Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to main navigation

CHMP: Extended Deadline for Nitrosamine Step 3 Revision and Q&A update

The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) and the CMDh (Coordination Group on Mutual Recognition Procedures and Decentralised Procedures) of the EMA extended the deadline for submission of variation applications under Step 3: "Variation of marketing authorisation for chemical medicinal products" from 26 September 2022 to 1 October 2023.

The extension is to allow companies to carry out a thorough investigation and identify any necessary risk mitigation measures, in particular regarding nitrosamines that may result from active substances. This extension does not affect the deadline for the completion of the level 2 confirmatory tests for chemical medicinal products. This will continue to end on 26 September 2022, by which time marketing authorisation holders should submit the full results of stage 2.

Certificates of Suitability
A similar approach is taken for Certificates of Suitability (CEP) and therefore the previously announced deadline (notice to all CEP holders for synthetic active substances regarding the presence of nitrosamines) for the submission of all necessary revisions under Step 3 is thus extended to 1 October 2023. Nevertheless, CEP holders are invited to submit their amendments as soon as the investigations are completed and thus before the deadline mentioned above.


Q&A document on nitrosamine impurities
The changes are also reflected in the accompanying Q&A document. Question 3 on the “call for review” has been updated accordingly:

  • For product containing chemically synthesised APIs, confirmatory testing activities at Step 2 are expected to be finalized at the latest by 26th September 2022.
  • The deadline for the submission of any changes required to Marketing Authorisations is by 1 October 2023.
  • For product containing biological APIs, confirmatory testing activities at Step 2 and submission of any changes required to Marketing Authorisations are expected to be finalized at the latest by 1 July 2023.

Source:

EMA: Q&A on nitrosamine impurities in human medicinal products
EMA: Nitrosamine impurities website

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:

Outsourced Activities in the GDP Environment Part II: Contractual Agreements

Outsourced Activities in the GDP Environment Part II: Contractual Agreements

When outsourcing GDP activities, there is a need for concrete delimitation of responsibilities between a client and a contractor. Read more about the goals and the contents of a quality agreement in the following excerpt from GMP:KnowHow Pharmalogistics (GDP).

Read more
Question of the Week | GMP-Verlag

What are the Benefits and Limitations of Passive Temperature-Controlled Containers for Drug Transport?

Here's the answer:
Read more
FDA: Adjustment of Nitrosamine Limits for Short-Term Use Medicines

FDA: Adjustment of Nitrosamine Limits for Short-Term Use Medicines

The FDA has updated its recommendations on Acceptable Intake (AI) limits for nitrosamine impurities. Under certain conditions, the Agency now accepts a Less-Than-Lifetime (LTL) adjustment of AI limits for medicinal products that are not intended for lifetime use. This also represents an alignment with the LTL concept of ICH M7(R2).
Read more
Swissmedic: SMS Registration Becomes Prerequisite for GMP Certificates

Swissmedic: SMS Registration Becomes Prerequisite for GMP Certificates

As of 15 November 2026, active substances must be registered in the EMA's Substance Management Services (SMS) database before Swissmedic can include them in establishment licences and GMP certificates for active substance manufacturers. The new requirement results from modifications to the EudraGMDP database.
Read more
News: EMA

EMA: New Q&As for Biological Medicinal Products

The EMA has added a new section to its Q&As on biological medicinal products addressing medicinal products containing secretomes or extracellular vesicles (EVs) obtained from human or animal cells.
Read more
News: Europe

EU: Council Adopts the Pharmaceutical Package

On 28 September 2026, the Council of the European Union adopted the EU pharmaceutical package, marking another important step in the legislative process for the comprehensive reform of EU pharmaceutical legislation.
Read more
Previous
Next