WHO GMP Certification Requirements

What is WHO GMP?

GMP stands for “Good Manufacturing Practice”. It is the collection of practices that manufacturers (usually of food products) must follow to ensure their products are safe and pure. The World Health Organization (WHO) is the international body that sets global standards for GMP. Manufacturers around the world must follow WHO GMP certification requirements to sell their products in any country, regardless of local regulations. Additionally, many countries have adopted WHO GMP certification requirements as a base on which to build their own national good manufacturing practice guidelines.

WHO GMP Certification Requirements

Importance of WHO GMP Certification Requirements

GMP guidelines are important for food manufacturers because they have a direct impact on the health of consumers. Consumers are more likely to trust and purchase products made by companies that follow sound WHO GMP certification requirements. Therefore, having high-quality procedures in place is crucial to business success.

WHO GMP certification requirements also benefit governments, retailers, and distributors by increasing consumer confidence. Meeting WHO GMP certification requirements are critical for protecting the health and safety of consumers. It is also required to meet trade and regulatory standards and maintain a competitive edge in international markets.

WHO GMP Certification Requirements

WHO has described good manufacturing practices, including the following:

  • Establishing documented procedures for all facilities, equipment, and processes.
  • Designing facilities to ensure the intended manufacturing processes are performed in a safe, secure, and effective manner.
  • Ensuring quality through production and testing trials before releasing products for commercial distribution.

WHO GMP certification requirements also apply to the following processes

  • Product development
  • Maintenance
  • Change of facility location
  • Equipment
  • Incoming material inspection and selection
  • Finished goods
  • Inspection
  • Storage

Which Organizations Can Apply for GMP Certification?

WHO GMP certification is available to any organization that operates a facility or manufactures food products. WHO GMP certification requirements are applicable to the following categories of products:

  • Food
  • Beverages
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Medical Devices
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Cosmetics

WHO GMP Certification Requirements – Food Safety

Food safety is one of the first concerns addressed by WHO GMP certification requirements. Keeping products safe from contamination during manufacturing, storage, and shipping is essential to ensuring that customers are not sickened or killed by tainted products. WHO GMP requires that manufacturers carefully inspect all incoming food ingredients at every step of the manufacturing process. Ingredients and any products containing them must be stored separately from other ingredients and products to prevent cross-contamination.

WHO GMP Certification Requirements – Food Contamination Procedure

Furthermore, all manufacturers of food products must test their products for harmful pathogens such as salmonella, E. coli, and botulism before selling them according to WHO GMP certification requirements. In the event that a product is found to contain a harmful pathogen, WHO GMP requires that it be destroyed or reprocessed. In some cases, the manufacturer may also need to destroy any other product made from the same batch of ingredients as well as any products made within a certain timeframe before or after the affected production run. Additionally, WHO GMP certification requirements must always be followed when experimenting with new food products.

WHO GMP Certification Requirements: Manufacturing and Quality

A manufacturer must hire qualified and trained staff and provide them with ongoing training. The manufacturer’s equipment and facilities must be cleaned, maintained, and kept in good working order under WHO GMP certification requirements. The manufacturer must keep records on the progress of each production run, including the amounts of ingredients used, time involved for each stage of processing, etc. These records may be used by inspectors to determine if there has been an error or deviation from the standard formula detailed in the WHO GMP certification requirements.

Benefits of WHO GMP Certification Requirements

There are many benefits of WHO GMP certification requirements, including the following:

  • Provides a foundation of consistency between countries and regions. This is especially important in today’s global economy, where manufacturers often sell their products in more than one continent.
  • Allows governments (national and international) to monitor and enforce safety and quality.
  • Increases operational efficiency
  • Increases customer confidence and trust in the delivery of quality products and services.

How to Apply for GMP Certification

GMP Certification can be achieved by completing the following steps:

  1. Fill out the GMP certification application form
  2. A team of auditors will evaluate your application form and prepare to conduct a series of audits.
  3. The audits will be conducted to review your system documentation and to make sure your organization adheres to WHO GMP certification requirements.
  4. Once all WHO GMP certification requirements are met, the certification body will issue your organization GMP certification.

GMP Certification Cost

The cost of achieving GMP certification varies depending on your organization’s size and the number of staff members who need to be trained. Some organizations find it worthwhile to hire professional consulting firms which specialize in GMP certification to assist with the process. Overall, the benefits of meeting all WHO GMP certification requirements far outweigh the initial costs!

To know more about the WHO GMP certification requirements, kindly contact us at enquiry@iascertification.com