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EMA: New Plans for the EU GMP Guide

EMA published the GMDP Inspectors Working Group’s new 2026-2028 work plan and its 2025 annual report.

The work plan points to upcoming activity on Chapter 1, Annex 11, Annex 22, veterinary GMP implementation, inspector training, EudraGMDP modernisation and publication of new Q&As such as 3D printing. The annual report confirms the group’s continuing role in harmonising GMP and GDP activities across the network.

During the coming years, a comprehensive revision of the EU GMP Guide is anticipated. Most deadlines have been set for Q4 2028.

Detailed guideline activities:

EU GMP Guide

Comment

Target date

Chapter 1 Pharmaceutical Quality System

Amendment to incorpoarate elements of ICH Q9(R1)

Q4 2026

Chapter 3 Premises and Equipment

·     Review against current state of the art

·     Future update of the Veterinary GMP Implementing Acts?

·     Parallel with the update of Chapter 5

Q4 2028

Chapter 4 Documentation

Amendment to assure data integrity (parallel to Annex 11)

Q4 2026

Chapter 5 Production

·     Review against current state of the art

·     Future update of the Veterinary GMP Implementing Acts?

·     Parallel with the update of Chapter 3

Q4 2028

Chapter 7 Outsourced Activities

·     Review against current state of the art

·     Future update of the Veterinary GMP Implementing Acts?

·     Parallel with the update of Chapter 9

Q4 2028

Chapter 9 Self-Inspection

·     Review against current state of the art

·     Future update of the Veterinary GMP Implementing Acts?

·     Parallel with the update of Chapter 7

Q4 2028

Annex 3 Radiophamaceuticals

Review and update

Q4 2028

Annex 6 Medicinal Gases

Review and update

Q4 2028

Annex 11 Computerised Systems

Amendment to assure data integrity (parallel to Chapter 4 and Annex 22)

Q4 2026

Annex 14 Medicinal Products Derived from Human Blood or Plasma

Review and update, taking into account Regulation (EU) 2024/1938

Q4 2028

Annex 15 Qualification and Validation

Update in the context of new technology in facilities, products and processes and following up on Heads of Medagencies‘ (HMA) nitrosamine recommendations, extend the scope to APIs and reflect changes from ICH Q9(R1)

Q4 2026

Annex 22 Artificial Intelligence

New Annex to assure use of AI in the context of GMP
(Parallel to Annex 11 and Chapter 4)

Q4 2026

ATMP GMP Guidelines

Review and update together with the Committee for Advanced Therapies (CAT) and the EC (new regulation on standards of quality and safety for

substances of human origin, new GMP Annex 1)

Q4 2026

ICH Q12 Lifecycle Management

To agree an EU approach to documenting and communicating the effectiveness of a manufacturing site’s Pharmaceutical Quality System

Q4 2026

GDP Guide

Develop a Q&A to provide guidance to WDA Holders on performing risk assessments on the verification of authenticity of medicinal products at risk of falsifications

Q4 2026


Source:

EMA: Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) / Good Distribution Practice (GDP) Inspectors Working Group

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