FOI release

Freedom of Information request (FOI 22/831)

Published 17 January 2024

11th August 2022

FOI 22/831

Dear ,

Thank you for your email.

Please find below answers in table below;

Company Authorisation Type Total # of ‘Regulatory Flexibility’ Notifications received
Manufacturer (MIA) 56
Manufacturer (MIA/IMP) 23
Wholesaler 85

In addition, can you please provide the breakdown of the number of requests of each type. For example;

Description of Regulatory Flexibility Used Total # of ‘Regulatory Flexibility’ Notifications received
Marketing authorisations There are no notification requirement for the MA flexibilities.  They are applied on a case by case basis and are not recorded in any searchable form.
Pharmacovigilance 8
Exceptional GMP flexibilities- Manufacture and importation 123
Exceptional GMP flexibilities- Pharmaceutical Quality System 72
Exceptional GDP flexibilities- Supply chain 24
Exceptional GDP flexibilities- Transportation 27
Exceptional GDP flexibilities- Facilities and equipment 47
Reduced re-testing of Imported products (3rd countries 76

Any other summary or supporting information that may be available in relation to the above would also be gratefully received.

In response to the above, even though not requested, we have tallied up the total numbers received for each type of flex (GMP or GDP) and number of organisations that submitted each flex type

Flexibility type Total # of ‘Regulatory Flexibility’ Notifications received Total  # of Organisations submitting Flexibility
GMP 260 79
GDP 66 56

Finally, please provide details of the number of reports received from QPs related to Annex 16 not providing enough flexibility to deal with the current logistical challenges quickly.

Total # of reports received from QPs related to insufficient flexibility under Annex 16
NIL*

*There does not appear to be any complaints/reports received (from a GMDP perspective) regarding insufficient flexibility under Annex 16 as this would have prompted a re-visit of the published guidance and where required updates will have been made.

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Yours sincerely

MHRA Customer Experience Centre

Communications and engagement team

Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency