Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is a term that is recognized worldwide for the control and management of manufacturing, testing and overall quality control of food and pharmaceutical products. GMP takes quality assurance approach, which ensures that products are consistently produced and controlled to the quality standards appropriate to their intended use and as required by the marketing authorization.

GMP addresses issues including documentation, record keeping, personnel qualifications, sanitation, cleanliness, equipment verification, process validation, and complaint handling. Most GMP requirements are very general and open ended, allowing each manufacturer to decide individually how to best implement the necessary controls.

The quality approach of GMP ensures manufacturing, enabling companies to minimize or eliminate instances of contamination, mixups, and errors. This in turn, protects the consumer from purchasing a product, which is not effective or even dangerous. Failure of firms to comply with GMP regulations can result in very serious consequences including recall, seizure, fines, and jail time.

GMP is also sometimes referred to as “CGMP”. The “current,” methodologies of manufacture, testing, design and control. The Manufacturers must employ technologies and systems, which are up-to-date. Systems and equipment used to prevent contamination, mixups, and errors are adequate by today’s standards.