Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to main navigation

EMA: Revision of Guideline on Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) enters into force

This guideline is an essential reading for all regulatory professionals involved in preparing MAAs. It describes the revised requirements for assessing the potential environmental risks of human medicinal products. The guideline was adopted on 15 February 2024 and will enter into force on 1 September 2024. The changes and extended requirements for environmental risk assessment will be mandatory for all pharmaceutical companies placing their medicines on the EU market.

An ERA must comprise detailed protocols for analysing the environmental impact of drugs, including chemical-physical characterisation, environmental fate, and ecotoxicology studies of its active substance(s). The identification of potential hazards of the active substance of a medicinal product is described along with detailed guidance on how to document the results in a risk assessment report and also suggests precautionary and mitigation measures.

Revision 1 of the guideline was published on 22 August 2024 including new wording in Section 3.1. It was amended to clarify requirements for excipients. Furthermore, editorial corrections were made throughout the text.


Source:

EMA: Guideline on the environmental risk assessment of medicinal products for human use

 

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