The EMA published revised Questions & Answers on the EU framework for (traditional) herbal medicinal products, including those from a “non-European” tradition. Amongst others two new interesting questions with corresponding answers regarding GACP and GMP have been introduced.
Is it Acceptable to Mix Extract-Batches in order to Improve Batch-to-Batch Consistency?
A revision of the "Questions & answers on quality of herbal medicinal products/traditional herbal medicinal products" document was published on the website of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) on 1 February 2024.
New Ph. Eur. Chapter Comparability of Alternative Analytical Procedures
Following the draft chapter published in 2022, the new Ph. Eur. general chapter Comparability of alternative analytical procedures (5.27) has now been published in Supplement 11.5.
Now Available: Reference Standards for the new Ph. Eur. Cannabis/CBD Monographs
The new Ph. Eur. Cannabis Flower and CBD Monographs require the use of specific reference standards/substances. These reference standards/substances are now available.
FDA Publication on Elemental Impurities in Cannabis following Vaporization
Following the previously issued article on microbial contamination, authors from the FDA recently published an article on elemental impurities in cannabis following vaporization. The results indicate that a transfer of heavy metals from cannabis material to cannabis vapor may not occur during the vaporization process under the applied study conditions.
The New Ph. Eur. Monographs Cannabis Flower and CBD are now Published
The Ph. Eur. Suppl. 11.5 is now available containing the new Ph. Eur. Cannabis Flower monograph and the new Ph. Eur. monograph Cannabidiol (CBD). The Ph. Eur. CBD monograph now clearly defines: CBD is isolated from the Cannabis sativa L. plant.
Medical Cannabis - FDA's Perspective on Research and Drug Development
In addition to the recently published FDA guideline on Quality Considerations for Clinical Research with Cannabis the FDA now published an article to assist researchers with developing cannabis-derived product (CCDP) clinical research programs.
Swissmedic Clarifies GMP Requirements for Formula Drugs
The Swissmedic recently clarified some requirements for the manufacture and marketing of formula drugs (e.g. "Formula magistralis" medicinal products) by issuing an updated version of their corresponding guidance document. The guideline is the basis for "GMP inspections for formula drugs" carried out by the cantonal inspectorates and Swissmedic.
Following the previously pre-published Ph. Eur. Cannabis Flower Monograph and the announced Ph. Eur. CBD Monograph, four new Ph. Eur. cannabis reagents are needed for quality control purposes. The description of these Cannabis reagents will be published in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) Supplement 11.5.
FDA Delays Requirements for Cosmetic Facility Registration and Product Listing
The U.S. FDA issued a guidance on the delay of enforcement of the requirements for cosmetic product facility registration and cosmetic product listing under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) for six months to help ensure that industry has sufficient time to submit such facility registration and product listing information.
The USP Herbal Medicines Compendium (HMC) published a revised version of the previously proposed Cannabis Species Inflorescence monograph. In particular, the Content of Terpenes section has been removed from Specific Tests because there is insufficient information to support the use of terpenes for medical purposes.
The German Federal Cabinet has adopted the draft of an "Act on the Controlled Use of Cannabis and on the Amendment of Further Regulations" (Cannabis Law - CanG).
As previously announced the new Ph. Eur. monograph Cannabis flower was adopted and will be published in Ph. Eur. Supplement 11.5 in January 2024. Now, the Ph. Eur. decided to make the monograph immediately available on the EDQM website for information.
Denmark clarifies Status of the Ph. Eur. Cannabis Monograph
The Danish Medicines Agency clarified that the Danish monograph for Cannabis Flower will become invalid and removed from the Executive Order on Danish Drug Standards once the Ph. Eur. Cannabis monograph becomes official.
The USP adopted the new general chapter <1567> Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids as Contaminants. Twenty-eight PAs are selected to be monitored and manufacturers of herbal medicinal products should use a risk-based approach for determining appropriate limits and testing requirements.