Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to main navigation
News: ICH

ICH: Q3D(R2) for elemental impurities reaches Step 2

The draft for the ICH Q3D(R2) Guideline for Elemental Impurities has reached Step 2 on September 25, 2020 and thus the consultation phase. The draft guideline includes, amongst others, corrected PDE values for gold, silver and nickel and a new appendix for impurities that are applied cutaneously or transcutaneously.  

What is regulated by the guideline?  

The ICH Q3D guideline is intended to control elemental impurities and establishes PDE (Permitted Daily Exposure) values for 24 elements. These apply to medicinal products that can be ingested orally, parenterally and via inhalation.  

What is new?  

In revision Q3D(R2), the newly added Appendix 5 also defines limits for impurities in medicinal products that are absorbed cutaneously or transdermally. A basic approach based on a modifying factor (Cutaneous PDE) is presented.  

The PDE values for the following elements in Appendix 2 have been corrected:  

  • Gold (Au): The oral and parenteral PDE was increased from 100 µg/day to 300 µg/day and from 1 µg/day to 3 µg/day for inhalation. 
  • Silver (Ag): The parenteral PDE was increased from 10 to 15 µg/day.  
  • Nickel (Ni): The PDE for inhalation has been increased from 5 µg/day to 6 µg/day.  

This also results in new values for the permitted concentration in µg/g for the respective elements. They are to be used when the content of elemental impurities in medicinal products does not exceed the daily dose of 10 grams per day.  

Furthermore, the monographs for gold and silver in Appendix 3 have been adjusted.  

The draft document is now available for public consultation. The ICH has focused on extracts of the passages that have been revised:

  • Part 1 – Appendix 2 extract : Correction of PDEs for gold, silver and nickel  
  • Part 2 – Appendix 3 extract: Correction of gold monograph  
  • Part 3 – Appendix 3 extract: Correction of silver monograph 
  • Part 4 – new Annex 5 for risk assessment of preparations applied cutaneously and transcutaneuosly 

All proposed changes are marked in red letters.  

The ICH has prepared a summarizing presentation for all changes, which provides a good overview. 


Source: 

ICH: ICH Guideline For Elemental Impurities Q3d(R2) Draft Version 

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:

News: EMA

EMA Clarifies Batch Numbering for Parallel-Traded Medicines

EMA updated its GMP/GDP Q&A collection by revising the answer to Question 4 concerning Chapter 5 of the EU GMP Guide. It explains which batch numbers should appear on the packaging of parallel-traded medicines.

Read more
Question of the Week | GMP-Verlag

Why is it Important to use Consistent Microbiological Air Monitoring Methods in Pharmaceutical Cleanrooms?

Here's the answer:
Read more
Cleaning Validation: When PDE Reports and the Worst-Case Selection do not Align

Cleaning Validation: When PDE Reports and the Worst-Case Selection do not Align

Robust PDE reports form the basis of risk-based cleaning validation. This article highlights common deficiencies identified during GMP inspections and explains how they can be avoided.

Read more
News: Europe

EDQM: New Working Party on 3D-printed Medicinal Products

The European Pharmacopoeia Commission (EPC) approved the creation of a working party on 3D-printed medicinal products. Its aim is to support the development of appropriate quality standards in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.).
Read more
EMA: 14 New Nitrosamines for Appendix 1

EMA: 14 New Nitrosamines for Appendix 1

Appendix 1 of EMA’s Questions and Answers on nitrosamine impurities has been updated. This appendix contains acceptable intakes (AIs) established for N-nitrosamines.
Read more
WHO: Draft Revision of its Guidelines on Quality Risk Management

WHO: Draft Revision of its Guidelines on Quality Risk Management

WHO published a revised draft of its “WHO guidelines on quality risk management”. Working document QAS/26.994 is open for public comment until 15 November 2026.
Read more
Previous
Next