Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to main navigation

EMA: Q&A on the implementation of the Ireland/Northern Ireland Protocol

EMA published Revision 3 of the Q&A on the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland on 5 March 2021. The 11-page document contains 28 pairs of questions and answers. It is updated regularly and will be of interest to all GMP professionals who have business relationships with companies in Northern Ireland.

Of particular note in the Q&A document are Q&A 14 "GMP and manufacturing" and Q&A 15 "Parallel distribution":  

  • Manufacturing and import authorizations as well as GMP certificates and GMP non-compliance reports issued for manufacturers in Northern Ireland after the end of the transition period will be made available by the UK authorities in the EudraGMDP database and will be recognized in the EU or EEA.  
  • GMP certificates issued to manufacturers in the rest of the UK and third countries after the end of the transition period will be treated as third country GMP compliance information and will no longer be held in the EudraGDMP database.  
  • GMP inspections are recognized under the EU-UK agreement between the two parties.  
  • There is the possibility of recognition of inspections carried out by UK authorities in third countries. More information on this will follow at a later date.  
  • Notices will remain in place after 31 December 2020 for parallel distributors who have a site in Northern Ireland or who repackage there. However, notices for parallel distributors located at and/or repackaging at other sites in the U.K. will no longer be valid after 31 December 2020. Here, the EMA Guidance on parallel distribution can help.

Source:

EMA: Questions and answers to Stakeholders on the implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland

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:

FDA: Draft Guidance on Responding to Form 483 Observations

FDA: Draft Guidance on Responding to Form 483 Observations

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a draft guidance on responding to Form FDA-483 observations following drug CGMP inspections. The document provides recommendations on how manufacturers should structure their responses and what information they should include.
Read more
Which Quality and Process Parameters must Typically be Taken into Account During Process Validation for Terminally Sterilized Products?

Which Quality and Process Parameters must Typically be Taken into Account During Process Validation for Terminally Sterilized Products?

Here's the answer:
Read more
Veterinary GMP 2026: The New Regulatory Framework

Veterinary GMP 2026: The New Regulatory Framework

Implementing Regulations (EU) 2025/2091 and 2025/2154 consolidate the GMP requirements for veterinary medicinal products into a distinct and legally binding framework for the first time. While establishing regulatory independence for the veterinary sector, they remain substantively aligned with the EU GMP Guide.
Read more
Team-NB: Opportunities and Concerns in the MDR/IVDR Revision

Team-NB: Opportunities and Concerns in the MDR/IVDR Revision

Team-NB, the European association of medical device Notified Bodies, sees the proposed MDR and IVDR revision as an opportunity to improve efficiency, transparency and predictability in conformity assessment.
Read more
EMA: GMP Documentation for the Sterilisation of an API

EMA: GMP Documentation for the Sterilisation of an API

The EMA Q&A on the quality of medicines has been updated with a new question: “What kind of GMP documentation is required for an API manufacturer performing sterilisation of an active substance?”

Read more
EMA: Updated Q&A on OOS Batches of ATMPs

EMA: Updated Q&A on OOS Batches of ATMPs

The EMA has revised its questions and answers on the use of out-of-specification (OOS) batches of authorised cell- and tissue-based ATMPs (“Questions and answers on the use of out-of-specification batches of authorised cell/tissue-based ATMPs”, Rev. 1, 2026).
Read more
Previous
Next