13. CHANGE CONTROL

13. CHANGE CONTROL
13.10 A formal change control system should be established to evaluate all changes that may affect the production and control of the intermediate or API.
13.11 Written procedures should provide for the identification, documentation, appropriate review, and approval of changes in raw materials, specifications, analytical methods, facilities, support systems, equipment (including computer hardware), processing steps, labelling and packaging materials, and computer software.
13.12 Any proposals for GMP relevant changes should be drafted, reviewed, and approved by the appropriate organisational units, and reviewed and approved by the quality unit(s).
13.13 The potential impact of the proposed change on the quality of the intermediate or API should be evaluated. A classification procedure may help in determining the level of testing, validation, and documentation needed to justify changes to a validated process. Changes can be classified (e.g. as minor or major) depending on the nature and extent of the changes, and the effects these changes may impart on the process. Scientific judgement should determine what additional testing and validation studies are appropriate to justify a change in a validated process.
13.14 When implementing approved changes, measures should be taken to ensure that all documents affected by the changes are revised.
13.15 After the change has been implemented, there should be an evaluation of the first batches produced or tested under the change.
13.16 The potential for critical changes to affect established retest or expiry dates should be evaluated. If necessary, samples of the intermediate or API produced by the modified process can be placed on an accelerated stability program and/or can be added to the stability monitoring program.
13.17 Current dosage form manufacturers should be notified of changes from established production and process control procedures that can impact the quality of the API.