21 CFR Part 11 Vs EU Annex 11 - Computer System Validation
21 CFR Part 11 Vs EU Annex 11 - Computer System Validation
21 CFR Part 11 Vs EU Annex 11 - Computer System Validation
Introduction
The relationship between FDA’s Part 11 (21 CFR Part 11) and the European
Union’s Annex 11 (EUDRALEX Rules Governing Medicinal Products in the
European Union, Volume 4, Good Manufacturing Practice, Medicinal Products
for Human and Veterinary Use) diverges in philosophy. Both documents cover
the same topic, the use of computerized systems in regulated activities. However, the approach of Part
11 is to make clear there are requirements to be met in order to conform to regulations. The emphasis is
on activities and reporting.
In contrast, the approach of Annex 11 is to make clear how to conform to its rules. Annex 11 is a
detailed guide to the areas of compliance that need documentation. A significant difference is the
approach to risk management. Annex 11 points to risk assessment as the start of compliance activities.
Part 11 differentiates security for open and closed systems, with extra security measures for open
systems but without reference to risk or criticality. The aggregate of these differences is represented
visually with the point-to-point comparison matrix shown below.
Annex 11 Part 11
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Comparison of FDA’s Part 11 and the EU’s Annex 11
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Comparison of FDA’s Part 11 and the EU’s Annex 11
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Comparison of FDA’s Part 11 and the EU’s Annex 11
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Comparison of FDA’s Part 11 and the EU’s Annex 11
Conclusions
Annex 11 for computerized systems impacts manufacturers who export to the EU and those who
manufacture products in the EU. Close scrutiny of the parallel FDA and EU rules shows the authorities
share a mutual intent to have safe, validated computer systems and qualified networks for drug and
device manufacturing.
Limited areas of Part 11 are dissimilar to Annex 11; these, for the most part, are limited to the
verification of identity and accountability of actions by authorized individuals, as well as to the reporting
to authorities. Part 11 applies to e-submissions to the FDA. Annex 11 is different from Part 11 in that it
takes a risk management approach to criticality and emphasises a systems approach to periodic
evaluations. Annex 11 is ‘how to’ while Part 11 is ‘thou shalt’ in tone. Together they form a robust and
usable guide for computer validation professionals leading their companies and clients to compliance.
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EduQuest is a global team of FDA compliance experts based near Washington, DC. Founded by former senior FDA
officials, EduQuest provides practical auditing, validation and training services to bio-pharmaceutical and medical
device companies worldwide.
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Introduction
Part 11 establishes the requirements for the technical and procedural controls
that must be met by the regulated user if the regulated user chooses to maintain
regulated records electronically. Part 11 was published in March 1997. It is strictly
applicable in the United States to all FDA program areas. Part 11 is also applicable
to manufacturers outside of the United States and its territories who wish to
gain FDA market approval. Part 11 applies to records in electronic form that are
created, modified, maintained, archived, retrieved, or transmitted under any records
requirements set forth in agency regulations. For the purpose of this analysis it is
required to consider the Part 11 Guideline (2003). This guidance is the one used by
the FDA for interpretation and to enforce the Part 11 requirements established in
the Part 11 regulation. (See Analysis of Part 11).
European Union (EU) Annex 11 covers the interpretation of the principles and
guidelines of GMP-regulated activities to computer systems. The first edition
of EU Annex 11 dates back to 1992. The current updated version was published
January 2011. EU Annex 11 is strictly applicable to the EU, although U.S.
manufacturers who wish EU market approval need to take it into account as an
applicable requirement. It applies to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for
medicinal products for human use, investigational medicinal products for human
use and veterinary medicinal products. (See Analysis of EU Annex 11.)
This article discusses how the updated Annex 11 compares with Part 11. A
matrix containing a comprehensive comparison of Annex 11, Part 11 and other
regulations/guidelines can be downloaded for free at
www.computer-systems-validation.com.
There are two primary common areas between the EU’s EMEA Annex 11 and
the FDA’s Part 11. The first common area is the electronic signatures (e-sigs)
elements within these documents. The second common area is the elements
covered in Part 11.10, Controls for Closed Systems.
Electronic Signatures
Speaking strictly about e-sigs, Part 11 goes beyond Annex 11. Back in the early
1990s, the main reason for initiating Part 11 was to approve online electronic
batch records.
E-sigs in the EU Annex 11 is covered under 11-14. The use of e-sigs to sign
electronic records (e-recs) is permitted. It is expected that e-sigs will:
• have the same impact as handwritten signatures within the boundaries of the
company (11.100(a) and (b) 11.200(a)(2));
• be permanently linked to their respective record(s) (11.70); and
• include the time and date of signature (11.50(a)(2)).
In addition, Part 11 includes the following e-sig requirements not covered in the
EU Annex 11:
Under the general requirements for e-sigs, at Sec. 11.100, before an organization
establishes, assigns, certifies, or otherwise sanctions an individual’s e-sig, the
organization shall verify the identity of the individual.
Section 11.200 provides that e-sigs not based on biometrics must employ at
least two distinct identification components such as an identification code and
password. In addition, when an individual executes a series of signings during a
single period of controlled system access, the first signing must be executed
using all electronic signature components and the subsequent signings must be
executed using at least one component designed to be used only by that individual.
