WARNING LETTER AUG 3, 2016

Transcription

1 Ropack, Inc. 8/3/16 Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service Food and Drug Administration New Hampshire Avenue White Oak Building 66 Silver Spring, MD WARNING LETTER AUG 3, 2016 VIA UNITED PARCEL SERVICE Yves Massicotte President and Chief Executive Officer Ropack, Inc Mirabeau Street Montreal H1J 1T7 Canada Dear Mr. Massicotte: During an inspection of your firm located in Montreal, Canadaon January 18, 2016, through January 21, 2016, an investigator from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that your firm manufactures artificial saliva. Under section 201(h) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act), 21 U.S.C. 321(h), this product is a device because it is intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or other conditions or in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease, or to affect the structure or function of the body. This inspection revealed that these devices are adulterated within the meaning of section 501(h) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 351(h), in that the methods used in, or the facilities or controls used for, their manufacture, packing, storage, or installation are not in conformity with the current good manufacturing practice requirements of the Quality System regulation found at Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 820. We received a response, dated February 11, 2016, from Mr. Nicolas Girard and Ms. Sophie Depadova, concerning our investigator s observations noted on the Form FDA 483 (FDA 483), List of Inspectional Observations, which was issued to your firm. We address these responses below, in relation to each of the noted violations. These violations include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Failure to ensure that when the results of a process cannot be fully verified by subsequent inspection and test, the process shall be validated with a high degree of assurance and approved according to established procedures, as 1/5

2 required by 21 CFR (a). For example: a. Your firm did not validate the NeutraSal manufacturing process to ensure (b)(4), as required per section of your Equipment and Utility Validation Master Plan. For example: i. No Operational Qualification (OQ) or Performance Qualification (PQ) has been conducted to ensure (b)(4). ii. The (b)(4) processes were not validated. iii. Operating parameters have not been established for the (b)(4). b. A validation summary report was not prepared as required by section of your firm s Equipment and Utility Validation Master Plan, after performing (b)(4) and (b)(4) different production room. We reviewed your firm s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Your firm s response stated that of the previous (b)(4) within expiry manufactured to date, (b)(4). After VP purchased NeutraSal, validation protocols were approved the week prior to the inspection, but not yet executed. (b)(4) validation are scheduled on the (b)(4). However, your firm has not adequately justified that a retrospective review of sampling and test data is an adequate substitute for a prospective validation. There was no documentation submitted showing a robust method of data selection, and data was randomized and representative of any process challenge conditions. In addition, your firm has not justified that (b)(4) in its planned (b)(4) statistically valid. 2. Failure to establish and maintain procedures for changes to a specification, method, process, or procedure, as required by 21 CFR (b). For example, your firm modified its NeutraSal device batch size (b)(4), without verifying or validating the change prior to implementation. We reviewed your firm s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Your firm stated that its client, (b)(4), approved the deviation report for a lower batch size. Your client provided the documented requirement and approval for the proposed modifications, and that its justification was that final approval of packaged product must meet previously established (b)(4) testing. However, no mention was made of additional validation/verification (b)(4) plans to validate lower (b)(4). However, your firm did not consider whether the batch size change affects the (b)(4) shelf life of the product. 3. Failure to establish and maintain adequate procedures for implementing corrective and preventive action, as required by 21 CFR (a). For example, a. The Corrective and Preventive Actions procedure R AQ 012E, v.02, does not include the following requirements for: i. Analyzing quality data to identify existing and potential causes of nonconforming product or other quality problems, using appropriate statistical methodology, where necessary. ii. Identifying the actions needed to correct and prevent recurrence of nonconforming product and other quality problems. iii. Verifying or validating the corrective and preventive action to ensure that such action is effective and does not adversely affect the finished device. 2/5

