Annex 2: WHO Good Manufacturing Practices For Biological Products

Annex 2
WHO good manufacturing practices for biological products

Replacement of Annex 1 of WHO Technical Report Series, No. 822
1. Introduction 96
2. Scope 96
3. Terminology 100
4. Principles and general considerations 104
5. Pharmaceutical quality system and quality risk management 106
6. Personnel 106
7. Starting materials 107
8. Seed lots and cell banks 109
9. Premises and equipment 111
10. Containment 113
11. Clean rooms 115
12. Production 116
13. Campaign production 118
14. Labelling 119
15. Validation 119
16. Quality control 121
17. Documentation (batch processing records) 122
18. Use of animals 123
19. Authors and acknowledgements 125
20. References 127
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WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization Sixty-sixth report
Guidelines published by WHO are intended to be scientific and

advisory in nature. Each of the following sections constitutes guidance
for national regulatory authorities (NRAs) and for manufacturers of
biological products. If an NRA so desires, these WHO Guidelines may
be adopted as definitive national requirements, or modifications
may be justified and made by the NRA.
WHO Technical Report Series No. 999, 2016
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Abbreviations
AEFI adverse event following immunization
ATMP advanced therapy medicinal product
BCG bacille Calmette–Guérin
GMP good manufacturing practice(s)
HEPA high-efficiency particulate air
HVAC heating, ventilation and air conditioning
IgE immunoglobulin E
mAb monoclonal antibody
MCB master cell bank
MSL master seed lot
MVS master virus seed
NRA national regulatory authority
PDL population doubling level
PQR product quality review
PQS pharmaceutical quality system
QRM quality risk management
rDNA recombinant DNA
SPF specific pathogen free
TSE transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
WCB working cell bank
WSL working seed lot
WVS working virus seed
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1. Introduction
Biological products can be defined according to their source material and
method of manufacture. The source materials and methods employed in the
manufacture of biological products for human use therefore represent critical
factors in shaping their appropriate regulatory control. Biological products are
derived from cells, tissues or microorganisms and reflect the inherent variability
characteristic of living materials. The active substances in biological products
are often too complex to be fully characterized by utilizing physicochemical
testing methods alone and may show a marked heterogeneity from one
preparation and/or batch to the next. Consequently, special considerations
are needed when manufacturing biological products in order to maintain
consistency in product quality.
Good manufacturing practices (GMP) for biological products were
first published by WHO in 1992 (1). This current revision reflects subsequent
developments that have taken place in science and technology, and in the
application of risk-based approaches to GMP (2–14). The content of this
document should be considered complementary to the general recommendations
set out in the current WHO good manufacturing practices for pharmaceutical
products: main principles (2) and in other WHO documents related specifically
to the production and control of biological products.
This document is intended to serve as a basis for establishing national
guidelines for GMP for biological products. If a national regulatory authority
(NRA) so desires, the guidance provided may be adopted as definitive national
requirements, or modifications may be justified and made by the NRA in light
of the risk–benefit balance and legal considerations in each authority. In such
cases, it is recommended that any modification to the principles and technical
specifications set out below should be made only on the condition that the
modifications ensure product quality, safety and efficacy that are at least
equivalent to that recommended in this document.
2. Scope
The guidance provided in this document applies to the manufacture, control
and testing of biological products for human use – from starting materials
and preparations (including seed lots, cell banks and intermediates) to the
finished product.
Manufacturing procedures within the scope of this document include:
■■ growth of strains of microorganisms and eukaryotic cells;
■■ extraction of substances from biological tissues, including human,
animal and plant tissues, and fungi;
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■■ recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques;

■■ hybridoma techniques;
■■ propagation of microorganisms in embryos or animals.
Medicinal products of biological origin manufactured by these procedures
include allergens, antigens, vaccines, certain hormones, cytokines, monoclonal
antibodies (mAbs), enzymes, animal immune sera, products of fermentation
(including products derived from rDNA), biological diagnostic reagents for in
vivo use and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) used for example
in gene therapy and cell therapy.
For human whole blood, blood components and plasma-derived
products for therapeutic use separate comprehensive WHO guidance is available
and should be followed (12, 15).
In some countries certain small-molecule medicinal products (for
example, antibiotics) are not defined as biological products. Nevertheless, where
the manufacturing procedures described in this document are used then the
guidance provided may be followed.
The preparation of investigational medicinal products for use in clinical
trials should follow the basic principles of GMP set out in these and other WHO
GMP guidelines (2, 16) as appropriate. However, certain other requirements
(such as process and analytical method validations) could be completed before
marketing authorization (17–19).
The current document does not provide detailed recommendations
for specific classes of biological products (for example, vaccines). Attention is
therefore directed to other relevant WHO documents, and in particular to WHO
recommendations to assure the quality, safety and efficacy of specific products.1
Table 1 illustrates the typical risk-based application of the current
document (4, 7). It should be noted that this table is illustrative only and is not
intended to describe the precise scope.
See: http://www.who.int/biologicals/en/ (accessed 4 November 2015).

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Table 1
Scope of the current document (illustrative)
Type and source Example products Application of this document to steps in manufacture
of material
1. Animal or plant Heparins, insulin, Collection of plant, Cutting, mixing Isolation and Formulation
sources: non- enzymes, proteins, organ, tissue or and/or initial purification and filling
transgenic allergen extract, ATMPs, fluid processing
animal immune sera
2. Virus or bacteria/ Viral or bacterial Establishment Cell culture Inactivation Formulation
fermentation/cell vaccines, enzymes, and and/or when applicable, and filling
culture proteins maintenance of fermentation isolation and
MCB, WCB, MSL/ purification
MVS, WSL/WVS
3. Biotechnology Recombinant products, Establishment Cell culture Isolation, Formulation
fermentation/cell mAbs, allergens, and and/or purification and and filling
culture vaccines, gene therapy maintenance of fermentation modification
(viral and non-viral MCB, WCB, MSL,

vectors, plasmids) WSL
4. Animal sources: Recombinant proteins, Master and Collection, cutting, Isolation, Formulation
transgenic ATMPs working transgenic mixing and/or purification and and filling
bank initial processing modification
5. Plant sources: Recombinant proteins, Master and Growing and/or Initial extraction, Formulation
transgenic vaccines, allergens working transgenic harvesting isolation, and filling
bank purification and
modification
Table 1 continued
Type and source Example products Application of this document to steps in manufacture
of material
6. Human sources Urine-derived enzymes, Collection of fluid Mixing and/or Isolation and Formulation
hormones initial processing purification and filling
7. Human and/or Gene therapy: Donation, Vector Ex vivo genetic Formulation
animal sources genetically modified procurement and manufacture and modification of and filling
cells testing of starting cell purification cells, establish
tissue/cellsa and processing MCB, WCB or
cell stock
Somatic cell therapy Donation, Establishing and Cell isolation, Formulation,
procurement and maintaining MCB, culture purification combination
testing of starting WCB or cell stock and combination and filling
tissue/cellsa with non-cellular
components
Tissue-engineered Donation, Initial processing, Cell isolation, Formulation,
products procurement and isolation and culture, purification combination
testing of starting purification, and combination and filling
tissue/cellsa establishing and with non-cellular
maintaining MCB, components
WCB, primary cell
stock
a
GMP guidelines, as described in this document, are not applied to this step. Other national regulations, requirements, recommendations and/or guidelines may apply as
deemed necessary by the NRA.
MCB = master cell bank; MSL = master seed lot; MVS = master virus seed; WCB = working cell bank; WSL = working seed lot; WVS = working virus seed.
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3. Terminology
In addition to the terms defined in WHO good manufacturing practices for
pharmaceutical products: main principles (2) and WHO good manufacturing
practices for sterile pharmaceutical products (3), the definitions given below
apply to the terms as used in the current document. These terms may have
different meanings in other contexts.
Active substance: a defined process intermediate containing the active
ingredient, which is subsequently formulated with excipients to produce the drug
product. This may also be referred to as “drug substance” or “active ingredient”
in other documents.
Adventitious agents: contaminating microorganisms of the cell culture
or source materials, including bacteria, fungi, mycoplasmas/spiroplasmas,
mycobacteria, rickettsia, protozoa, parasites, transmissible spongiform
encephalopathy (TSE) agents and viruses that have been unintentionally
introduced into the manufacturing process of a biological product. The source
of these contaminants may be the legacy of the cell line, or the raw materials
used in the culture medium to propagate the cells (in banking, in production or
in their legacy), the environment, personnel, equipment or elsewhere.
Allergen: a molecule capable of inducing an immunoglobulin E (IgE)
response and/or a Type I allergic reaction.
Antibodies: proteins produced naturally by the B-lymphocytes that
bind to specific antigens. Using rDNA technology antibodies are also produced
in other (continuous) cell lines. Antibodies may be divided into two main types
– monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies – based on key differences in their
methods of manufacture. Also called immunoglobulins.
Antigens: substances (for example, toxins, foreign proteins, bacteria,
tissue cells and venoms) capable of inducing specific immune responses.
Axenic: a single organism in culture which is not contaminated with
any other organism.