When an individual executes one or more signings not performed during a single
period of controlled system access, each signing must be executed using all of the
electronic signature components.
E-sigs not based on biometrics are also required to be administered and executed
to ensure that attempted use of an individual’s e-sig by anyone else requires the
collaboration of two or more individuals. This would make it more difficult for
anyone to forge an electronic signature. E-sigs based upon biometrics must be
designed to ensure that such signatures cannot be used by anyone other than the
genuine owners.
11.300
Under Sec. 11.300, e-sigs based upon use of identification codes in combination
with passwords must employ controls to ensure security and integrity. The
controls must include the following provisions: (1) The uniqueness of each
combined identification code and password must be maintained in such a way
that no two individuals have the same combination of identification code and
password; (2) persons using identification codes and/or passwords must ensure
that they are periodically recalled or revised; (3) loss management procedures
must be followed to deauthorize lost, stolen, missing or otherwise potentially
compromised tokens, cards, and other devices that bear or generate identification
codes or password information; (4) transaction safeguards must be used to
prevent unauthorized use of passwords and/or identification codes, and to detect
and report any attempt to misuse such codes; (5) devices that bear or generate
identification codes or password information, such as tokens or cards, must be
tested initially and periodically to ensure that they function properly and have not
been altered in an unauthorized manner.
The above Part 11 e-sig descriptions were directly obtained from the Part 11
regulation preamble.
Section 11.10 describes the controls that must be designed by the regulated user
to ensure the integrity of the computer system operations and the information
stored in the closed system.
Speaking strictly about the integrity of system operations and information stored in
the system, Annex 11 goes beyond Part 11. The requirements covered by Part 11 on
the controls for closed systems are: validation, copy and protection of e-recs, audit
trails, system documentation, computer system access, and experience of people
developing/maintaining/using the computer system.
• Validation (11.10(a))
enable both the regulated user, and competent authority to have a high
level of confidence in the integrity of both the processes executed within
the controlling computer system(s) and in those processes controlled by
and/or linked to the computer system(s), within the prescribed operating
environment(s).” The FDA has maintained the requirement for validation
because the agency believes that it is necessary that software be validated to
the extent possible to adequately ensure performance.
Measures must be taken, however, to assure that backup data are exact
and complete and that they are secure from alteration, inadvertent
erasure, and loss.
One of the first references on the use of audit trails in FDA guidelines is
from the 1978 current good manufacturing practices (cGMP) preamble.
The comment on paragraph 186 states: “If a computer system has the
capability, however, to verify its output, such as with audit trials, this could be
considered as a check for accuracy.”
This is one requirement where, since 2003, the FDA has exercised
enforcement discretion. Regulated firms must still comply with all applicable
predicate rule requirements related to documentation of date, time or
sequencing of events, as well as any requirements for ensuring that changes
to records do not obscure previous entries.
Audit trails are appropriate when the regulated user is expected to create,
modify or delete regulated records during normal operation.
Part 11 security requirements listed in 11.10(d), (g) and (h), are covered in
Annex 11-7.1 and 11-12. In addition, Annex 11-4.3 calls for “An up-to-date
listing of all relevant systems and their GMP functionality (inventory) should
be available...and security measures should be available.”
In the context of the content of Part 11 and Annex 11, the main difference
between the two is that Part 11 is a regulation. The nature of a regulation
restricts the granularity of the guidance that a regulator may provide. The
regulated user will get less guidance in Part 11 than in the Annex 11. The
guidance by the regulator on Part 11 can be found in the preamble of this
regulation and in the 2003 guidance document.
Conclusion
Annex 11 has a much broader scope than Part 11. Speaking strictly about e-recs
and e-sigs, Part 11 goes beyond Annex 11, but Annex 11 works well with 21
CFR Part 11. Annex 11 can be used in different regulated environments, such
as the United States, as a regulatory guideline to comply with the regulatory
requirements applicable to computer systems supporting GxP applications.
References
(1) The regulated Good Practice entity, that is responsible for the operation of a
computerized system and the applications, files and data held thereon. PIC/S PI
011-3.
(2)FDA, 21 CFR Part 11, “Electronic Records; Electronic Signatures; Final Rule.”
Federal Register Vol. 62, No. 54, 13429, March 20, 1997.
(3) The European Medicines Agency is an agency of the European Union. The
Agency is responsible for the scientific evaluation of medicines developed by
pharmaceutical companies for use in the European Union.
(5) FDA, Part 11, Electronic Records; Electronic Signatures — Scope and
Application, 2003.
(6) Preamble - Analysis preceding a proposed or final rule that clarifies the
intention of the rulemaking and any ambiguities regarding the rule. Responses
to comments made on a proposed rule are published in the preamble preceding
the final rule. Preambles are published only in the FR and do not have a binding
effect.
(8) Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Center for Biologics Evaluation
and Research, and Center for Devices and Radiological Health Food and Drug
Administration, “Guideline on General Principles of Process Validation,” U.S. FDA,
Rockville, MD, May 1987.
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