Recall Procedure
Recall, Purpose :
Recall, To ensure recall of products that are known or suspected to be defective or hazardous in accordance with a pre-determined plan promptly and effectively from the market
Recall, Scope :
This procedure is applicable for all products manufactured and distributed from XX Pharmaceuticals Limited (Both General and Sterile Block).
Definitions / Abbreviation:
[][]Recall: A process for withdrawing or removing a pharmaceutical product from the pharmaceutical distribution chain because of defects in the product, complaints of serious adverse reactions to the product and/ or concerns that the product is or may be counterfeit. The recall might be initiated by the manufacturer, wholesale dealer, license holder, or Department of Health.
[][]Market Withdrawal: Market Withdrawal means a firm’s removal or correction of a distributed product which involves a minor violation that would not be subjected to legal action by the Drugs Administration or which involves no violation, e.g., normal stock rotation practices, routine equipment adjustments and repairs etc.
[][]PMD: Product Management Department
[][]QA: Quality Assurance
Responsibilities:
The roles and responsibility is as follows:
Head of PMD
[][]Responsible for determining the intensity of recall to be taken by consultation with Head of QA and taking necessary action.
[][]When product is distributed in domestic/ overseas market, Head of PMD or his authorized nominee shall inform Head of QA for the action to be taken for recall.
[][]Coordinate the recall after obtaining approval from Managing Director.
Manager, Quality Assurance
[][]Approval of the SOP.
[][]To ensure that the implementation of the procedure as per SOP.
Classification of Recall:
[][]Recalls are classified according to the following system
Class I recalls: Occur when products are potentially life-threatening or could cause a serious risk to health.
Examples of Class I Defects
[][]Wrong Product (label and contents are different products)
[][]Correct product but wrong strength, with serious medical consequences
[][]Microbial contamination of sterile injection or ophthalmic product
[][]Chemical contamination with serious medical consequences
[][]Mix up of some products (‘rogues’) with more than one container involved.
[][]Wrong active ingredient in a multi-component product with serious medical consequences
Class II recalls: Occur when product defects could cause illness or mistreatment, but are not Class I.
Examples of Class II Defects
[][]Mislabeling e.g. wrong or missing text or figures
[][]Missing or incorrect information- leaflets or inserts
[][]Microbial contamination of non-injectable, non-ophthalmic sterile product with medical consequences
[][]Chemical/ physical contamination (significant impurities, cross contamination, particulates)
[][]Mix up of products in containers (“rogues”)
[][]Non-Assurance with specification (e.g. assay, stability, fill/ weight or dissolution)
[][]Insecure closure with serious medical consequences (e.g. cytotoxics, child resistant containers, potent products)
Class III recalls: occur when product defects may not pose a significant hazard to health, but withdraw may be initiated for other reasons.
Examples of Class III Defects
[][]Faulty packaging e.g. wrong or missing batch number or expiry date
[][]Faulty closure
[][]Contamination- microbial spoilage, dirt or detritus, particulate matter
[][]Recall system shall be followed in case of Instructions from Regulatory authorities or Voluntary recall by XX authority.
Reason:
=>Reports of adverse reaction.
=>Non-conforming result of on-going stability study.
=>Formulation problem/ Mix-up/ contamination.
=>Labeling errors.
=>Any other reasons.
[][]Head of Quality Assurance shall advise to carry out proper investigation for confirmation of reported defects either jointly or independently by QC, PD, Production & Quality Assurance. PMD personnel can also participate in investigation.
[][]After confirmation and justification of reported defects, Head of Quality Assurance shall discuss with Head of Production and Head of PMD.
[][]Once it is agreed to recall the product(s), Head of Quality Assurance shall seek permission for it from Managing Director (Annexure-III). A Recall Reference no. shall be given on this form as follows:
PR/XX/001
=>Where, ‘PR’ represents Product Recall.
