GLP
GLP Certification | European Conformity
In the experimental (non-clinical) research arena, the phrase good laboratory practice or GLP specifically refers to a quality system of management controls for research laboratories and organizations to ensure the uniformity, consistency, reliability, reproducibility, quality, and integrity of chemical (including pharmaceuticals) non-clinical safety tests; from physic-chemical properties through acute to chronic toxicity tests.
GLP was first introduced in New Zealand and Denmark in 1972, and later in the US in 1978 in response to the Industrial BioTest Labs scandal. It was followed a few years later by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Principles of GLP in 1992; the OECD has since helped promulgate GLP to many countries.
GLP applies to non-clinical studies conducted for the assessment of the safety or efficacy of chemicals (including pharmaceuticals) to man, animals and the environment. GLP, a data quality system, should not be confused with standards for laboratory safety – appropriate gloves, glasses & clothing to handle lab materials safely. The principles of GLP aim to ensure and promote safety, consistency, high quality, and reliability of chemicals in the process of non-clinical and laboratory testing. But, GLP is not limited only to chemicals. It applies to medical devices, food additives, food packaging, colour additives and other non-pharmaceutical products or ingredients as well.
THE EIGHT BENEFITS OF A CERTIFIED GLP.
As an organisation, you can always choose to work in accordance with the GLP standard, but you can also choose to be certified by an independent party (such as a certification body). In practice, we see eight major benefits in choosing a certifiedGLP:
- You have objective proof that your organisation attaches great importance to quality and that you have it checked regularly by an independent party. This commitment increases confidence in your organisation.
- You achieve higher operating efficiency. Organisations that consider quality management to be an integral part of their business operations usually achieve a higher operating efficiency than those that do not.
- A certified GLPincreases the quality of your services and raises your staff’s awareness.
- A certified GLPensures clear processes and (communication) structures, tasks and responsibilities throughout the entire organisation. This increases the involvement of your staff, which improves the working atmosphere and reduces the pressure of work.
- You can detect and identify problems in good time, which means that you can quickly take steps to avoid the same mistakes in the future.
- You make it clear to your staff, your partners, your clients and the outside world that customer satisfaction is at the core of your business.
- A certified GLP gives you a positive company image, raising you up to the level of your competitors or perhaps even a level higher.
- It is possibly also in your commercial interest, seeing that more and more clients demand that their suppliers work in accordance with a certified GLP.