Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the sampling of packing material (Primary Packing Material, Secondary Packing Material, and Tertiary Packing Material).
Table of Contents
Procedure for Sampling and AQL of Packing Material
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this SOP is to define the procedure for sampling and acceptance Quality level of packing materials.
SCOPE:
This SOP is applicable for sampling and acceptance Quality level of all primary, secondary and tertiary packing materials at the quality control department of the pharmaceutical drug manufacturing plant.
DEFINITION- SOP FOR SAMPLING OF PACKING MATERIAL:
Primary Packing Material: The Packing Material, which is in direct contact with product for e.g: Foil, PVC, PVDC, bottles, etc.
Secondary Packing Material: The Packing Material which contains primary unit pack or pack-insert for e.g Show box, Package inserts, etc.
Tertiary Packing Material: The Packing Material, in which secondary unit pack contained is tertiary
packing material e;g corrugated box etc.
7.0 PROCEDURE FOR SAMPLING OF PACKING MATERIAL:
Sampling of Packing Materials:
On receipt GIM from Packing material stores, QC section head or designee makes an entry in the in packing material inward register.
QC officer shall ensure that stores have affixed the “Quarantine” labels on all the containers/boxes/rolls of packaging material received under a consignment,
Excluding corrugated box, where affix the quarantine labels on bundles wise is required and verify the materials against the GIM for quantity, no. of rolls/packs, conditions of the consignment.
Use gloves and nose masks during sampling of packing material(where required).
At the time of show box sampling, check for each multi up’s sheet.
Sampling shall be done by A.R. No., Sampling of two or more A.R. No. should not be done simultaneously.
Necessary care to be taken to prevent mix up of the different types of material during sampling.
Check the following identity during sampling of the consignment like name of the material, name of the manufacturer, qty. received, the total number of rolls & compare with the GIM.
Also, ensure that the supplier status label shall be affixed on all the containers/boxes/rolls by the supplier.
Collect the samples randomly by opening different packs as per Military Standard 105 E.
After sampling put the ‘SAMPLED’ stamp in sampled packs (containers/boxes/rolls) in ‘Black ink’ on the `Quarantine’ label affixed on each pack in such a way that more than half stamping on quarantine label and remaining on packs (boxes/rolls/containers).
Stamping shall be done only for those packs that are sampled with the sign. and date of sampling and keep the material at designated place (At the respective location code, if specified in GIM).
Do not mark the `SAMPLED’ stamp where the sample is supposed to return to the packing material store.
During visual inspection of the consignment, the material should be free from visual defects like…
Improper printing,
Improper pasting,
Alignment of printing,
Loose winding or telescopic,
Wet & damaged,
Objectionable odor,
Cut, dent, damage core or edge,
Wrinkles in case of foils,
PVC or PVC coated PVDC film,
Sticking of show boxes, oil, grease, dirt, dust, fiber particles, stone, insects, etc.
Remove the minimum 3 meters of
Printed Aluminium foil,
Plain Aluminium foil,
PVC film and
PVC coated PVDC film for visual inspection
Then cut a minimum 3 meters of printed Aluminium foil and 2 meters of plain Aluminium foil, PVC film and PVC coated PVDC film for complete analysis in the laboratory as per sampling plan.
For show box, package insert, corrugated box, printed pressure sensitive labels, HDPE bottles, BOPP tapes, poly bags, applicator, etc. sample withdrawn for visual inspection and complete analysis as per sampling plan.
Packing material ‘Visual inspection checklist and sampling report of packing material’ (ref. Attachment – 2) shall be filled during sampling.
Spot analysis of packing material during sampling.
Physical Appearance of the consignment (Improper packing, dust, dent, damage core, wet condition, etc.)
Visual Inspection of the sample (Printing clarity/alignment, loose winding/telescopic, wrinkles, improper pasting/sticking, objectionable odor, rough edges, oil, grease and dirt, fiber particles, etc.)
Sampling Scheme of Packing Material as per AQL:
Number of packs to be sampled from the total number of packs received as per table – 1.
Number of samples to be taken for visual inspection and for complete analysis as per table – 1A.
