Q4B Annex 1(R1): Evaluation and Recommendation of Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the ICH Regions on Residue on Ignition/Sulphated Ash General Chapter

Contact: Bureau of Pharmaceutical Sciences (BPS)

Notice

Our file number: 10-121155-764

October 13, 2010

Adoption of International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) of Technical Requirements for the Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use Guidance: Q4B Annex 1(R1): Evaluation and Recommendation of Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the ICH Regions on Residue on Ignition/Sulphated Ash General Chapter.

Health Canada is pleased to announce the adoption of the ICH guidance Q4B Annex 1(R1): Evaluation and Recommendation of Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the ICH Regions on Residue on Ignition/Sulphated Ash General Chapter.

This guidance has been developed by the appropriate ICH Expert Working Group and has been subject to consultation by the regulatory parties, in accordance with the ICH Process. The ICH Steering Committee has endorsed the final draft and recommended its adoption by the regulatory bodies of the European Union, Japan and the United States.

In adopting this ICH guidance, Health Canada endorses the principles and practices described therein. This document should be read in conjunction with this accompanying notice and with the relevant sections of other applicable Health Canada guidances.

It is recognized that the scope and subject matter of current Health Canada guidances may not be entirely consistent with those of the ICH guidances that are being introduced as part of our commitment to international harmonization and the ICH Process. In such circumstances, Health Canada adopted ICH guidances take precedence.

Health Canada is committed to eliminating such discrepancies through the implementation of a phased-in work plan that will examine the impact associated with the adoption of ICH guidances. This will result in the amendment or, depending on the extent of revisions required, withdrawal of some Health Canada guidances.

This and other Guidance documents are available on the Health Canada website.

Should you have any questions or comments regarding the content of the guidance, please contact:

BPS Enquiries - Bureau of Pharmaceutical Sciences
E-mail: BPS_Enquiries@hc-sc.gc.ca
Telephone: (613) 941-3184
Fax: (613) 941-0571

ICH Topic Q4B Annex 1(R1)

Published by the authority of the Minister of Health

Date Adopted 2010/10/13

Effective Date 2010/10/13

Health Products and Food Branch

Foreword

This guidance has been developed by the appropriate International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH) Expert Working Group and has been subject to consultation by the regulatory parties, in accordance with the ICH Process. The ICH Steering Committee has endorsed the final draft and recommended its adoption by the regulatory bodies of the European Union, Japan and United States of America (USA).

In adopting this ICH guidance, Health Canada endorses the principles and practices described therein. This document should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notice and the relevant sections of other applicable guidances.

Guidance documents are meant to provide assistance to industry and health care professionals on how to comply with the policies and governing statutes and regulations. They also serve to provide review and compliance guidance to staff, thereby ensuring that mandates are implemented in a fair, consistent and effective manner.

Guidance documents are administrative instruments not having force of law and, as such, allow for flexibility in approach. Alternate approaches to the principles and practices described in this document may be acceptable provided they are supported by adequate scientific justification. Alternate approaches should be discussed in advance with the relevant program area to avoid the possible finding that applicable statutory or regulatory requirements have not been met.

As a corollary to the above, it is equally important to note that Health Canada reserves the right to request information or material, or define conditions not specifically described in this guidance, in order to allow the Department to adequately assess the safety, efficacy or quality of a therapeutic product. Health Canada is committed to ensuring that such requests are justifiable and that decisions are clearly documented.

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Q4B Outcome
  • 2.1 Analytical Procedures
  • 2.2 Acceptance Criteria
• 3. Timing of Annex Implementation
• 4. Considerations for Implementation
• 5. References Used for the Q4b Evaluation

1. Introduction

This annex is the result of the Q4B process for Residue on Ignition/Sulphated Ash. The proposed texts were submitted by the Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group (PDG).

2. Q4B Outcome

2.1 Analytical Procedures

The ICH Steering Committee, based on the evaluation by the Q4B Expert Working Group (EWG), recommends that the official pharmacopoeial texts, Ph.Eur. 20414 Sulphated Ash, JP 2.44 Residue on Ignition Test, and USP <281> Residue on Ignition can be used as interchangeable in the ICH regions given the following:

2.1.1 Unless otherwise specified in a monograph, an appropriate sample weight is chosen, typically 1-2 g, to result in a level of residue sufficient to be accurately measurable by weight (typically 1 mg). If not specified in the monograph, the appropriate sample weight should be justified, and the sample weight and the acceptance criteria should be specified in the application dossier.

2.1.2 The muffle furnace should be appropriately calibrated to ensure compliance with regional GMP requirements.

2.2 Acceptance Criteria

The proposed texts evaluated did not contain acceptance criteria.

3. Timing of Annex Implementation

When this annex is implemented (incorporated into the regulatory process at ICH Step 5) in a region, it can be used in that region. Timing may differ for each region.

4. Considerations for Implementation

4.1 General consideration: When sponsors or manufacturers change their existing methods to the implemented Q4B-evaluated pharmacopoeial texts that are referenced in Section 2.1 of this annex, any change notification, variation, and/or prior approval procedures should be handled in accordance with established regional regulatory mechanisms pertaining to compendial changes.

4.2 FDA consideration: Based on the recommendation above, and in accordance with the conditions set forth in this annex, the pharmacopoeial texts referenced in Section 2.1 of this annex can be considered interchangeable. However, FDA might request that a company demonstrate that the chosen method is acceptable and suitable for a specific material or product, irrespective of the origin of the method.

4.3 EU consideration: For the European Union, the monographs of the Ph. Eur. have mandatory applicability. Regulatory authorities can accept the reference in a marketing authorisation application, renewal or variation application citing the use of the corresponding text from another pharmacopoeia as referenced in Section 2.1, in accordance with the conditions set out in this annex, as fulfilling the requirements for compliance with the Ph. Eur. Chapter, Sulphated Ash: 20414, on the basis of the declaration of interchangeability made above.

4.4 MHLW consideration: The pharmacopoeial texts referenced in Section 2.1 of this annex can be used as interchangeable in accordance with the conditions set out in this annex. Details of implementation requirements will be provided in the notification by MHLW when this annex is implemented.

4.5 In Canada, any of the pharmacopoeial texts cited in section 2.1 of this annex and used in accordance with the conditions set out in this annex can be considered interchangeable.

5. References Used for the Q4b Evaluation

5.1 The PDG Stage 5B sign-off document: Japanese Pharmacopoeial Forum Volume 14, Number 4 (December 2005). (Note: the PDG cover letter published in this volume was subsequently changed based on Q4B comments.).

5.2 The pharmacopoeial references for Residue on Ignition/Sulphated Ash for this annex are:

5.2.1 European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.): Supplement 5.6 (official on January 2007) (reference Sulphated Ash 01/2007:20414);

5.2.2 Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP): 2.44 Residue on Ignition Test as it appears in the JP Fifteenth Edition (March 31, 2006, The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Ministerial Notification No. 285);

5.2.3 United States Pharmacopeia (USP): <281> Residue on Ignition official in USP 29, 2^nd Supplement, August 2006.