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COMPLIANCE POLICY GUIDE (CPG)

CPG Sec. 425.200 Computerized Drug Processing; Vendor Responsibility September 1987

Final
Issued by:
Guidance Issuing Office
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research

BACKGROUND:

Computer systems used in the production and control of drug products can consist of various devices (hardware) and programs (software) supplied by different vendors, or in some cases by a single vendor. It is important that such computer systems perform accurately and reliably, *and* that they are suitable for their intended use.

Questions have arisen as to the vendor's responsibility in assuring computer systems performance and suitability. When an integrated system, composed of elements from several different vendors, fails, it can be especially difficult to attribute the cause of a problem to one particular vendor.

POLICY:

The end user is responsible for the suitability of computer systems (hardware and software) used in manufacture, processing or holding of a drug product.

*The vendor may also be liable, under the FD&C Act, for causing the introduction of adulterated or misbranded drug products into interstate commerce, where the causative factors for the violation are attributable to intrinsic defects in the vendor's hardware and software. In addition vendors may incur liability for validation, as well as hardware/software maintenance performed on behalf of users.*

*Material between asterisks is new or revised*

Issued: 1/18/85
Revised: 9/4/87

Submit Comments

Submit comments on this guidance document electronically via docket ID: FDA-2013-S-0610 - Specific Electronic Submissions Intended For FDA's Dockets Management Staff (i.e., Citizen Petitions, Draft Proposed Guidance Documents, Variances, and other administrative record submissions)

If unable to submit comments online, please mail written comments to:

Dockets Management
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061
Rockville, MD 20852

All comments should be identified with the title of the guidance.

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