For visual inspection of AQL, consider sample size from the consignment as given in table -1B and record observations in the ‘visual inspection checklist and Sampling report of packing Material’. Ref. attachment-2.
The visual inspection of samples shall be carried out in stores for Acceptance Quality Level (AQL) for acceptance criteria of defect attributes like Critical defects 0 %, Major defects 1.0 %, and Minor defects 2.5 % as per details given in Table- 1C.
Table – 1: Number of packs to be sampled from the total number of packs received.
Total no. of packs received
Total no. of packs to be sampled
2 to 8
2
9 to 15
3
16 to 25
5
26 to 50
8
51 to 90
13
91 to 150
20
151 to 280
32
281 to 500
50
501 to above
80
Table – 1A: Number of samples to be taken for complete analysis & for visual inspection.
Batch or LotSize (Number)
Samples for visual inspection
Samples for complete analysis
2 – 8
2
2
9 – 15
3
3
16 – 25
5
3
26 – 50
8
4
51 – 90
13
5
91 – 150
20
5
151 – 280
32
7
281 – 500
50
8
501 – 1200
80
10
1201 – 3200
125
12
3201 – 10000
200
15
10001 – 35000
315
19
35001 – 150000
500
23
150001 – 500000
800
29
500001 and over
1250
36
Table – 1B: Sampling plan for Visual Inspection
Lot size
Sample size
Acceptance criteria (Normal inspection)
Critical 0 %
Major 1.0 %
Minor 2.5 %
A
R
A
R
A
R
2 to 8
2
0
1
0
1
0
1
9 to 15
3
0
1
0
1
0
1
16 to25
5
0
1
0
1
0
1
26 to 50
8
0
1
0
1
0
1
51 to 90
13
0
1
0
1
1
2
91 to 150
20
0
1
0
1
1
2
151 to 280
32
0
1
1
2
2
3
281 to 500
50
0
1
1
2
3
4
501 to 1,200
80
0
1
2
3
5
6
1,201 to 3,200
125
0
1
3
4
7
8
3,201 to 10,000
200
0
1
5
6
10
11
10,001 to 35,000
315
0
1
7
8
14
15
35,001 to 150,000
500
0
1
10
11
21
22
150,001 to 500,000
800
0
1
14
15
21
22
500,001 and over
1250
0
1
21
22
21
22
A= Acceptance No. R= Rejection No.
Table-1C: Acceptance Quality Level (AQL) Defects Criteria for Visual Inspection
Procedure: Visually inspect number of samples as per the table 1B : Military standard 105 E.
Critical defects 0%: A critical defect is one that will render the finished product unsafe. Because this represent a potential risk to the patient. For acceptance and rejection refer Table 1B. Major defects 1.0% : A major defect is a defect, other than a critical defect, that is likely to cause non-conformance of product during manufacturing,testing, shipment, storage or use. Such failures do not constitute a potential risk to the patient. For acceptance and rejection refer Table 1B. Minor defects 2.5%: A minor defect is a non-conformance that may detract product elegance, but is expected to have little or no effect on the suitability of the Finished Product for its intended use. For acceptance and rejection refer Table 1B.
(Sampling of Packing Material)
MaterialName
Critical defects
Major defects
Minor defects
PrintedShow box
Mixing of show box other than mentioned product
Locking defects
Improper Creasing
Text matter missing / colour missing
Improper pasting
Folding (Improper)
Embossing missing
Sticking of cartons
Colour shade variation
Smudgy Printing/ Shifting of text matters
Wet and dirty cartons
(Sampling of Packing Material)
Plain showbox
Mixing of show box other than mentioned product
locking defects Improper pasting
Improper Creasing
Folding (Improper)
Colour shade variation
Sticking of cartons
Wet and dirty cartons
(Sampling of Packing Material)
PrintedLabels
Mixing of labels other than the mentioned product.
Improper pasting
Colour shade Variation
Text matter missing / colour missing
Smudgy Printing / Shifting of text matters
Wrong winding direction
Improper cutting
Wet and dirty labels
(Sampling of Packing Material)
Printed Package Inserts (Leaflets)
Mixing of leaflets other than the mentioned product.