3 iv. Implementing and recording changes in methods and procedures needed to correct and prevent identified quality problems. v. Ensuring that information related to quality problems or nonconforming product is disseminated to those directly responsible for assuring the quality of such product or the prevention of such problems. b. CAPA AQ was initiated to address equipment being found to be out of calibration. The effectiveness check was not conducted (b)(4) as required by the form, and it had not been conducted at the time of the inspection. In addition, no open/initiation date was documented on the form. We reviewed your firm s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Your firm s response stated the following corrective actions will be taken your firm s Corrective Action procedure (b)(4) and Preventive Action procedure will be reviewed and include the following: Analysis of sources of quality data to identify existing and potential causes of nonconforming product, or other quality problems employing appropriate statistical methodology where necessary to detect recurring quality problems; and verification or validation of the corrective and preventive action to ensure that such action does not adversely affect the finished device. Your firm states that a fully validated electronic CAPA system will be implemented to track CAPA progress. Your firm s response states that these corrective actions will be completed by June 30, 2016, as part of its overall corrective action plan. However, your firm s response does not include a plan to review existing CAPA records to determine if there are actions that were not verified or validated, and identify actions necessary to resolve those situations. 4. Failure to establish and maintain adequate procedures to control product that does not conform to specified requirements, as required by 21 CFR (a). For example, the nonconformance procedure R AQ 009E Investigation report writing and processing (Non compliance), v. 02, does not include a requirement for identification and segregation of nonconforming product. A review of nonconforming records AQ , AQ , and AQ did not include documentation that nonconforming product was identified and segregated. We reviewed your firm s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Your firm s response stated the requirement for identification and segregation of nonconforming product is contained in a (b)(4). Your firm states it will update R AQ 009E to include links to all procedures to follow and include documentation of product segregation. However, your firm did not evaluate whether additional production records lacked documentation of identification and segregation of nonconforming product, or evaluate the risk and potential actions needed due to a lack of documentation. 5. Failure to define the type and extent of control to be exercised over the product, services, suppliers, contractors, and consultants, based on the evaluation results, as required by 21 CFR (a)(2). For example, your firm s purchasing control procedure Vendor certification program, R AQ 008E, v.05, section states For raw materials, (b)(4) must be provided for analysis. There was no documentation showing your firm had analyzed (b)(4) of NeutraSal ingredients, such as (b)(4), prior to approving these ingredients suppliers. We reviewed your firm s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Your response did not address this deficiency. 6. Failure to validate computer software for its intended use according to an established protocol when computers or automated data processing systems are used as part of production or the quality system, as required by 21 CFR (i). For example, your firm was utilizing an uncontrolled spreadsheet to track equipment requalification due dates. We reviewed your firm s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Your response did not address this deficiency. 3/5

4 7. Failure to establish and maintain adequate procedures to ensure that equipment is routinely calibrated, inspected, checked, and maintained, and to include provisions for handling, preservation, and storage of equipment, so that its accuracy and fitness for use are maintained, as required by 21 CFR (a). For example, your firm s procedure R MA 011E, Measuring instrument calibration and verification program, v. 03, lacks requirements for handling, preservation, and storage of equipment, so that its accuracy and fitness for use are maintained. We reviewed your firm s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Your firm s response stated that its procedure did include handling and storage instructions for its primary weight standards, and the procedure would be updated to include handling, preservation, and storage requirements for other measuring equipment, such as scales. However, your firm did not plan to evaluate other equipment to determine whether the lack of requirements impacted the equipment s accuracy or fitness for use. 8. Failure to ensure that all inspection, measuring, and test equipment, including mechanical, automated, or electronic inspection and test equipment, is suitable for its intended purposes and is capable of producing valid results, as required by 21 CFR (a). For example, your firm s procedure R MA 011E, Measuring instrument calibration and verification program, v. 03, lacks requirements for ensuring all inspection, measuring, and test equipment, including mechanical, automated, or electronic inspection and test equipment, is suitable for its intended purposes and is capable of producing valid results. In addition, there was no documentation (b)(4) used at your firm were installed properly. The adequacy of your firm s response cannot be determined at this time. Your firm s response stated that R MA 011E would be updated to conform to the requirements of 21 CFR (a), and that (b)(4) during packaging activities will undergo IQ/OQ. (b)(4) used as instruments, (b)(4). Your firm s response states that daily verifications of the (b)(4) are performed by the QC inspector per procedure R PRO 001 for operation, daily verification, and calibration (b)(4). It also states that these verifications are documented in the (b)(4), and thus, serve to confirm (b)(4) is properly installed and gives accurate results. Your firm will document that its (b)(4) were installed properly for their intended use. However, no evidence of the implementation of these corrective actions was provided. 9. Failure to establish and maintain adequate calibration procedures which include specific directions and limits for accuracy and precision, as required by 21 CFR (b). For example, your firm s procedure R MA 011E, Measuring instrument calibration and verification program, v. 03, lacks specific directions describing how to calibrate its test and measuring equipment, including your firm s (b)(4). The adequacy of your firm s response cannot be determined at this time. Your firm s response stated the procedure R MA 011E would be updated to conform to the requirements of 21 CFR (b). Your firm s response stated that calibration of (b)(4) was performed by certified instrumentation technicians with several years of experience following basic (b)(4). Your firm s response states that you will write specific directions for calibration of (b)(4) to document actual practice. However, no evidence of the implementation of these corrective actions was provided. 10. Failure to establish and maintain adequate procedures for quality audits and conduct such audits to assure that the quality system is in compliance with the established quality system requirements and to determine the effectiveness of the quality system, as required by 21 CFR For example, your firm s internal audit procedure R AQ 005 E, Audit Program, mentions GMP audits are to be conducted covering regulations applicable to (b) (4). However, there is no further description in the procedure of what regulations apply to your firm, such as 21 CFR 820. The adequacy of your firm s response cannot be determined at this time. Your firm s response stated that its audit procedure called out current GMPs for Canadian and American, or other. Your firm stated it will update its audit procedure to include specific elements of 21 CFR 820. However, no evidence of the implementation of these corrective actions was provided. 4/5

