Geneva, 20 May 2019:
Registrations for the 2019 PIC/S Seminar on "Quality Assurance of Sterile Medicinal Products - PIC/S GMP Guide Annex 1" (Toyama, 13-15 November 2019) are now open (for Medicines Regulatory Authorities only).
The 2019 PIC/S Annual Seminar on "Quality Assurance of Sterile Medicinal Products - PIC/S GMP Guide Annex 1" will be hosted by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) and Pharmaceuticals and Medicinal Devices Agency (PMDA) in Toyama (Japan) from 13-15 November 2019.
The Seminar will focus on Quality Assurance of Sterile Medicinal Products - PIC/S GMP Guide Annex 1 and will consist of interactive discussions, presentations and workshops. It will be an ideal opportunity for both novice and experienced inspectors to enhance their inspection skills through knowledge sharing and discussion. This Seminar is intended to provide a further understanding of PIC/S GMP Guide Annex 1 based on issues discussed during its ongoing revision and through a case study of sterility assurance. The Seminar will also allow participants to acquire skills on how to make risk based decisions during GMP inspections. Workshops will be supported by the use of videos of practical manufacturing operations in order to stimulate active discussions.
Registrations to the PIC/S Seminar 2019 are now open (for Medicines Regulatory Authorities only).
Geneva, 28 October 2026
PIC/S has published the Recommendation PI 058-1 - Interpretation of the most important changes in the Annex 1 on the Manufacture of Sterile Products (2022).
This document was prepared by a sub-group of experts from the PIC/S-EMA-WHO Joint Implementation Working Group (A1IWG) bringing together experts from WHO, EMA, and PIC/S Participating Authorities. The A1IWG was established in January 2024 following the entry into force on 25 August 2023 of the revised Annex 1 on “sterile manufacturing of the PIC/S GMP Guide”.
The document, formally adopted by PIC/S, EMA and WHO, was presented to selected Stakeholders during a Briefing Meeting (Webinar) hosted by the EMA on 22 October 2026.
PI 058-1 enters into force on 28 October 2026.
To download PI 058-1, please consult the page “Publication”
Geneva, 23 September 2026:
The PIC/S GMP Guide to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) for Medicinal Products has been revised to include the revised Annex 19 (Reference and Retention Samples).
The revision of PIC/S Annex 19 primarily concerns Section 9, which addresses reference and retention samples for parallel imported, parallel distributed, and parallel traded products. The note clarifying that Section 9 applies only where local legislation covers parallel imported, parallel distributed, or parallel traded products — present in the previous version of the PIC/S GMP Guide (PE 009-17) — has been retained in the current version (PE 009-18).
This update aligns with the Co-operation Agreement between PIC/S and the EMA, which mandates the harmonisation of PIC/S and EU GMP Guides. The aim is to maintain equivalent GMP standards, thereby facilitating the exchange and use of information concerning the manufacture of medicinal products, in line with PIC/S' mission to lead the international development, implementation, and maintenance of harmonised GMP standards and quality systems for inspectorates in the field of medicinal products.
The revised Annex 19 was successfully adopted by the PIC/S Committee by written procedure on 22 September 2026.
The revised GMP Guide (PE 009-18), with the revised Annex 19 will enter into force on 24 September 2026. This coincides with the entry into force of the revised Annex 19 in the EU following the publication by the European Commission of the revised Annex 19 on Eudralex Volume 4 on 23 June 2026.
All non-EEA Participating Authorities of PIC/S and Applicants have been invited to transpose Annex 19 of the PIC/S GMP Guide into their own GMP Guides.
To download the revised GMP Guide (PE 009-18), please consult the “Publications” page.
Geneva, 30 July 2026
PIC/S has published the revised PIC/S Recommendations on Qualification and Validation (PI 006-4).
These Recommendations have been revised by a dedicated PIC/S Working Group, successively chaired by Norman Gray (UK / MHRA) and subsequently jointly chaired by Kevin O’Donnell (Ireland / HPRA) and Rebecca Dowd (USA / US FDA). They supersede the PIC/S Recommendations on Validation Master Plan; Installation and Operational Qualification; Non-Sterile Process Validation; and Cleaning Validation (PI 006-3).
PI 006-4 will enter into force on 1 October 2026.
To download the revised Recommendations document, please consult the page “Publications”.
Geneva, 28 July 2026:
Registrations for the 2026 PIC/S Seminar on “Digital Transformation in GMP” which will be hosted by Türkiye / TMMDA from 4-6 November 2026 are now open (for Medicines Regulatory Authorities only). Deadline for registrations is 31 August 2026 (early-bird) and 23 October 2026 (standard).
For more information, please contact the PIC/S Secretariat.
Geneva, 28 July 2026:
On 15 July 2026, a Rapporteur was appointed by written procedure for the pre-accession application of Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE), for which a pre-accession application was received on 5 March 2026.
In line with the revised PIC/S Guidelines for the Pre-Accession Procedure, the designation of the Rapporteur marks the start of the pre-accession process.