For almost all purposes in the GMP sector, it is mandatory to use original data and documents or only true copies thereof. This requirement also forms part of the ALCOA principle. Since it is only possible in a few cases in operational practice to work with the sole original document, the question arises as to what requirements are to be placed on the requisite true copies (see definition in Figure 15.B-6). Figure 15.B-7 compares different types of copies with the concept of original data.