Bioburden: the level and type (objectionable or not) of microorganisms
present in raw materials, media, biological substances, intermediates or
finished products. Regarded as contamination when the level and/or type
exceed specifications.
Biohazard: any biological material considered to be hazardous to people
and/or the environment.
Biological starting materials: starting materials derived from a biological
source that mark the beginning of the manufacturing process of a drug, as
described in a marketing authorization or licence application, and from which
the active ingredient is derived either directly (for example, plasma derivatives,
ascitic fluid and bovine lung) or indirectly (for example, cell substrates, host/
vector production cells, eggs and viral strains).
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Biosafety risk group: denotes the containment conditions required for

safe handling of organisms associated with different hazards, ranging from Risk
Group 1 (lowest risk, no or low individual and community risk, and unlikely to
cause disease) to Risk Group 4 (highest risk, high individual and community
risk, usually causes severe disease, and which is likely to spread with no
prophylaxis or treatment available) (20).
Campaign manufacture: the manufacture of an uninterrupted sequence
of batches of the same product or intermediate in a given time period, followed
by strict adherence to accepted control measures before switching to another
product or different serotype. The different products are not run at the same
time but may be run on the same equipment.
Cell bank: a collection of appropriate containers whose contents are
of uniform composition and stored under defined conditions. Each container
represents an aliquot of a single pool of cells.
Cell culture: the process by which cells that are no longer organized into
tissues are grown in vitro under defined and controlled conditions. Cell cultures
are operated and processed under axenic conditions to ensure a pure culture
absent of microbial contamination.
Cell stock: primary cells expanded to a given number of cells to be
aliquoted and used as starting material for production of a limited number of
lots of a cell-based medicinal product.
Containment: the concept of using a process, equipment, personnel,
utilities, system and/or facility to contain product, dust or contaminants in one
zone, preventing them from entering into another zone and/or escaping.
Continuous culture: a process by which the growth of cells is maintained
by periodically replacing a portion of the cells and the medium so that there is
no lag or saturation phase.
Control strategy: a planned set of controls derived from current
product and process understanding that assures process performance and
product quality. The controls can include parameters and attributes related
to active substance and finished product materials and components; facility
and equipment operating conditions; in-process controls; finished product
specifications; and the associated methods and frequency of monitoring
and control.
Cross-contamination: contamination of a starting material, intermediate
product or finished product with another starting material or product during
production. In multi-product facilities, cross-contamination can occur throughout
the manufacturing process, from generation of the master cell bank (MCB) and
working cell bank (WCB) to finished product.
Dedicated: facility, personnel, equipment or piece of equipment used
only in the manufacture of a particular product or group of specified products
of similar risk.
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Dedicated area: an area that may be in the same building as another

area but which is separated by a physical barrier and which has, for example,
separate entrances, staff facilities and air-handling systems. Also referred to as
“self-contained facility” in other GMP documents.
Feeder cells: cells used in co-culture to maintain pluripotent stem cells.
For human embryonic stem cell culture, typical feeder layers include mouse
embryonic fibroblasts or human embryonic fibroblasts that have been treated
to prevent them from dividing.
Finished product: a finished dosage form that has undergone all
stages of manufacture, including packaging in its final container and labelling.
Also referred to as “finished dosage form”, “drug product” or “final product” in
other documents.
Fermentation: maintenance or propagation of microbial cells in vitro
(fermenter). Fermentation is operated and progressed under axenic conditions
to ensure a pure culture absent of contaminating microorganisms.
Harvesting: the procedure by which the cells, inclusion bodies or crude
supernatants containing the unpurified active ingredient are recovered.
Hybridoma: an immortalized cell line that secretes desired (monoclonal)
antibodies and which is typically derived by fusing B-lymphocytes with
tumour cells.
Inactivation: removal or reduction to an acceptable limit of infectivity of
microorganisms or detoxification of toxins by chemical or physical modification.
Master cell bank (MCB): a quantity of well-characterized cells of animal
or other origin, derived from a cell seed at a specific population doubling level
(PDL) or passage level, dispensed into multiple containers and stored under
defined conditions. The MCB is prepared from a single homogeneously mixed
pool of cells. In some cases, such as genetically engineered cells, the MCB may
be prepared from a selected cell clone established under defined conditions.
However, the MCB may not be clonal. The MCB is used to derive a working cell
bank (WCB).
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs): homogenous antibody population
obtained from a single clone of lymphocytes or by recombinant technology
and which bind to a single epitope.
Pharmaceutical quality system (PQS): management system used by a
pharmaceutical company to direct and control its activities with regard to quality.
Polyclonal antibodies: antibodies derived from a range of lymphocyte
clones and produced in humans and animals in response to the epitopes on
most “non-self ” molecules.
Primary containment: a system of containment that prevents the
escape of a biological agent into the immediate working environment. It
involves the use of closed containers or biological safety cabinets along with
secure operating procedures.
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Quality risk management (QRM): a systematic process for the

assessment, control, communication and review of risks to the quality of
pharmaceutical products across the product life-cycle.
Reference sample: a sample of a batch of starting material, packaging
material, intermediate or finished product which is stored for the purpose of
being analysed should the need arise during the shelf-life of the batch concerned.
Retention sample: a sample of a fully packaged unit from a batch
of finished product. It is stored for identification purposes (for example, of
presentation, packaging, labelling, patient information leaflet, batch number and
expiry date) should the need arise during the shelf-life of the batch concerned.
Seed lot: a quantity of live cells or viruses which has been derived from
a single culture (though not necessarily clonal), has a uniform composition and
is aliquoted into appropriate storage containers from which all future products
will be derived, either directly or via a seed lot system. The following derived
terms are used in this document – master seed lot (MSL): a lot or bank of
cells or viruses from which all future vaccine production will be derived. The
MSL represents a well-characterized collection of cells or viruses or bacteria of
uniform composition. Also referred to as “master virus seed” (MVS) for virus
seeds, “master seed bank”, “master seed antigen” or “master transgenic bank” in
other documents; and working seed lot (WSL): a cell or viral or bacterial seed
lot derived by propagation from the MSL under defined conditions and used to
initiate production of vaccines on a lot-by-lot basis. Also referred to as “working
virus seed” (WVS) for virus seeds, “working seed bank”, “working seed antigen”
or “working transgenic bank” in other documents.
Specific pathogen free (SPF): denoting animals or animal materials
(such as chickens, embryos, eggs or cell cultures) derived from groups of animals
(for example, flocks or herds) free from specified pathogens, and used for the
production or quality control of biological products. Such flocks or herds are
defined as animals sharing a common environment and having their own
caretakers who have no contact with non-SPF groups.
Starting materials: any substances of a defined quality used in the
production of a pharmaceutical product, but excluding packaging materials. In
the context of biological products manufacturing, examples of starting materials
may include cryo-protectants, feeder cells, reagents, growth media, buffers,
serum, enzymes, cytokines, growth factors and amino acids.
Transgenic: denoting an organism that contains a foreign gene in its
normal genetic component for the expression of biological pharmaceutical
materials.
Vaccine: a preparation containing antigens capable of inducing an
active immune response for the prevention, amelioration or treatment of
infectious diseases.
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Working cell bank (WCB): a quantity of well-characterized cells of

animal or other origin, derived from an MCB at a specific PDL or passage
level, dispensed into multiple containers and stored under defined conditions.
The WCB is prepared from a single homogeneously mixed pool of cells
(often, this is the MCB). One or more of the WCB containers is used for each
production culture.
4. Principles and general considerations

The manufacture of biological products should be undertaken in accordance with
the basic principles of GMP. The points covered by the current document should,
therefore, be considered as complementary to the general recommendations
set out in the current WHO good manufacturing practices for pharmaceutical
products: main principles (2) and associated specialized guidelines and
recommendations (3, 4, 10, 13, 14) as well as other WHO documents related
specifically to the production and control of biological products established by
the WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization.2
The manufacture, control and administration of biological active
substances and finished products require certain specific considerations and
precautions arising from the nature of these products and their processes.
Unlike conventional pharmaceutical products which are manufactured using
chemical and physical techniques capable of a high degree of consistency, the
manufacture of biological active substances and finished products involves
biological processes and materials, such as cultivation of cells or extraction from
living organisms. As these biological processes may display inherent variability,
the range and nature of by-products may also be variable. As a result, quality
risk management (QRM) principles are particularly important for this class of
materials and should be used to develop the control strategy across all stages
of manufacture so as to minimize variability and reduce the opportunity for
contamination and cross-contamination.

