GMP - Good Manufacturing
Practices
GMP refers to the Good Manufacturing
Practice Regulations promulgated by the US Food and Drug Administration under
the authority of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (See Chapter
IV for food, and Chapter V, Subchapters A,
B,
C,
D,
and E
for drugs and devices.) These regulations, which have the force of law, require
that manufacturers, processors, and packagers of drugs, medical devices, some
food, and blood take proactive steps to ensure that their products are safe,
pure, and effective. GMP regulations require
a quality approach to manufacturing, enabling companies to minimize or
eliminate instances of contamination, mixups, and
errors. This in turn, protects the consumer from purchasing a product
which is not effective or even dangerous. Failure of firms to comply with GMP
regulations can result in very serious consequences including recall, seizure,
fines, and jail time.
GMPs cover all aspects of food and pharmaceutical manufacture
of products to be sold in the US, covering such items as recordkeeping,
personnel qualifications, sanitation, cleanliness, equipment verification,
process validation, and complaint handling. Most GMP
requirements are very general and open-ended, allowing each manufacturer to
decide individually how to best implement the necessary controls.
WEBSITE: Good
Manufacturing Practice - Wikipedia, the free
encyclopedia