According to the Federal Register Notice that announced the 503 b compounding pharmacy revision (here), the FDA notes that “This revised draft guidance reflects the FDA’s intent to recognize the differences between outsourcing facilities and conventional drug manufacturers and to tailor CGMP requirements to the nature of the specific compounding operations conducted by outsourcing facilities while maintaining the minimum standards necessary to protect patients from the risks of contaminated or otherwise substandard drug products.” The FR Notice also provides additional background on its thinking in making the revisions to the draft guidance.
The FDA received twenty-six comments on the guidance and has revised this version based on those comments and/or on the Agency’s own initiative. Many of the comments addressed the fact that the original guidance concentrated almost exclusively on sterile products and the commenters asked for the Agency to better define how the guidance related to non-sterile products. In addition, the FDA better outlines its views on in-use expiration dating and beyond-use dating. Also, “this revised draft contains revisions to the conditions under which the Agency generally would not intend to take regulatory action regarding the requirement to test the finished product before release (see § 211.165 (21 CFR 211.165)).
These revisions make a broader range of production volumes eligible for the relevant enforcement policy, which we believe would encourage additional compounders to register as outsourcing facilities.”
Other areas further outlined in the 503 b compounding pharmacy guidance:
- Quality Assurance activities outsources must have
- Facility design
- Control Systems and Procedures for Maintaining Suitable Facilities
- Environmental and Personnel Monitoring
- Containers and Closures
- Equipment
- Components
- Production and Process Controls
- Release Testing
- Laboratory Controls (and requirements for this if a contract lab is used)
- Stability/Expiration Dating
- Packaging and Labels
- Reserve Samples
This all sounds very familiar, and upon reading the 503 b compounding pharmacy guidance document, 503B compounders should recognize that it is very comprehensive and pay particular attention to where the FDA has designed flexibility into the system and they must fully understand the FDA’s position on when it may not take regulatory action and under what circumstances. Firms should document their compliance with these requirements and read the document carefully as you have seen or experienced the FDA’s rather rigorous compliance posture for compounders in general.
It might be too confusing at times since stuff that seem to remain the same are now regulated with a completely different approach so it’s best to acquire a consulting and planning assistance to assure compliance.
If you are in need of acquiring or maintaining 503b certification, do not hesitate to get in touch with our product specialists by Simply filling out the contact form on this page or write us on Linkedin and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. and we are sure we can be of assistance.
Federal Register Notice that announced the 503 b compounding pharmacy revision, these Revised drafts perhaps can understand the FDA’s intent to recognize the differences between outsourcing facilities and conventional drug manufacturers, The FR Notice also provides additional background on its thinking in making the revisions to the draft guidance. this is a great decision made by FDA