Materials and processing conditions used in cultivation processes are
designed to provide conditions for the growth of target cells and microorganisms
– therefore, extraneous microbial contaminants have the opportunity to grow.
Furthermore, many biological products have limited ability to withstand certain
purification techniques, particularly those designed to inactivate or remove
adventitious viral contaminants. The design of the processes, equipment, facilities,
utilities, the conditions of preparation and addition of buffers and reagents,
sampling, and training of the operators are key considerations in minimizing
See: http://www.who.int/biologicals/en/ (accessed 4 November 2015).

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such contamination events. Specifications outlined in WHO guidelines and

recommendations will determine whether and to what stage of production
substances and materials can have a defined level of bioburden or need to be
sterile. Similarly, manufacturing should be consistent with other specifications
set out in the product summary files, marketing authorization or clinical trial
approvals (for example, number of generations (expressed as doublings or
passages) between the seed lot or cell bank and the finished product).
Many biological materials (such as live-attenuated bacteria and
viruses) cannot be terminally sterilized by heat, gas or radiation. In addition,
some products, such as certain live and adjuvanted vaccines (for example,
bacille Calmette–Guérin (BCG) or cholera), may not be sterilized by filtration
processes. For these axenic products, processing should be conducted aseptically
to minimize the introduction of contaminants from the point where a potential
contamination cannot be removed from the manufacturing process. Relevant
WHO documents should be consulted on the validation of specific manufacturing
steps such as virus removal or inactivation (21). Robust environmental controls
and monitoring and, wherever feasible, in situ cleaning and sterilization systems,
together with the use of closed systems can significantly reduce the risk of
accidental contamination and cross-contamination.
Control usually involves biological analytical techniques, which typically
have a greater variability than physicochemical determinations. The combination
of variability in starting materials and the potential for subtle changes during
the manufacturing process of biological products also requires an emphasis
on production consistency. This is of particular concern because of the need
to link consistency to original clinical trials documenting the product’s safety
and efficacy. A robust manufacturing process is therefore crucial and in-process
controls take on a particular importance in the manufacture of biological active
substances and medicinal products.
Because of the risks inherent in producing and manipulating pathogenic
and transmissible microorganisms during the production and testing of
biological materials, GMP should prioritize the safety of the recipient to whom
the biological product is administered, the safety of personnel during operation
and the protection of the environment.
Biosafety considerations should follow national guidelines and (if
applicable and available) international guidelines. In most countries, the
regulation of GMP and biosafety are governed by different institutions. In the
context of manufacturing pathogenic biological products of Biosafety Risk Group
3 and 4, close collaboration between such institutions is especially required to
assure that both product contamination and environmental contamination levels
are controlled within acceptable limits. Specific recommendations regarding
containment are outlined below in section 10.
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5. Pharmaceutical quality system and

quality risk management
Biological products, like any pharmaceutical product, should be manufactured
in accordance with the requirements of a pharmaceutical quality system (PQS)
based on a life-cycle approach as defined in WHO good manufacturing practices
for pharmaceutical products: main principles (2). This approach facilitates
innovation and continual improvement, and also strengthens the link between
pharmaceutical development and manufacturing activities.
QRM principles should be used to develop the control strategy across
all manufacturing and control stages – including materials sourcing and
storage, personnel and materials flow, manufacture and packaging, quality
control, quality assurance, storage and distribution activities, as described in
relevant WHO guidelines (14) and other documents (22). Due to the inherent
variability of biological processes and starting materials, ongoing trend analysis
and periodic review are particularly important elements of PQS. Thus, special
attention should be paid to starting material controls, change control, trend
analysis and deviation management in order to ensure production consistency.
Monitoring systems should be designed so as to provide early detection of any
unwanted or unanticipated factors that may affect the quality, safety and efficacy
of the product. The effectiveness of the control strategy in monitoring, reducing
and managing such risks should be regularly reviewed and the systems updated
as required taking into account scientific and technical progress.
6. Personnel
6.1 Personnel responsible for production and control should have an adequate
background in relevant scientific disciplines such as microbiology, biology,
biometry, chemistry, medicine, pharmacy, pharmacology, virology,

immunology, biotechnology and veterinary medicine, together with
sufficient practical experience to enable them to perform their duties.
6.2 The health status of personnel should be taken into consideration as
part of ensuring product safety. Where necessary, personnel engaged
in production, maintenance, testing and animal care (and inspections)
should be vaccinated with appropriate specific vaccines and have regular
health checks. Any changes in the health status of personnel which could
adversely affect the quality of the product should preclude their working
in the production area, and appropriate records kept. The scope and
frequency of health monitoring should be commensurate with the risk to
the product and personnel.
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6.3 Training in cleaning and disinfection procedures, hygiene and microbiology

should emphasize the risk of microbial and adventitious contamination and
the nature of the target microorganisms and growth media routinely used.
6.4 Where required to minimize the opportunity for cross-contamination,
restrictions on the movement of all personnel (including quality control,
maintenance and cleaning staff) should be defined on the basis of QRM
principles. In general, all personnel including those not routinely involved
in the production operation (such as management, engineering staff and
validation staff or auditors) should not pass from areas with exposure to
live microorganisms, genetically modified microorganisms, animal tissue,
toxins, venoms or animals to areas where other products (inactivated or
sterile) or different organisms are handled. If such passage is unavoidable
during a working day, then contamination control measures (for example,
clearly defined decontamination measures such as a complete change of
appropriate clothing and shoes, and showering if applicable) should be
followed by all personnel visiting any such production area unless otherwise
justified on the basis of QRM.
6.5 Because the risks are difficult to manage, personnel working in an animal
facility should be restricted from entering production areas where potential
risks of cross-contamination exist.
6.6 Staff assigned to the production of BCG products should not work with
other infectious agents. In particular, they should not work with virulent
strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, nor should they be exposed to
a known risk of tuberculosis infection (23). Additionally, they should
be carefully monitored, with regular health checks that screen for
tuberculosis infection.
6.7 If personnel working in BCG manufacturing and in animal quarters need
to be reassigned to other manufacturing units they should not be allowed
into such units until they pass their health check.
7. Starting materials
7.1 The source, origin and suitability of active substances, starting materials
(for example, cryo-protectants and feeder cells), buffers and media (for
example, reagents, growth media, serum, enzymes, cytokines, growth
factors and amino acids) and other components of the finished product
should be clearly defined and controlled according to the principles set out
in WHO guidance on GMP for pharmaceutical products (2).
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7.2 Manufacturers should retain information describing the source and quality
of the biological materials used for at least 1 year after the expiry date
of the finished products and according to local regulations concerning
biological products. It has been found that documents retained for longer
periods may provide useful information related to adverse events following
immunization (AEFIs) and other investigations.
7.3 All starting material suppliers (that is, manufacturers) should be initially
qualified on the basis of documented criteria and a risk-based approach.
Regular assessments of their status should also be carried out. Particular
attention should be given to the identification and monitoring of any
variability that may affect biological processes. When starting materials
are sourced from brokers who could increase the risk of contamination
by performing repackaging operations under GMP (2, 4) they should be
carefully qualified; an audit may form part of such qualification, as needed.
7.4 An identity test, or equivalent, should be performed on each batch of
received starting materials prior to release. The number of containers
sampled should be justified on the basis of QRM principles and in agreement
with all applicable guidelines (2). The identification of all starting materials
should be in compliance with the requirements appropriate to the stage
of manufacture. The level of testing should be commensurate with the
qualification level of the supplier and the nature of the materials used. In the
case of starting material used to manufacture active substances the number
of samples taken should be based on statistically recognized criteria and
QRM principles (2). However, for starting materials and intermediates used
in the formulation of finished product each container should be sampled
for identity testing in accordance with the main principles of GMP for
pharmaceutical products unless reduced testing has been validated.
7.5 The sampling process should not adversely affect the quality of the
product. Incoming starting materials should be sampled under appropriate

