The glossary summarizes existing scientific and legislative terminology relevant for medicinal products containing Cannabis-derived active substances. What is CBD oil and what is Cannabis oil?
Currently there are no compendial standards available for metal packaging systems for pharmaceutical use. Thus any other guidance providing information on metal components like the revised EDQM technical guide “Metals and alloys used in food contact materials and articles” can be useful.
France is moving forward regarding medical cannabis cultivation and production. As of March 1, it is legal to cultivate cannabis for medical purposes in France.
German Pharmacopoeia Drafts for Cannabis Reference Substances
The Expert Committee for Pharmaceutical Biology has recommended drafts for revised cannabis reagent descriptions for inclusion in the German Pharmacopoeia (DAB).
Will there be an EU Herbal Monograph for Cannabis?
EMA´s HMPC announced the start of several activities relating to regulatory requirements and standards for medical cannabis. Amongst others, the HMPC will establish some basic information regarding existing standard requirements for herbal medicinal products (HMPs).
EMA´s HMPC published the HMPC Work plan for 2022. Amongst others, the HMPC plans to establish a Guidance on New Manufacturing Techniques addressing, for example, supercritical CO2-extracts.
Herbal Drugs: Concept Paper on GACP Revision Published
EMA´s HMPC published the concept paper on the revision of the guideline on good agricultural and collection practice for starting materials of herbal origin. Amongst others, the revision will address the need for clarification regarding GMP vs GACP.
CMDh: Adjustments to the Guide for Electronic Submissions (eAF)
A new version of the "Module 1: Administrative information Application form - User guide for the electronic application form for a Marketing Authorisation" was prepared in December 2021 and has now been published on the HMA (Heads of Medicines Agencies) website. This document is intended to serve as a supporting guide for the preparation of the electronic application form for the submission of medicinal products for human use and for the registration of traditional herbal medicinal products.
How can you stay up to date with the ongoing changes in the GMP world? This question is frequently addressed during ECA courses and conferences. ECA´s weekly GMP Newsletter informs you about all relevant updates in the GxP arena.
Final EMA Guidelines on Quality Requirements for IMPs
The final EMA Guidelines on the quality requirements for IMPs (pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical drugs) have been released on the EMA website together with an overview of comments received on the draft guidelines published last year. Many of the comments related to the question "What is a Non-substantial Modification?".
Herbal Drugs: Ph. Eur. Cannabis Monographs and other relevant Topics
EMA´s Herbal Medicinal Products Committee (HMPC) released the minutes for the HMPC meeting held in November 2021. Amongst others, the HMPC noted three new Ph. Eur. Cannabis Monographs for flowers and extracts in the pipeline. Other relevant topics were nitrosamines, GACP revision and elemental impurities in herbal medicinal products.
The EMA HMPC has prepared a new question and answer on herbal medicinal products, which has been included in the practical guidance for marketing authorization holders on the subject of contamination by nitrosamines. Does a nitrosamine risk assessment also have to be carried out for herbal medicinal products?
USP Proposal for Contaminant Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids
A new USP chapter <1567> on pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) is being proposed. It discusses some analytical methods and existing challenges to measure PA contaminants in herbal medicinal products.
Because there is no existing USP monograph for this drug substance, a new monograph for Cannabidiol (CBD) is being proposed. It defines that CBD is obtained from Cannabis sativa.