Standard Operating Procedure for Decontamination Procedures for Contaminated Quarantine Raw Materials
Department | Quality Assurance / Warehouse / Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) |
---|---|
SOP No. | SOP/RM/095/2025 |
Supersedes | SOP/RM/095/2022 |
Page No. | Page 1 of 15 |
Issue Date | 01/02/2025 |
Effective Date | 05/02/2025 |
Review Date | 01/02/2026 |
1. Purpose
This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlines the process for decontaminating raw materials stored in quarantine that have been exposed to potential contamination. The procedure ensures the safe handling, proper decontamination, and compliance with regulatory and environmental guidelines.
2. Scope
This SOP applies to all raw materials, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), excipients, solvents, and packaging materials, that have been identified as contaminated while stored in quarantine.
3. Responsibilities
- Warehouse Personnel: Identify contaminated materials, isolate them, and support the decontamination process.
- Quality Assurance (QA): Approve decontamination procedures, ensure compliance, and verify that materials meet quality standards post-decontamination.
- Environmental Health & Safety (EHS): Oversee decontamination activities to ensure environmental safety and compliance with health standards.
- Quality Control (QC): Perform testing on decontaminated materials to confirm the effectiveness of the process.
4. Accountability
The QA Manager is accountable for ensuring that decontamination procedures are conducted correctly and meet regulatory standards.
The EHS Manager is responsible for ensuring that all decontamination activities comply with environmental and safety regulations.
5. Procedure
5.1 Identification and Documentation of Contaminated Materials
- Detection of Contamination:
- Warehouse personnel must immediately report any signs of contamination, such as leaks, discoloration, unusual odors, or foreign particles.
- QC will perform preliminary tests to confirm contamination and document findings in the Contamination Detection Log (Annexure-1).
- Isolation of Contaminated Materials:
- Move contaminated materials to a designated isolation area within the quarantine zone.
- Label materials as “CONTAMINATED” with clear indicators, including material name, batch number, and type of contamination.
- Document isolation in the Contaminated Material Isolation Log (Annexure-2).
5.2 Decontamination Process
- Selection of Decontamination Method:
- QA and EHS will determine the appropriate decontamination method based on the type of contamination (e.g., microbial, chemical, or physical contamination).
- Document the selected method in the Decontamination Plan (Annexure-3).
- Preparation for Decontamination:
- Ensure all personnel involved wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Prepare necessary decontamination agents and equipment as specified in the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS).
- Decontamination Procedure:
- Follow the specific steps outlined in the Decontamination Plan, which may include:
- Washing or rinsing with approved solvents or water
- Using disinfectants for microbial contamination
- Filtration or centrifugation for physical contaminants
- Record each step in the Decontamination Activity Log (Annexure-4).
- Follow the specific steps outlined in the Decontamination Plan, which may include:
5.3 Post-Decontamination Testing and Verification
- QC Testing:
- QC will perform testing to verify the effectiveness of the decontamination process.
- Document testing results in the Post-Decontamination Testing Log (Annexure-5).
- QA Review and Approval:
- QA will review the testing results and approve the release or rejection of the decontaminated materials.
- If the material passes, complete the Decontaminated Material Release Authorization Form (Annexure-6).
- If the material fails, proceed with disposal and document in the Contaminated Material Disposal Log (Annexure-7).
5.4 Handling of Non-Recoverable Contaminated Materials
- Disposal Procedure:
- Non-recoverable contaminated materials must be disposed of following environmental and regulatory guidelines.
- Use approved disposal methods and document the disposal process in the Disposal Authorization Form (Annexure-8).
- Environmental Safety:
- EHS must oversee disposal activities to ensure environmental safety and compliance.
- Document any environmental monitoring activities related to disposal in the Environmental Safety Log (Annexure-9).
5.5 Documentation and Record-Keeping
- Record Maintenance:
- All records related to decontamination, testing, and disposal must be maintained in compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Ensure records are reviewed periodically and stored securely in the Decontamination Records Archive (Annexure-10).
5.6 Training and Compliance Monitoring
- Personnel Training:
- All personnel involved in decontamination processes must receive specialized training.
- Document training sessions in the Training Log (Annexure-11).
- Compliance Audits:
- QA and EHS will conduct periodic audits of decontamination procedures to ensure compliance.
- Document audit findings in the Compliance Audit Log (Annexure-12).