conditions in order to prevent contamination and cross-contamination.
7.6 Where justified (such as the special case of sterile starting materials) it
may be acceptable to reduce the risk of contamination by not performing
sampling at the time of receipt but to perform the testing later on samples
taken at the time of use. In such cases, release of the finished product is
conditional upon satisfactory results of these tests.
7.7 Where the necessary tests for approving starting materials take a
significantly long time, it may be permissible by exception to process
starting materials before the test results are available. The use of these
materials should be clearly justified in a documented manner, and the risks
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should be understood and assessed under the principles of QRM. In such

cases, release of the finished product is conditional upon satisfactory results
from the tests. It must be ensured that this is not standard practice and
occurs only with justification of the risk taken.
7.8 The risk of contamination of starting materials during their passage
along the supply chain should be assessed, with particular emphasis on
adventitious agents such as those causing TSEs (24). Other materials
that come into direct contact with manufacturing equipment and/or
with potential product contact surfaces (such as filter media, growth
media during aseptic process simulations and lubricants) should also be
controlled. A quality risk assessment should be performed to evaluate the
potential for adventitious agents in biological starting materials.
7.9 Where required, the sterilization of starting materials should be carried
out by heat whenever possible. Where necessary, other appropriate
validated methods may also be used for this purpose (such as irradiation
and filtration).
7.10 The controls required for ensuring the quality of sterile starting materials
and of the aseptic manufacturing process should be based on the principles
and guidance contained in the current WHO good manufacturing practices
for sterile pharmaceutical products (3).
7.11 The transport of critical materials, reference materials, active substances,
human tissues and cells to the manufacturing site should be controlled
as part of a written quality agreement between the responsible parties if
they are different commercial entities. Manufacturing sites should have
documentary evidence of adherence to the specified storage and transport
conditions, including cold chain requirements, if required. The required
traceability – starting at tissue establishments through to the recipient(s),
and including the traceability of materials in contact with the cells or tissues
– should be ensured, maintained and documented.
8. Seed lots and cell banks

8.1 The recommendations set out in WHO good manufacturing practices for
active pharmaceutical ingredients (4) should be followed – specifically
section 18 on specific guidance for active pharmaceutical ingredients
manufactured by cell culture/fermentation.
8.2 Where human or animal cells are used as feeder cells in the manufacturing
process, appropriate controls over their sourcing, testing, transport and
storage should be in place.
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8.3 In order to prevent the unwanted drift of genetic properties which

might result from repeated subcultures or multiple generations, the
production of biological products obtained by microbial culture, cell
culture or propagation in embryos and animals should be based on a
system of master and working seed lots and/or cell banks; which is the
beginning of the manufacturing process of certain biological products (for
example, vaccines).
8.4 The number of generations (expressed as passages or doublings) between
the seed lot or cell bank and the finished product, defined as maximum,
should be consistent with the marketing authorization dossier and should
not be exceeded.
8.5 Cell-based medicinal products are often generated from a cell stock
obtained from a limited number of passages. In contrast with the two-
tier system of MCBs and WCBs, the number of production runs from a
cell stock is limited by the number of aliquots obtained after expansion
and does not cover the entire life-cycle of the product. Cell stock changes
should be covered by a validation protocol and communicated to the NRA,
as applicable.
8.6 Establishment and handling of the MCBs and WCBs should be performed
under conditions which are demonstrably appropriate. These should
include an appropriately controlled environment to protect the seed lot and
the cell bank, and the personnel handling them. To establish the minimum
requirements for clean room grade and environmental monitoring in the
case of vaccines see the WHO Environmental monitoring of clean rooms
in vaccine manufacturing facilities: points to consider for manufacturers of
human vaccines (25). During the establishment of the seed lot and cell
bank, no other living or infectious material (such as viruses, cell lines or
microbial strains) should be handled simultaneously in the same area or by

the same persons, as set out in current WHO Recommendations (26).
8.7 Quarantine and release procedures for master and working cell banks/seed
lots should be followed, including adequate characterization and testing for
contaminants. Initially, full characterization testing of the MCB should be
done, including genetic identification. A new MCB (from a previous initial
clone, MCB or WCB) should be subjected to the same established testing as
the original MCB, unless otherwise justified. Thereafter, the viability, purity
and other stability-indicating attributes of seed lots and cell banks should
be checked regularly according to justified criteria. Evidence of the stability
and recovery of the seed lots and banks should be documented and records
should be kept in a manner that permits trend evaluation.
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8.8 Each storage container should be adequately sealed, clearly labelled and
kept at an appropriate temperature. A stock inventory should be kept. The
storage temperature should be recorded continuously and, where applicable,
the liquid nitrogen level should be monitored. Any deviation from the set
limits, and any corrective and preventive action taken, should be recorded.
Temperature deviations should be detected as early as possible (for example,
through the use of an alarm system for temperature and nitrogen levels).
8.9 Seed lots and cell banks should be stored and used in such a way as to
minimize the risks of contamination or alteration (for example, stored
in qualified ultra-low temperature freezers or liquid nitrogen storage
containers). Control measures for the storage of different seeds and/or
cells in the same area or equipment should prevent mix-up and should
take into account the infectious nature of the materials in order to prevent
cross-contamination.
8.10 MSLs, MCBs, and preferably also WSLs and WCBs, should be stored in
two or more controlled separate sites in order to minimize the risk of
total loss due to natural disaster, equipment malfunction or human error.
A contingency plan should be in place.
8.11 The storage and handling conditions for the cell or seed banks should
be defined. Access should be controlled and restricted to authorized
personnel, and appropriate access records maintained. Records of location,
identity and inventory of individual containers should also be kept. Once
containers are removed from the seed lot/cell bank management system
they should not be returned to stock.
9. Premises and equipment

9.1 In general, preparations containing live microorganisms or live viruses
should not be manufactured and containers should not be filled in areas
used for the processing of other pharmaceutical products. However, if the
manufacturer can demonstrate and validate effective containment and
decontamination of the live microorganisms and viruses then the use of
multi-product facilities may be justifiable. In such cases, measures such as
campaign production, closed systems and/or disposable systems should be
considered and should be based on QRM principles (see sections 10 and
13 below on containment and campaign production respectively).
9.2 Documented QRM should be carried out for every additional product
in a biological manufacturing multi-product facility, which may include
a potency and toxicological evaluation based on cross-contamination
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risks. Other factors to be taken into account include facility/equipment

design and use, personnel and material flows, microbiological controls,
physicochemical characteristics of the active substance, process
characteristics, cleaning processes and analytical capabilities relative to
the relevant limits established from product evaluation. The outcome
of the QRM process should be the basis for determining the necessity
for premises and equipment to be dedicated to a particular product or
product family, and the extent to which this should be the case. This
may include dedicating specific product-contact parts. The NRA should
approve the use of a manufacturing facility for the production of multiple
products on case-to-case basis.
9.3 Killed vaccines, antisera and other biological products – including those
made by rDNA techniques, toxoids and bacterial extracts – may, following
inactivation, be manufactured on the same premises provided that
adequate decontamination and cleaning measures are implemented on
the basis of QRM.
9.4 Cleaning and sanitization should take into account the fact that processes
often include the handling of growth media and other growth-promoting
agents. Validation studies should be carried out to ensure the effectiveness
of cleaning, sanitization and disinfection, including elimination of residues
of used agents. Environmental and personnel safety precautions should be
taken during the cleaning and sanitization processes. The use of cleaning
and sanitizing agents should not pose any major risk to the performance
of equipment.
The use of closed systems to improve asepsis and containment
should be considered where practicable. Where open systems are utilized
during processing (for example, during addition of growth supplements,
media, buffers and gases, and during sampling and aseptic manipulations
during the handling of live cells such as in cell-therapy products) control

