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:

EMA: Q&A Paper on Measures to Prevent Microbial Contamination of Non-Sterile Medicinal Products

EMA: Q&A Paper on Measures to Prevent Microbial Contamination of Non-Sterile Medicinal Products

The EMA has published a new Q&A paper on technical and organisational measures to prevent microbial contamination of non-sterile medicinal products.
Read more
Why is import authorisation necessary for medicinal products entering the EU?

Why is import authorisation necessary for medicinal products entering the EU?

Read more
When APS Fail and First Air is at Risk

When APS Fail and First Air is at Risk

At the PDA Good Aseptic Manufacturing Conference 2026, Alberto Gonzales (Takeda) discussed challenges and practical solutions related to aseptic process simulations (APS). Anna Campanella (Takeda) and Hussein Bachir (Franz Ziel) explored how first air protection in aseptic processing can be compromised by equipment design, glove interventions, and operator activities.
Read more
FDA: Updated Compliance Program for Preapproval Inspections

FDA: Updated Compliance Program for Preapproval Inspections

The FDA has revised its Compliance Program 7346.832, “Preapproval Inspections”. The updated program describes the planning, conduct and evaluation of preapproval inspections (PAIs) for New Drug Applications (NDAs) and Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs).
Read more
EMA: Revised Q&A MRA EU-USA

EMA: Revised Q&A MRA EU-USA

The EMA has updated its Questions and Answers on the EU-US Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA). The update follows the completion of the FDA's assessment of all EU authorities responsible for GMP inspections of veterinary medicinal products on 29 May 2026.
Read more
WHO: Draft on Regulatory Ovesight of Disposal of Medical Products

WHO: Draft on Regulatory Ovesight of Disposal of Medical Products

WHO published a draft consultation document on regulatory oversight of disposal of medical products throughout the lifecycle.
Read more
Previous
Next