6. Abbreviations
- SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
- GMP: Good Manufacturing Practice
- QA: Quality Assurance
- QC: Quality Control
- EHS: Environmental Health & Safety
- PPE: Personal Protective Equipment
- MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet
- APIs: Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
7. Documents
- Contamination Detection Log (Annexure-1)
- Contaminated Material Isolation Log (Annexure-2)
- Decontamination Plan (Annexure-3)
- Decontamination Activity Log (Annexure-4)
- Post-Decontamination Testing Log (Annexure-5)
- Decontaminated Material Release Authorization Form (Annexure-6)
- Contaminated Material Disposal Log (Annexure-7)
- Disposal Authorization Form (Annexure-8)
- Environmental Safety Log (Annexure-9)
- Decontamination Records Archive (Annexure-10)
- Training Log (Annexure-11)
- Compliance Audit Log (Annexure-12)
8. References
- 21 CFR Part 211 – Current Good Manufacturing Practice for Finished Pharmaceuticals
- ICH Q7 – Good Manufacturing Practice for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients
- WHO Guidelines for the Safe Handling of Contaminated Materials
9. SOP Version
Version: 2.0
10. Approval Section
Prepared By | Checked By | Approved By | |
---|---|---|---|
Signature | |||
Date | |||
Name | |||
Designation | |||
Department |
11. Annexures
Annexure-1: Contamination Detection Log
Date | Material Name | Batch Number | Type of Contamination | Detected By |
---|---|---|---|---|
01/02/2025 | API-X | API-X-2025-001 | Microbial | Sunita Sharma |
Annexure-2: Contaminated Material Isolation Log
Date | Material Name | Batch Number | Isolation Area | Isolated By |
---|---|---|---|---|
01/02/2025 | API-X | API-X-2025-001 | Quarantine Zone B | Ravi Kumar |
Annexure-3: Decontamination Plan
Date | Material Name | Batch Number | Decontamination Method | Approved By |
---|---|---|---|---|
02/02/2025 | API-X | API-X-2025-001 | Disinfection with Ethanol | Anjali Mehta |
Annexure-4: Decontamination Activity Log
Date | Material Name | Batch Number | Activity Performed | Performed By |
---|---|---|---|---|
03/02/2025 | API-X | API-X-2025-001 | Surface Disinfection | Ravi Kumar |
Annexure-5: Post-Decontamination Testing Log
Date | Material Name | Batch Number | Test Conducted | Result | Tested By |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
04/02/2025 | API-X | API-X-2025-001 | Microbial Load Test | Pass | Sunita Sharma |
Annexure-6: Decontaminated Material Release Authorization Form
Date | Material Name | Batch Number | Released By | Signature |
---|---|---|---|---|
05/02/2025 | API-X | API-X-2025-001 | Anjali Mehta |
Annexure-7: Contaminated Material Disposal Log
Date | Material Name | Batch Number | Disposal Method | Disposed By |
---|---|---|---|---|
05/02/2025 | API-Y | API-Y-2025-002 | Incineration | Disposal Team |
Annexure-8: Disposal Authorization Form
Date | Material Name | Batch Number | Approved By | Signature |
---|---|---|---|---|
05/02/2025 | API-Y | API-Y-2025-002 | Anjali Mehta |
Annexure-9: Environmental Safety Log
Date | Activity | Observations | Verified By |
---|---|---|---|
06/02/2025 | Post-Disposal Site Inspection | No Environmental Impact Observed | Ravi Kumar |
Annexure-10: Decontamination Records Archive
Date | Document Type | Archived By | Location |
---|---|---|---|
07/02/2025 | Decontamination Logs | Sunita Sharma | Archive Room A |
Annexure-11: Training Log
Date | Training Topic | Trainer | Attendee Name | Signature |
---|---|---|---|---|
08/02/2025 | Decontamination Procedures | EHS Manager | Ravi Kumar |
Annexure-12: Compliance Audit Log
Date | Audit Type | Findings | Corrective Actions | Audited By |
---|---|---|---|---|
09/02/2025 | Decontamination Compliance Audit | No Major Issues Found | N/A | Anjali Mehta |
Revision History:
Revision Date | Revision No. | Revision Details | Reason for Revision | Approved By |
---|---|---|---|---|
01/01/2024 | 1.0 | Initial Version | New SOP | QA Head |
01/02/2025 | 2.0 | Updated Decontamination Procedures and Documentation Formats | Regulatory Compliance | QA Head |