=>‘XX’ represents the last two digits of the year 20XX
=>‘001’ represents for serial number
Recall Panel:
=>Managing Director (MD)
=>Head of Quality Assurance
=>Head of Production
=>Head of PMD
=>Head of Sales
=>Head of Distribution
=>Head of Quality Assurance shall furnish the batch details for recall notification in Annexure-IV. This shall be then forwarded to Head of PMD and Head of sales.
Recall notification shall include:
=>Products name including brand name, its strength and pack size and other details like,
=>Product License (D.A number) if applicable.
=>Batch or Lot number, Batch size, Mfg. date, Exp. date.
=>Nature of defect and reason.
=>Action to be taken (urgent within time frame/ immediate quarantining of stock /return stock) with labeling instruments & specific precautions.
=>Date of withdrawal.
[][]The Head of PMD through Distribution shall send a product recall circular, immediately upon receiving the product recall decision, to all concerned persons requesting them to return all stock of the batch under question to the depots and informing them that a credit note for the stocks returned shall be issued to them at the earliest.
[][]All product recall requests shall be given top priority unless otherwise indicated by recall coordinator.
[][]The Head of PMD along with Distribution shall immediately arrange to freeze all stocks of the batch lying with distributors, agents and customers. He shall also instruct the entire sales force to freeze further sales of batch at every distribution, sales point (stockiest, chemists, doctors, hospitals etc). This shall also include goods under transit.
[][]In case of recall as per directives of competent or Regulatory Authorities, the information shall be forwarded to them (To include Regulatory Authorities of other Countries to which the batch has been distributed). The decision of disposal of recalled batch shall be as per their directives and the destruction or disposal shall be done under notification and the Drugs Inspector’s supervision.
[][]Quality Assurance Department will record the receipt, origin & quantity of any recalled product received & holds the recalled product in a secure place to avoid mix up with other materials.
[][]The progress should be reviewed at regular, frequent intervals to monitor its effectiveness and ultimately to decide that the recall is completed.
[][]Completion will normally be reached when:
=>All the acknowledgement forms issued are returned.
=>The material listed in the acknowledgement forms has been returned.
=>There have been no further returns or further adverse reports concerning the product for a period of 2 weeks.
[][]After thorough investigation, Head of Quality Assurance will issue instructions for safe disposal of the recalled stock in due course and a disposal record will be maintained. An investigation into the root cause analysis of any product defect which led to a recall must be carried out and CAPAs to be prepared to prevent if happing again.
[][]Details of recalls shall be added to the batch dossier for all the batches concerned.
[][]Detailed records of all product returned as part of a recall must be kept.
[][]In case of recall when initiated by company (Voluntarily) this shall be informed to the Regulatory Authority.
[][]In case of voluntary recall, product when received back from market to our depots shall be identified and stored separately in a secured area while awaiting a decision on its disposal. The product shall be written off and destroyed as per the standard procedure.
Documentation:
[][]The decisions, activities and actions including progress of recall shall be documented and duly authorized.
[][]On completion of recall procedure, summary report shall be prepared which shall include the following (Annexure V).
[][]Reason for recall of a product (with Batch No. and other details about the product).
[][]Effectiveness of recall.
[][]Corrective action to prevent reason for recall.
[][]Appropriate training to concern as applicable.
[][]This summary report shall be prepared by Head of Quality Assurance and be circulated to all concerned departments (PD, Production, Accounts, Sales, PMD) and Managing Director.
[][]Distribution records should be readily made available to the person(s) responsible for recall and contain sufficient information of wholesalers, retailers, stockiest and customers/agents for prompt and effective it. (Examples: Addresses, Telephone numbers, inside or outside office working hours, batch number and its quantity with them for both domestic and exported products).
Recall Simulation:
[][]The recall procedure shall be regularly reviewed to ensure that it is up-to-date and shall be simulated ‘in house’ to ensure its effectiveness and familiarity to all key personnel.
[][]The required time limit for simulation exercise (from initiation of simulation to completion) will be not more than 15 days.
Annexure:
Annexure-I: Product Recall Flowchart
Annexure-II: Product Recall Log Book
Annexure-III: Product Recall Form
Annexure-IV: Recall Notification Form
Annexure-V: Summary Report of Recall