IPECExecution MethodologyGuidelineHIGH INSPECTION RISK
IPEC-PQG GMP Guide (v5, 2022)

Joint IPEC-PQG Good Manufacturing Practices Guide for Pharmaceutical Excipients

The joint IPEC Federation and Pharmaceutical Quality Group guide setting GMP expectations for excipient manufacture. Version 5 (2022) is structured on ISO 9001:2015 with excipient-specific GMP requirements layered on top, and it is the reference an excipient supplier is realistically audited against.

LAST REVISED
December 2022
PRODUCT AREAS
ApiSolid DoseSterile
SCOPE & APPLICABILITY

Manufacturers and distributors of pharmaceutical excipients, and the finished-product manufacturers who audit them. Excipients sit outside the scope of ICH Q7, which covers active substances — this guide is what fills that gap.

KEY REQUIREMENTS
  • 01A quality system covering excipient manufacture, with defined GMP starting point in the process
  • 02Documented change control with customer notification for changes affecting the excipient
  • 03Traceability and distribution records sufficient to reconstruct the supply chain
  • 04Supplier and distributor qualification extending to the original manufacturing site
IMPLEMENTATION TIPS
Write the GMP starting point into the quality agreement explicitly — disagreement about where GMP begins in an excipient process is the most common audit dispute
Treat identity testing on receipt as non-negotiable for excipients with an adulteration history, regardless of supplier certification
Audit the manufacturing site, not the distributor: a certificate of analysis reissued by a trader evidences nothing about how the material was made

IPEC-PQG GMP Guide (v5, 2022): frequently asked questions

Quick answers to common questions about IPEC-PQG GMP Guide (v5, 2022).

What is IPEC-PQG GMP Guide (v5, 2022)?

IPEC-PQG GMP Guide (v5, 2022) — Joint IPEC-PQG Good Manufacturing Practices Guide for Pharmaceutical Excipients — is a guideline issued by the International Pharmaceutical Excipients Council. The joint IPEC Federation and Pharmaceutical Quality Group guide setting GMP expectations for excipient manufacture. Version 5 (2022) is structured on ISO 9001:2015 with excipient-specific GMP requirements layered on top, and it is the reference an excipient supplier is realistically audited against.

Who does IPEC-PQG GMP Guide (v5, 2022) apply to?

Manufacturers and distributors of pharmaceutical excipients, and the finished-product manufacturers who audit them. Excipients sit outside the scope of ICH Q7, which covers active substances — this guide is what fills that gap.

What are the key requirements of IPEC-PQG GMP Guide (v5, 2022)?

IPEC-PQG GMP Guide (v5, 2022) requires, among other things: A quality system covering excipient manufacture, with defined GMP starting point in the process; Documented change control with customer notification for changes affecting the excipient; Traceability and distribution records sufficient to reconstruct the supply chain; Supplier and distributor qualification extending to the original manufacturing site.

When was IPEC-PQG GMP Guide (v5, 2022) last updated?

The current version of IPEC-PQG GMP Guide (v5, 2022) dates from December 2022.

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