Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to main navigation

British MHRA temporarily relaxes GMP regulation

In order to address the current exceptional circumstances, the UK regulatory authority MHRA has opted for a temporary flexibility on good manufacturing practice (GMP). The authority considers these steps necessary to meet the current  supply needs of medicines in the UK. In this context, the GDP requirements for wholesalers have already been relaxed and the discretionary scope for QPs has also been extended.

These flexibilities should enable manufacturers to:

  • release additional quality system capacity for to focus on ensuring continuity of supply using quality risk management principles
  • address specific challenges created by international travel restrictions.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers, for example, may rely on the certificates of analysis from their suppliers if previous experience with the suppliers has shown that this is possible. The MHRA also allows companies to ship products from manufacturing sites under quarantine while quality control testing and batch certification is still ongoing. Under these circumstances, however, it must be ensured that access to the market only occurs once the product has been certified by a Qualified Person (QP). With respect to the pharmaceutical quality system, the MHRA currently allows supplier audits and investigations of minor events to be postponed to a later date. Internal audits and employee training may also be temporarily suspended.

All details about the increased flexibility in the areas of GMP, GDP and the tasks of the QP can be found here.


Source

MHRA: Exceptional GMP flexibilities for medicines manufacturers during the coronavirus outbreak

MHRA: Exceptional GDP flexibilities for medicines during the coronavirus outbreak

MHRA: Exceptional GMP flexibilities for medicines imported from third countries during the coronavirus outbreak

Meet the GMP Compliance Adviser

The GMP Compliance Adviser is the world's largest knowledge portal for quality management in the pharma business. 

The demo access is non-binding and ends automatically.

Test it now for free

You may also be Interested in the Following Articles:

What is a gas?

What is a gas?

You can view the answer here:
Read more
EMA: Pilot Programme for Breakthrough Devices

EMA: Pilot Programme for Breakthrough Devices

The EMA plans to launch a pilot programme in Q2 2026 to implement the guidance for breakthrough devices issued in December 2025.

Read more
EDQM: New Ph. Eur. Chapter on Data Quality with a Focus on Digital Data

EDQM: New Ph. Eur. Chapter on Data Quality with a Focus on Digital Data

The European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) has introduced a new general chapter that provides a framework for managing the quality of data, including digital data, throughout its life cycle.

Read more
PIC/S: Jordan FDA Joins PIC/S

PIC/S: Jordan FDA Joins PIC/S

On 1 January 2026, the Jordan Food & Drug Administration (JFDA) became the 57th PIC/S Participating Authority.

Read more
Swissmedic: Scientific GMDP Meetings

Swissmedic: Scientific GMDP Meetings

Swissmedic offers companies holding or seeking a Swissmedic manufacturing or distribution license the opportunity to discuss project-specific GMP and GDP topics in Scientific GMDP Meetings.

Read more
Purified Water – The new Chinese Pharmacopoeias and What Happens Next?

Purified Water – The new Chinese Pharmacopoeias and What Happens Next?

A new Chinese Pharmacopoeia was published in 2025. This has some significant implications for the pharmaceutical water industry, which we will discuss in more detail in this article. Firstly, it is important to note that cold WFI systems are now permitted worldwide and can be used across the board.
Read more
Previous
Next