measures should be put in place to prevent contamination, mix-up and
cross-contamination. Logical and unidirectional flows of personnel,
materials and processes, and the use of clean-in-place and sterilize-in-place
systems, should be considered wherever possible. Where sterile single-use
systems such as bags and connectors are utilized, they should be qualified
with respect to suitability, extractables, leachables and integrity.
9.5 Because of the variability of biological products, and of the corresponding
manufacturing processes, approved starting materials that have to be
measured or weighed for the production process (such as growth media,
solutions and buffers) may be kept in small stocks in the production area
for a specified period of time according to defined criteria – such as for
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the duration of manufacture of the batch or of the campaign. Appropriate

storage conditions and controls should be maintained during such
temporary storage. These materials should not be returned to the general
stock. Materials used to formulate buffers, growth media and so on
should be weighed and made into a solution in a contained area using
local protection (such as a classified weighing booth) and outside the
aseptic processing areas in order to minimize particulate contamination
of the latter.
9.6 In manufacturing facilities, the mix-up of entry and exit of personnel
should be avoided through the use of separate changing rooms or through
procedural controls where Biosafety Risk Group 3 or 4 organisms are
handled (20).
10. Containment
10.1 Airborne dissemination of live microorganisms and viruses used for the
production process, including those from personnel, should be avoided.
10.2 Adequate precautions should be taken to avoid contamination of the
drainage system with dangerous effluents. Drainage systems should be
designed in such a way that effluents can be effectively neutralized or
decontaminated to minimize the risk of cross-contamination. Specific and
validated decontamination systems should be considered for effluents
when infectious and/or potentially infectious materials are used for
production. Local regulations should be complied with in order to
minimize the risk of contamination of the external environment according
to the risk associated with the biohazardous nature of waste materials.
10.3 Dedicated production areas should be used for the handling of live cells
capable of persistence in the manufacturing environment, for pathogenic
organisms of Biosafety Risk Group 3 or 4 and/or for spore-forming
organisms until the inactivation process is accomplished and verified. For
Bacillus anthracis, Clostridium tetani and Clostridium botulinum strictly
dedicated facilities should be utilized for each individual product.
Up‑to-date information on these and other high-risk or “special” agents
should be sought from major information resources (27). Where campaign
manufacture of spore-forming organisms occurs in a facility or suite of
facilities only one product should be processed at any one time.
Use of any pathogenic organism above Biosafety Risk Group 3
may be permitted by the NRA according to the biohazard classification
of the organism, the risk assessment of the biological product and its
emergency demand.
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10.4 Production of BCG-related product should take place in a dedicated

area and by means of dedicated equipment and utilities (such as heating,
ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems) in order to minimize
the hazard of cross-contamination.
10.5 Specific containment requirements apply to poliomyelitis vaccine in
accordance with the WHO global action plan to minimize poliovirus
facility-associated risk (28) and with WHO Guidelines for the safe
production and quality control of inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine
manufactured from wild polioviruses (29). The measures and procedures
necessary for containment (that is, for protecting the environment
and ensuring the safety of the operator) should not conflict with those for
ensuring product quality.
10.6 Air-handling systems should be designed, constructed and maintained to
minimize the risk of cross-contamination between different manufacturing
areas as required. The need for dedicated air-handling units or single-
pass systems should be based on QRM principles, taking into account the
biohazard classification and containment requirements of the relevant
organism, and process and equipment risks. In the case of Biosafety Risk
Group 3 organisms, air should not be recirculated to any other area in the
facility and should be exhausted through high-efficiency particulate air
(HEPA) filters that are regularly checked for performance. A dedicated
non-recirculating ventilation system and HEPA-filtering of exhaust air are
required when handling Biosafety Risk Group 4 organisms (27).
10.7 Primary containment equipment should be designed and initially qualified
for integrity in order to ensure that the escape of biological agents and/
or material into the immediate working area and outside environment is
prevented. Thereafter, in line with relevant guidelines and QRM principles,
periodical tests should be performed to ensure that the equipment is in

proper working condition.
10.8 Activities associated with the handling of live biological agents (such
as centrifugation and blending of products which can lead to aerosol
formation) should be contained in such a way as to prevent contamination
of other products or the egress of live agents into the working and/or
outside environment. The viability of such organisms and their biohazard
classification should be taken into consideration as part of the management
of such risks.
Accidental spillages, especially of live organisms, must be dealt
with quickly and safely. Validated decontamination measures should be
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available for each organism or groups of related organisms. Where different

strains of a single bacteria species or very similar viruses are involved,
the decontamination process may be validated with one representative
strain, unless the strains vary significantly in their resistance to the
decontaminating agent(s) used.
10.9 Areas where Biosafety Risk Group 3 or 4 organisms are handled should
always have a negative air pressure relative to the environment. This will
ensure the containment of the organism in unlikely events such as failure
of the door interlock. Air-lock doors should be interlocked to prevent
them being opened simultaneously. Differential pressure alarms should be
present wherever required, and should be validated and monitored.
10.10 Air-vent filters should be hydrophobic and subject to integrity testing at

intervals determined by a QRM approach.
10.11 Where the filtration of exhaust air is necessary, the safe changing of filters
should be ensured or bag-in-bag-out housings should be employed. Once
removed, filters should be decontaminated and properly destroyed. In
addition to HEPA filtration other inactivation technologies such as heat
inactivation and steam scavenging may be considered for exhaust air to
ensure effective inactivation of pathogenic organisms of Biosafety Risk
Group 3 and/or 4.
11. Clean rooms

11.1 The WHO good manufacturing practices for sterile pharmaceutical
products (3) defines and establishes the required class/grade of clean
areas for the manufacture of sterile products according to the operations
performed, including final aseptic fill. Additionally, in order to address the
specific manufacturing processes involved in the production of biological
products, and particularly vaccines, the WHO Environmental monitoring
of clean rooms in vaccine manufacturing facilities: points to consider for
manufacturers of human vaccines (25) guidance document may be used
to develop the environmental classification requirements for biological
manufacturing processes.
As part of the control strategy, the degree of environmental control
of particulate and microbial contamination of the production premises
should be adapted to the intermediate or finished product, and also to the
production step, taking into account the potential level of contamination of
the starting materials and the risks to the finished product.
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11.2 The environmental monitoring programme should be supplemented with

methods to detect the presence of the specific microorganisms used for
production (for example, recombinant yeast and toxin- or polysaccharide-
producing bacteria). The environmental monitoring programme may also
include detection of the produced organisms and adventitious agents of
production organisms, especially when campaign manufacture is applied
on the basis of QRM principles.
12. Production
12.1 Since cultivation conditions, media and reagents are designed to promote
the growth of cells or microbial organisms, typically in an axenic state,
particular attention should be paid to the control strategy for ensuring that
effective steps are in place for preventing or minimizing the occurrence of
unwanted bioburden, endotoxins, viruses of animal and human origin, and
associated metabolites.
12.2 The QRM process should be the basis for implementing the technical and
organizational measures required to control the risks of contamination
and cross-contamination. These could include, though are not limited to:
■■ carrying out processing and filling in segregated areas;
■■ containing material transfer by means of an airlock and appropriate
type of pass box with validated transfer procedures, clothing change
and effective washing and decontamination of equipment;
■■ recirculation of only treated (HEPA-filtered) air;
■■ acquiring knowledge of the key characteristics (for example,
pathogenicity, detectability, persistence and susceptibility to
inactivation) of all cells, organisms and any adventitious agents within

the same facility;
■■ when considering the acceptability of concurrent work in cases
where production is characterized by multiple small batches from
different starting materials (for example, cell-based products) taking
into account factors such as the health status of donors and the
risk of total loss of a product from or for specific patients during
development of the cross-contamination control strategy;
■■ preventing the risk of live organisms and spores entering non-related
areas or equipment by addressing all potential routes of cross-
contamination (for example, through the HVAC system) through
the use of single-use components and closed systems;
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■■ conducting environmental monitoring specific to the microorganism

