Pharmaceutical Packaging Systems - Part 2 - Quality Control - Live Online Training
With Case Study on Reduced Testing / Reduced Sampling

The focus of these 2 GMP Education Courses is on the development and routine control of pharmaceutical packaging systems.

In Course 1 participants will learn how to develop pharmaceutical packaging materials systematically, and how to translate the requirements of the Common Technical Document (CTD) to regulatory documents for packaging materials. Topics to be addressed include compendial standards, container closure integrity, and combination products.

Course 2 will focus on the testing of a variety of different packaging materials, as carried out in every incoming-goods laboratory in quality control. This includes the setting of sound and scientific specifications and Acceptable Quality Levels (AQLs), the control of dimensions, and the control of primary and secondary packaging materials.

There are a great number of regulatory requirements on pharmaceutical packaging materials, in the pharmacopoeias, the GMP regulations, in the FDA guidances, etc. Packaging materials also have to be described in the registration process of a drug product according to the requirements of the CTD.

The development of pharmaceutical packaging systems is an increasingly complex topic, which is reflected in the most recent requirements for combination products and sterile packaging materials (Annex 1 of the EU GMP Guide). To cover all relevant aspects a thorough target product profile needs to be set up. Not only regulatory requirements drive container closure system development, but also current challenges such as package integrity, glass delamination and particles on ready-to-sterilize (RTS) and ready-to-use (RTU) components.

Furthermore, the pharmaceutical manufacturer has to guarantee that only such packaging materials are used that are correctly printed on, in conformity with the specifications and in compliance with the regulatory requirements.

In order to determine the scope of the tests for the quality control of pharmaceutical packaging materials, Defect Evaluation Lists have proved efficient. The responsibility for the tests lies now more and more with the manufacturers of packaging materials, while the pharmaceutical industry tries to reduce testing & sampling at the same time. However, as a precondition for this, additional QA measures, like supplier qualification, audits and supply agreements, have to be taken.

There are a great number of regulatory requirements on pharmaceutical packaging materials, in the pharmacopoeias, the GMP regulations, in the FDA guidances, etc. Packaging materials also have to be described in the registration process of a drug product according to the requirements of the CTD.

The development of pharmaceutical packaging systems is an increasingly complex topic, which is reflected in the most recent requirements for combination products and sterile packaging materials (Annex 1 of the EU GMP Guide). To cover all relevant aspects a thorough target product profile needs to be set up. Not only regulatory requirements drive container closure system development, but also current challenges such as package integrity, glass delamination and particles on ready-to-sterilize (RTS) and ready-to-use (RTU) components.

Furthermore, the pharmaceutical manufacturer has to guarantee that only such packaging materials are used that are correctly printed on, in conformity with the specifications and in compliance with the regulatory requirements.

In order to determine the scope of the tests for the quality control of pharmaceutical packaging materials, Defect Evaluation Lists have proved efficient. The responsibility for the tests lies now more and more with the manufacturers of packaging materials, while the pharmaceutical industry tries to reduce testing & sampling at the same time. However, as a precondition for this, additional QA measures, like supplier qualification, audits and supply agreements, have to be taken.