharmaceutical water qualities. The revision had become necessary due to the possibility to produce WFI using methods other than distillation. Read more here.

The WHO guideline "Good Manufacturing Practices: water for pharmaceutical use" is currently being revised. The WHO issued a draft for public comment in May 2020.

The FDA has recently issued a Warning Letter to a large Indian pharmaceutical manufacturer following an inspection that revealed poor cleaning and later detected cross-contamination in manufactured tablets. Further GMP violations were detected like leaking HEPA filters and inadequate smoke studies in the sterile area.

A US-American pharmaceutical manufacturer of OTC solutions and suppositories has received a Warning Letter from the US-American FDA due to non-executed repairs and deficiencies in cleaning and laboratory testing.

The new chapter 5.17.2 in the European Pharmacopoeia "Recommendations on testing of particulate contamination: visible particles" was already published for comment in autumn 2018 (Pharmeuropa 30.4). The comments and feedback received have been considered by the Expert Group 12 of the EDQM, and the chapter is coming into force.

 The nickel plating of surfaces is a good and high-quality method to protect components or surfaces from corrosion. At the same time, the question is repeatedly asked whether components treated in this way may be used in the GMP area. Read more here.