being manufactured in adjacent areas while paying attention to
cross-contamination risks arising from the use of certain monitoring
equipment (such as that used for airborne particle monitoring) in
areas handling live and/or spore-forming organisms;
■■ using campaign-based production (see section 13 below).
12.3 When applicable, the inoculum preparation area should be designed so as
to effectively control the risk of contamination, and should be equipped
with a biosafety hood for primary containment.
12.4 If possible, growth media should be sterilized in situ by heat or in-line
microbial-retentive filters. Additionally, in-line microbial-retentive filters
should be used for the routine addition of gases, media, acids, alkalis and
so on to fermenters or bioreactors.
12.5 Data from continuous monitoring of certain production processes (such
as fermentation) should form part of the batch record. Where continuous
culture is used, special consideration should be given to parameters such
as temperature, pH, pO2 , CO2 and the rate of feed or carbon source with
respect to growth of cells.
12.6 In cases where a viral inactivation or removal process is performed,
measures should be taken (for example, in relation to facility layout,
unidirectional flow and equipment) to avoid the risk of recontamination
of treated products by non-treated products.
12.7 A wide variety of equipment and components (for example, resins,
matrices and cassettes) are used for purification purposes. QRM principles
should be applied to devise the control strategy regarding such equipment
and associated components when used in campaign manufacture and
in multi-product facilities. The reuse of components at different stages
of processing of one product is discouraged but, if performed, should
be validated. Acceptance criteria, operating conditions, regeneration
methods, lifespan and sanitization or sterilization methods, cleaning
process, and hold time between the use of reused components should be
defined and validated. The reuse of components for different products is
not acceptable.
12.8 Where adverse donor (human or animal) health information becomes
available after procurement and/or processing, and this information relates
to product quality, then appropriate measures should be taken – including
product recall, if applicable.
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12.9 Antibiotics may be used during the early stages of production to help
prevent inadvertent microbial contamination or to reduce the bioburden
of living tissues and cells. In this case, the use of antibiotics should be well
justified, and they should be cleared from the manufacturing process at
the stage specified in the marketing authorization. Acceptable residual
levels should be defined and validated. Penicillin and other beta-lactam
antibiotics should not be used at any stage of the process.
12.10 A procedure should be in place to address equipment and/or accessories
failure (such as air vent filter failure) which should include a product impact
review. If such failures are discovered following batch release the NRA
should be notified and the need for a batch recall should be considered.
13. Campaign production

13.1 The decision to use a facility or filling line for campaign manufacture
should be justified in a documented manner and should be based on a
systematic risk approach for each product (or strain) taking into account
the containment requirements and the risk of cross-contamination to
the next product. Campaign changeover procedures, including sensitive
techniques used for the determination of residues, should be validated
and proper cleaning acceptance criteria should be defined on a toxicology
basis of product residues from the last campaign, as applicable. Equipment
assigned to continued production or to campaign production of successive
batches of the same intermediate product should be cleaned at appropriate
validated intervals to prevent build-up and carry-over of contaminants
(such as product degradants or objectionable levels of microorganisms).
13.2 For downstream operations of certain products (for example, pertussis
or diphtheria vaccines) campaign production may be acceptable if well
justified. For finishing operations (formulation and filling) the need

for dedicated facilities or the use of campaigns in the same facility will
depend on the specific characteristics of the biological product, on the
characteristics of the other products (including any non-biological
products), on the filling technologies used (such as single-use closed
systems) and on local NRA regulations. Labelling and packaging
operations can be carried out in a multi-product facility.
13.3 Campaign changeover involves intensive decontamination/sterilization
(if required) and cleaning of the equipment and manufacturing area.
Decontamination/sterilization (if required) and cleaning should include
all equipment and accessories used during production, as well as the
facility itself. The following recommendations should be considered:
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■■ waste should be removed from the manufacturing area or sent to the

bio-waste system in a safe manner;
■■ materials should be transferred by a validated procedure;
■■ the Quality Unit should confirm area clearance by inspection, and
review the campaign changeover data (including monitoring results)
prior to releasing the area for the next product.
13.4 When required, the corresponding diluent for the product can be filled in
the same facility in line with the defined campaign production strategy
for finished product.
13.5 When campaign-based manufacturing is considered, the facility layout
and the design of the premises and equipment should permit effective
cleaning and decontamination/sterilization (if required) based on QRM
principles and validated procedures following the production campaign.
In addition, consideration may need to be given at the design stage of
facility layout to the possible need for fumigation.
14. Labelling
14.1 The information provided on the inner label (also called the container
label) and on the outer label (on the packaging) should be readable and
legible, and the content approved by the NRA.
14.2 Minimal key information should be printed on the inner label, and
additional information should be provided on the outer label (for example,
carton) and/or product leaflet.
14.3 The suitability of labels for low and ultra-low storage temperatures should
be verified, if applicable. The label should remain properly attached to the
container under different storage conditions during the shelf-life of the
product. The label and its adhesive should have no adverse effect on the
quality of the product caused by leaching, migration and/or other means.
15. Validation
15.1 Biological processes, handling of live materials and using campaign-based
production, if applicable, are the major aspects of biological product
manufacturing which require process and cleaning validation. The
validation of such processes – given the typical variability of biological
products, the possible use of harmful and toxic materials and the need
for inactivation processes – plays an important role in demonstrating
production consistency and in proving that the critical process parameters
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and product attributes are controlled. Where available, WHO guidance

documents should be consulted on the validation of specific manufacturing
methods (for example, virus removal or inactivation (21)).
15.2 A QRM approach should be used to determine the scope and extent
of validation.
15.3 All critical biological processes (including inoculation, multiplication,
fermentation, cell disruption, inactivation, purification, virus removal,
removal of toxic and harmful additives, filtration, formulation and aseptic
filling) are subject, as applicable, to process validation. Manufacturing
control parameters to be validated may include specific addition sequences,
mixing speeds, time and temperature controls, limits of light exposure
and containment.
15.4 After initial process validation studies have been finalized and routine
production has begun, critical processes should be subject to monitoring
and trending with the objective of assuring consistency and detecting any
unexpected variability. The monitoring strategy should be defined, taking
into consideration factors such as the inherent variability, complexity of
quality attributes and heterogeneity of biological products. A system or
systems for detecting unplanned departures from the process as designed
should be in place to ensure that the process remains in a state of control.
Collection and evaluation of information and data on the performance of
the process will allow for detection of undesired process variability and
will determine whether action should be taken to prevent, anticipate and/or
correct problems so that the process remains under control.
15.5 Cleaning validation should be performed in order to confirm the
effectiveness of cleaning procedures designed to remove biological
substances, growth media, process reagents, cleaning agents, inactivation

agents and so on. Careful consideration should be given to cleaning
validation when campaign-based production is practised.
15.6 Critical processes for inactivation or elimination of potentially harmful
microorganisms of Biosafety Risk Group 2 or above, including genetically
modified ones, are subject to validation.
15.7 Process revalidation may be triggered by a process change as part of
the change-control system. In addition, because of the variability of
processes, products and methods, process revalidation may be conducted
at predetermined regular intervals according to risk considerations.
A detailed review of all changes, trends and deviations occurring within
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a defined time period – for example, 1 year, based on the regular product
quality review (PQR) – may indicate a need for process revalidation.
15.8 The integrity and specified hold times of containers used to store
intermediate products should be validated unless such intermediate
products are freshly prepared and used immediately.
16. Quality control

16.1 As part of quality control sampling and testing procedures for biological
materials and products, special consideration should be given to the
nature of the materials being sampled (for example, the need to avoid
contamination, ensure biocontainment and/or cold chain requirements)
in order to ensure that the testing carried out is representative.
16.2 Samples for post-release use typically fall into one of two categories –
reference samples or retention samples – for the purposes of analytical
testing and identification respectively. For finished products the reference
and retention samples will in many instances be presented identically
as fully packaged units. In such circumstances, reference and retention
samples may be regarded as interchangeable.
Reference samples of biological starting materials should be
retained under the recommended storage conditions for at least 1 year
beyond the expiry date of the corresponding finished product. Reference
samples of other starting materials (other than solvents, gases and
water) as well as intermediates for which critical parameters cannot be
tested in the final product should be retained for at least 2 years after
the release of the product if their stability allows for this storage period.
Certain starting materials such as components of growth media need not
necessarily be retained.
Retention samples of a finished product should be stored in their
final packaging at the recommended storage conditions for at least 1 year
after the expiry date.
16.3 For cell-based products, microbiological tests (for example, sterility tests
or purity checks) should be conducted on cultures of cells or cell banks
free of antibiotics and other inhibitory substances in order to provide
evidence of the absence of bacterial and fungal contamination, and to be
able to detect fastidious organisms where appropriate. Where antibiotics
are used, they should be removed by filtration at the time of testing.
16.4 The traceability, proper use and storage of reference standards should
be ensured, defined and recorded. The stability of reference standards
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should be monitored, and their performance trended. The WHO