5 11. Failure to establish procedures for ensuring that all personnel are trained to adequately perform their assigned responsibilities and for identifying training needs were not established, maintained, and documented, as required by 21 CFR (b). For example, your firm s procedure R AQ 002E, Employee training program, lacks requirements for ensuring employees are made aware of device defects and errors which may occur from the improper performance of their specific jobs. The adequacy of your firm s response cannot be determined at this time. Your firm s response stated that it had procedure P PRO 001, General rules in production, that covers defects that can occur during production. This procedure was not reviewed during the inspection. Previously, only general training in GMPs was conducted, and no specific references to 21 CFR 820 was included. You firm s response states that employee training procedure will be updated to include specific references to 21 CFR 820. However, no evidence of the implementation of these corrective actions was provided. 12. Failure to establish and maintain adequate procedures to control all documents that are required by this part, as required by 21 CFR For example, your firm did not follow its document control procedure R AQ 001E, Writing, numbering and approval of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), v. 01, as the following documents have not undergone an approval process: a. The internal audit plan b. The laboratory checklist used for contract laboratory audits as part of your firm s purchasing control process. c. The training presentations given to internal auditors related to GMPs. d. Spreadsheets used for documenting internal audit findings and tracking of action plans and status. We reviewed your firm s response and conclude that it is not adequate. Your firm s response stated that the internal audit plan would be approved during the next scheduled management review meeting. The laboratory checklist for auditing contract laboratories will be incorporated in document R AQ 005F01. Training presentations will be approved in your firm s document management system. Spreadsheets used to document audit findings will be discontinued and findings will be entered into your firm s automated CAPA system. However, your firm s response did not state it would determine if other unapproved quality system documents were in use. Given the serious nature of the violations of the Act, NeutraSal manufactured by your firm is subject to refusal of admission under section 801(a) of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 381(a), in that they appear to be adulterated. As a result, FDA is taking steps to refuse entry of these devices into the United States, known as detention without physical examination, until these violations are corrected. In order to remove the devices from detention, your firm should provide a written response to this Warning Letter as described below and correct the violation(s) described in this letter. We will notify you regarding the adequacy of your firm s response(s) and the need to re inspect your firm s facility to verify that the appropriate corrections and/or corrective actions have been made. U.S. federal agencies may be advised of the issuance of Warning Letters about devices so that they may take this information into account when considering the award of contracts.additionally, premarket approval applications for Class III devices to which the Quality System regulation deviations are reasonably related will not be approved until the violations have been corrected. Please notify this office in writing, within fifteen business days from the date you receive this letter, of the specific steps your firm has taken to correct the noted violations, including an explanation of how your firm plans to prevent these violations, or similar violations, from occurring again. Include documentation of the corrections and/or corrective 5/5