Mixing of foil/films roll other than mentioned product
Loose winding and Telescopic winding
Colour shade variation
Poorly damaged core
Wrinkles & brittle
Wrong winding direction
Different colour stains on the foil
Wet and dirty
(Sampling of Packing Material)
Printed Aluminium Foil
Mixing of foils roll other than mentioned product
Loose winding and Telescopic winding
Colour shade variation
Text matter & colour missing or cutting
Smudgy printing / shifting of text matters
Poorly damaged core
Different colour stains on the foil
Number of joints (NMT 2)
Wrong winding direction
Wet and dirty
* Functionality test as per the respective specifications
Randomly select the boxes and withdraw approximately equal quantities of sample from the selective boxes.
Check the samples as per AQL. After the checking of Acceptance Quality Level of Packing material put the samples (except the material which are defective) in same boxes in such a way that the sample quantity of boxes shall remain same as per initial quantity.
Left over sample shall be kept in last sampled box.
E.g ; Suppose 25 packs of show box are received and received quantity is 10000 as per GIM, then according to Military Standard 105 E, total no. of box to be sampled is 5 and total sample quantity is 200.
So collect 40 nos. show box from each selected box. Check the each ups of multiple’s sheet and perform the spot analysis. After spot analysis, segregate the 15 nos. show box for QC analysis.
Return the same withdrawn show box quantity (40 nos.) to respective sampled box (1 to 4 no. box) and remaining left over show box (25nos.) shall be kept in last sampled box (5 no.).
For complete testing of packing material as per respective specification, draw the quantity of the samples required for analysis. Perform the complete analysis on number of samples as per table 1A. BOPP tape, poly bag etc. where complete testing shall be done on 3 numbers.
In case of silica gel & BOPP tape, samples are return back to PMS after analysis.
In case of corrugated box, visual inspection shall be done as per AQL and dimension shall be checked for 3 numbers of corrugated box at the time of AQL sampling.
Dimension shall be mentioned in attachment-2 (Visual inspection check list and sampling report of packing material).
Close inner and outer packing properly after sampling with imprinted QC SAMPLED BOPP tape affix “sample” label on sampled materials. Ref. annexure-2.
Deduction of sample quantity in ERP/SAP System (Sampling of Packing Material):
In case of plain/printed foil, PVC, PVC coated PVDC film, poly bag etc., the sample quantity remove in meters and numbers form but sample quantity shall be deducted in ERP/SAP system in Kilogram form as per below.
Sr. No.
Material Name
Thickness
Sample quantity in meters/nos.
Sample quantity in Kgs. Approx.
1
Printed Alu. blister foil
0.025 mm
3 meters/Roll
0.05 Kg.
2
Printed Alu. strip foil
0.04 mm
3 meters/Roll
0.12 Kg.
0.03 mm
3 meters/Roll
0.1 Kg.
3
Printed paper based laminate foil
0.02 mm
3 meters/Roll
0.12 Kg.
4
Plain Alu. Blister foil
0.025 mm
2 meters/Roll
0.03 Kg.
5
Plain Alu. strip foil
0.04 mm
2 meters/Roll
0.1 Kg.
0.03 mm
2 meters/Roll
0.08 Kg.
6
Alu-Alu form pack foil
0.045mm
2 meters/Roll
0.12 Kg.
7
PVC Film
0.25 /0.3/ 0.35 mm
2 meters/Roll
0.15 Kg.
8
PVC coated PVDC film
0.25 /0.3/ 0.35 mm
2 meters/Roll
0.2 Kg.
9
Poly Bag (All size)
150/200 gauge
3 nos.
0.15 kg.
Acceptance Criteria:
All results should comply as per the respective specification.
In case of the sample does not complies the AQL then material shall be rejected.
8.0 ANNEXURES OF SOP – SAMPLING OF PACKING MATERIAL:
Annexure-1: Packing Material Inward Register.
Prepare the logbook with the following table contents…
SR. No.
GIM Date
GIM receipt Date
Item Name
Item Code
GIM No.
A.R. No.
Receipt Qty.
Mfg. by/ Supplied by
Sampled by / Date
Analysed by / Date
Released Status
Approved by / Date
Rejected by / Date
Remarks
Annexure-2: Visual Inspections Checklist and Sampling Report of Packing Material.