Recommendations for the preparation, characterization and establishment
of international and other biological reference standards (30) should
be followed.
16.5 All stability studies – including real-time/real-condition stability, accelerated
stability and stress testing – should be carried out according to relevant
WHO and other guidelines (31) or other recognized documents. Trend
analysis of the test results from the stability monitoring programme should
assure the early detection of any process or assay drift, and this information
should be part of the PQR of biological products.
16.6 For products where ongoing stability monitoring would normally require
testing using animals, and no appropriate alternative or validated
techniques are available, the frequency of testing may take into account a
risk-based approach. The principle of bracketing and matrix designs may
be applied if scientifically justified in the stability protocol.
16.7 All analytical methods used in the quality control and in-process control
of biological products should be well characterized, validated and
documented to a satisfactory standard in order to yield reliable results.
The fundamental parameters of this validation include linearity, accuracy,
precision, selectivity/specificity, sensitivity and reproducibility (32–35).
16.8 For test methods described in relevant pharmacopoeial monographs,
qualification of the laboratory test equipment and personnel should be
performed. In addition, repeat precision and comparability precision should
be shown in the case of animal tests. Repeatability and reproducibility
should also be demonstrated by reviewing retrospective test data.
In addition to the common parameters typically used for validating
assays (such as accuracy and precision) additional measurements (for
example, of the performance of references, critical reagents and/or cell

lines) should be considered during the validation of bioassays based on
the biological nature of the assay and reagents used.
17. Documentation (batch processing records)

17.1 In general, the processing records of regular production batches should
provide a complete account of the manufacturing activities of each
batch of biological product showing that it has been produced, tested and
dispensed into containers in accordance with the approved procedures.
In the case of vaccines, a batch processing record and a summary
protocol should be prepared for each batch for the purpose of lot release
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by the NRA. The information included in the summary protocol should

follow the WHO Guidelines for independent lot release of vaccines by
regulatory authorities (36). The summary protocol and all associated
records should be of a type approved by the NRA.
17.2 Manufacturing batch records should be retained for at least 1 year after
the expiry date of the batch of the biological product and should be readily
retrievable for inspection by the NRA. It has been found that documents
retained for longer periods may provide useful information related to
AEFI and other investigations.
17.3 Starting materials may require additional documentation on source,
origin, supply chain, method of manufacture and controls applied in order
to ensure an appropriate level of control, including of microbiological
quality if applicable.
17.4 Some product types may require a specific definition of what materials
constitute a batch – particularly somatic cells in the context of ATMPs.
For autologous and donor-matched situations, the manufactured product
should be viewed as a batch.
18. Use of animals

18.1 A wide range of animals is used for the manufacture or quality control
of biological products. Special considerations are required when animal
facilities are present at a manufacturing site.
18.2 The presence of live animals in the production area should be avoided
unless otherwise justified. Embryonated eggs are allowed in the production
area, if applicable. If the extraction of tissues or organs from animals is
required then particular care should be taken to prevent contamination
of the production area (for example, appropriate disinfection procedures
should be undertaken).
18.3 Areas used for performing tests involving animals or microorganisms
should be well separated from premises used for the manufacturing
of products and should have completely separate ventilation systems
and separate staff. The separation of different animal species before and
during testing should be considered, as should the necessary animal
acclimatization process, as part of the test requirements.
18.4 In addition to monitoring compliance with TSE regulations (24) other
adventitious agents that are of concern (including those causing zoonotic
diseases and diseases in source animals) should also be monitored and
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recorded in line with specialist advice on establishing such programmes.

Instances of ill health occurring in the source/donor animals should be
investigated with respect to their suitability, and the suitability of in-contact
animals, for continued use (for example, in manufacture, as sources of
starting materials, and for quality control and safety testing). Decisions
should be documented.
18.5 A look-back procedure should be in place in relation to the decision-
making process used to evaluate the continued suitability of the biological
active substance or finished product in which animal-sourced starting
materials have been used or incorporated. This decision-making process
may include the retesting of reference samples from previous collections
from the same donor animal (where applicable) to establish the last
negative donation. The withdrawal period of therapeutic agents used to
treat source/donor animals should be documented and should be taken
into account when considering the removal of those animals from the
programme for defined periods.
18.6 Particular care should be taken to prevent and monitor infections in
source/donor animals. Measures taken should cover aspects such as
sourcing, facilities, husbandry, biosafety procedures, testing regimes,
control of bedding and feed materials, 100% fresh air supply, appropriate
design of the HVAC system, water supply and appropriate temperature
and humidity conditions for the species being handled. This is of special
relevance to SPF animals where pharmacopoeial monograph requirements
should be met. Housing and health monitoring should also be defined for
other categories of animals (for example, healthy flocks or herds).
18.7 For products manufactured from transgenic animals, traceability should
be maintained in the creation of such animals from the source animals.
Note should be taken of national requirements for animal quarters, care

and quarantine.
18.8 For different animal species and lines, key criteria should be defined,
monitored and recorded. These may include the age, sex, weight and health
status of the animals.
18.9 Animals, biological agents and tests carried out should be appropriately
identified to prevent any risk of mix-up and to control all identified hazards.
18.10 The facility layout should ensure a unidirectional and segregated flow of
healthy animals, inoculated animals and waste-decontamination areas.
Personnel and visitors should also follow a defined flow in order to avoid
cross-contamination.
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19. Authors and acknowledgements

The scientific basis for the revision of these WHO Guidelines was discussed at
a working group meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand, 10–13 September 2007
and attended by: Dr M.M.F. Ahmed, Center for Control of Biologicals and
Vaccines, Egypt; Dr H. Alitamsar, PT Bio Farma, Indonesia; Mr P. Angtrakool,
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand; Dr D. Buckley, Consultant, Monash,
Australia; Dr M. Dennehy, The Biovac Institute, South Africa; Ms X. Dong,
Beijing Tiantan Biological Products Co. Ltd, China; Dr H.J.M. van de Donk,
Consultant, Den Haag, Netherlands; Dr M. Gheisarzardeh, Ministry of Health
and Medical Education, the Islamic Republic of Iran; Dr H.T. Hong, National
Institute for Control of Vaccine and Biologicals, Viet Nam; Mrs W. Jariyapan,
WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, India; Mr M. Javadekar, Serum
Institute of India Ltd, India; Dr D. Jiang, State Food and Drug Administration,
China; Mrs T. Jivapaisarnpong, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand; Dr A.
Khadem, Pasteur Institute of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran; Professor S.
Khomvilai, Thai Red Cross Society, Thailand; Dr K-H. Kim, Korean Food and
Drug Administration, Republic of Korea; Dr Kustantinah, National Agency of
Drug and Food Control, Indonesia; Professor C.K. Lee, Advisor to the Korean
Food and Drug Administration, Republic of Korea; Mrs J. Li, Sinovac Biotech
Co. Ltd, China; V.G. Maqueda, Biologist, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Dr K-I.
Min, Korean Food and Drug Administration, Republic of Korea; Mr I. Rees,
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, the United Kingdom;
Dr C.H. Sia, Health Sciences Authority, Singapore; Dr M. Suhardono, PT Bio
Farma, Indonesia; Ms J. Teo, Centre for Drug Administration, Singapore; Ms P.S.
Thanaphollert, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand; Mr S. Thirapakpoomanunt,
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand; Ms A.R.T. Utami, National Agency of
Drug and Food Control, Indonesia; Dr D.T.H. Van, Institute for Vaccine and
Biologicals, Viet Nam; Mr B. Wibisono, National Agency of Drug and Food
Control, Indonesia; Mr J. Yang, Kunming Institute of Medical Biology, China;
Mr Y. Yu, Kunming Institute of Medical Biology, China; and Dr I. Knezevic
and Dr S. Lambert, World Health Organization, Switzerland – and a WHO
drafting group meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, 30–31 October 2013 and
attended by: Mr R. Acs, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, India;
Mr M. Eisenhawer, WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, India; Dr S.
Fakhrzadeh, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, the Islamic Republic
of Iran; V.G. Maqueda, Biologist, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Mrs K. Porkaew,
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand; Dr S.O. Rumiano, Consultant, Buenos
Aires, Argentina; Dr Y. Wang, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control,
China; Mr B. Wibisono, National Agency of Drug and Food Control, Indonesia;
and Dr A. Chawla, Dr A.R. Khadem, Dr I. Knezevic, Dr S. Kopp and Dr D. Lei,
World Health Organization, Switzerland.
125
Based upon the principles defined in the above working group and
drafting group meetings the first draft of these Guidelines was prepared by Mr R.
Acs, Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, India; Dr B. Yáñez Chamizo,
Centro para el Control Estatal de Medicamentos, Equipos y Dispositivos Médicos,
Cuba; Dr S. Fakhrzadeh, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, the Islamic
Republic of Iran; Mrs K. Porkaew, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand; Dr S.O.
Rumiano, Consultant, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Dr Y. Wang, National Institutes
for Food and Drug Control, China; Mr B. Wibisono, National Agency of Drug
and Food Control, Indonesia; Mr M. Eisenhawer, WHO Regional Office for
South-East Asia, India; Dr A. Chawla, Consultant, Greater Noida, India; Dr A.R.
Khadem, World Health Organization, Switzerland; V.G. Maqueda, Biologist,
Buenos Aires, Argentina; and Dr D. Lei, World Health Organization, Switzerland.
A second draft was then prepared by V.G. Maqueda, Biologist, Buenos
Aires, Argentina; Dr B. Yáñez Chamizo, Centro para el Control Estatal de
Medicamentos, Equipos y Dispositivos Médicos, Cuba; Dr S. Fakhrzadeh,
Ministry of Health and Medical Education, the Islamic Republic of Iran;
Dr S.O. Rumiano, Consultant, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Dr Y. Wang, National
Institutes for Food and Drug Control, China; Mr B. Wibisono, National Agency
of Drug and Food Control, Indonesia; Mr M. Eisenhawer, WHO Regional
Office for South-East Asia, India; Dr A. Chawla, Consultant, Greater Noida,
India; and Dr A.R. Khadem and Dr D. Lei, World Health Organization,
Switzerland following a consultation held in Tunis, Tunisia, 22–24 July 2014
and attended by: Dr H. Baiao, National Authority for Medicines and Health
Products, Portugal; Mrs R. Bose, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India;
Mr C. Cabral, Butantan Institute, Brazil; Dr R. Chaplinsky, GSK Vaccines,
Belgium; Dr A. Chawla, Consultant, Greater Noida, India; Mr M. Diagne,
Direction de la Pharmacie et des Laboratoires, Senegal; Mr M. Eisenhawer,
WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia, India; Dr S. Fakhrzadeh, Ministry
of Health and Medical Education, the Islamic Republic of Iran; Mrs R. Frikha,
Directorate of Pharmacy Inspection, Tunisia; Dr M. Gershman, Pfizer, the USA;
Ms A.R. Cornelio Geyer, Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária, Brazil; Dr E.
Griffiths, Consultant, Kingston-upon-Thames, the United Kingdom; Dr N.
Harjee, Consultant, Ontario, Canada; Ms D.T.M. Hang, Ministry of Health,
Viet Nam; Dr H. Langar, WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean,
Egypt; Dr P. Lauer, Sanofi Pasteur, France; Dr C.K. Lee, Korea Food and Drug
Administration, Republic of Korea; Dr H. Leng, Medicines Regulatory Authority,
South Africa; Dr M.G. Lopez Santos, Comisión Federal para la Protección contra
Riesgos Sanitarios, Mexico; V.G. Maqueda, Biologist, Buenos Aires, Argentina;
Dr A. Mihaylova, Bulgarian Drug Agency, Bulgaria; Dr J. Miteva, Bulgarian
Drug Agency, Bulgaria; Dr S. Pagliusi, DCVMN International, Switzerland;
126
Annex 2
Dr V.A. Pessanha, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil; Mrs K. Porkaew, Ministry

of Public Health, Thailand; Dr S. Ramanan, Amgen, the USA; Dr P. Rampignon,
GSK Vaccines, Belgium; Dr D. Rebeski, The Biovac Institute, South Africa;
Dr M. Refaat, Central Administration for Pharmaceutical Affairs, Egypt;
Dr S.O. Rumiano, Consultant, Buenos Aires, Argentina; Dr A.L. Salvati, Agenzia
Italiana del Farmaco, Italy; Dr J. Shin, WHO Regional Office for the Western
Pacific, Philippines; Dr W. Stevens, Health Canada, Canada; Dr I. Susanti, PT
Bio Farma, Indonesia; Ms C.S. Takata, Butantan Institute, Brazil; Dr S. Uddin,
Directorate General of Drug Administration, Bangladesh; Dr Y. Wang, National
Institutes for Food and Drug Control, China; Mr B. Wibisono, National Agency
of Drug and Food Control, Indonesia; and Dr A.K. Broojerdi, Dr D. Lei, Dr I.
Streipa-Nauman and Dr D.J. Wood, World Health Organization, Switzerland.
The document WHO/BS/2015.2253, incorporating comments received
from regulators and industry following public consultation on the WHO
Biologicals website, was prepared by V.G. Maqueda, Biologist, Buenos Aires,
Argentina; Dr B. Yáñez Chamizo, Centro para el Control Estatal de Medicamentos,
Equipos y Dispositivos Médicos, Cuba; Dr S. Fakhrzadeh, Ministry of Health and
Medical Education, the Islamic Republic of Iran; Dr S.O. Rumiano, Consultant,
Buenos Aires, Argentina; Dr Y. Wang, National Institutes for Food and Drug
Control, China; Dr A. Chawla, Consultant, Greater Noida, India; Dr M. Refaat,
Central Administration for Pharmaceutical Affairs, Egypt; Dr A. Khadem, Pasteur
Institute of Iran, the Islamic Republic of Iran; and Dr M. Chafai, Dr D. Lei, Dr D.
Mubangizi and Dr I.R. Thrussell, World Health Organization, Switzerland.
Further changes were subsequently made to document WHO/BS/
2015.2253 by the WHO Expert Committee on Biological Standardization.
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130

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Annex 2

WHO good manufacturing practices for biological products

Guidelines published by WHO are intended to be scientific and

■■ recombinant DNA (rDNA) techniques;

See: http://www.who.int/biologicals/en/ (accessed 4 November 2015).

(viral and non-viral MCB, WCB, MSL,

any other organism.

Biosafety risk group: denotes the containment conditions required for

Dedicated area: an area that may be in the same building as another

Quality risk management (QRM): a systematic process for the

Working cell bank (WCB): a quantity of well-characterized cells of

4. Principles and general considerations

contamination and cross-contamination.

See: http://www.who.int/biologicals/en/ (accessed 4 November 2015).

such contamination events. Specifications outlined in WHO guidelines and

5. Pharmaceutical quality system and

biometry, chemistry, medicine, pharmacy, pharmacology, virology,

6.3 Training in cleaning and disinfection procedures, hygiene and microbiology

product. Incoming starting materials should be sampled under appropriate

should be understood and assessed under the principles of QRM. In such

8. Seed lots and cell banks

8.3 In order to prevent the unwanted drift of genetic properties which

microbial strains) should be handled simultaneously in the same area or by

9. Premises and equipment

risks. Other factors to be taken into account include facility/equipment

during the handling of live cells such as in cell-therapy products) control

the duration of manufacture of the batch or of the campaign. Appropriate

10.4 Production of BCG-related product should take place in a dedicated

periodical tests should be performed to ensure that the equipment is in

available for each organism or groups of related organisms. Where different

10.10 Air-vent filters should be hydrophobic and subject to integrity testing at

11. Clean rooms

11.2 The environmental monitoring programme should be supplemented with

inactivation) of all cells, organisms and any adventitious agents within

■■ conducting environmental monitoring specific to the microorganism

13. Campaign production

justified. For finishing operations (formulation and filling) the need

■■ waste should be removed from the manufacturing area or sent to the

and product attributes are controlled. Where available, WHO guidance

substances, growth media, process reagents, cleaning agents, inactivation

16. Quality control

should be monitored, and their performance trended. The WHO

example, of the performance of references, critical reagents and/or cell

17. Documentation (batch processing records)

by the NRA. The information included in the summary protocol should

18. Use of animals

recorded in line with specialist advice on establishing such programmes.

Note should be taken of national requirements for animal quarters, care

19. Authors and acknowledgements

Dr V.A. Pessanha, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil; Mrs K. Porkaew, Ministry

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