ECA: Pharmaceutical Packaging Systems - Development (16-17 June 2015) Folder A-1099

There is 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. To cover all relevant aspects a thorough target product profile needs to be set up. Not only regulatory requirements drive container closure system development, also current hot topics such as container closure integrity and glass delamination need to be considered as well.

Furthermore, the pharmaceutical manufacturer has to guarantee that only such packaging materials are used that are correctly printed, 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, the “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 at the same time. However, as a precondition for this, additional QA measures, like supplier qualification, audits and supply agreements, have to be taken.