SOP Guide for Pharma

Gel Manufacturing: SOP for Disposal of Expired Gel Materials – V 2.0

Gel Manufacturing: SOP for Disposal of Expired Gel Materials – V 2.0

Standard Operating Procedure for Disposal of Expired Gel Materials in Gel Manufacturing


Department Gel Manufacturing
SOP No. SOP/GM/128/2025
Supersedes SOP/GM/128/2022
Page No. Page 1 of 10
Issue Date 09/06/2025
Effective Date 11/06/2025
Review Date 09/06/2027

1. Purpose

To describe the procedure for the disposal of expired raw materials, in-process materials, and finished gel products, ensuring compliance with applicable GMP and environmental guidelines.

2. Scope

This SOP applies to all expired materials used in gel formulation and manufacturing processes including

raw materials, gel bases, intermediates, and finished products.

3. Responsibilities

  • Warehouse Executive: Identifies and segregates expired items.
  • Production Supervisor: Confirms expiration and ensures proper handover for disposal.
  • Quality Assurance: Approves and documents the disposal process.
  • EHS Officer: Ensures environmentally safe disposal procedures.

4. Accountability

Department Head – Gel Manufacturing and Head – Quality Assurance

5. Procedure

5.1 Identification and Segregation

  1. Warehouse team to conduct monthly reviews of expiry dates of raw materials and finished goods.
  2. Items reaching expiry shall be tagged as “Expired – Not for Use” with red labels.
  3. Move expired items to designated “Quarantine for Disposal” storage area.

5.2 Documentation and Approval

  1. Fill out the Expired Material Disposal Request Form (Annexure-1).
  2. QA to review and approve the request form before disposal activity begins.
  3. Each disposal must be assigned a unique reference number for traceability.

5.3 Disposal Methods

  1. Solid Raw Materials: Sent for incineration or landfilling via approved vendors.
  2. Liquid Gel Bases: Neutralized and drained per local effluent guidelines.
  3. Intermediate/Finished Gels: Blended with inert material and incinerated.
  4. Disposal must be witnessed by QA and EHS personnel.

5.4 Records and Logs

  1. Maintain a Disposal Register with product name, batch number, expiry date, and method used.
  2. Attach certificate of disposal from vendor to the respective batch file.

5.5 Vendor Management

  1. Only pollution control board-approved vendors shall be used for hazardous waste disposal.
  2. Annual audits of vendors’ disposal sites must be carried out.

5.6 Deviation Handling

  1. If disposal is delayed or improperly done, a deviation form must be raised and reviewed by QA.
  2. Corrective and Preventive Actions (CAPA) to be defined and tracked.

6. Abbreviations

  • QA: Quality Assurance
  • EHS: Environment, Health, and Safety
  • CAPA: Corrective and Preventive Action

7. Documents

  1. Expired Material Disposal Request Form – Annexure-1
  2. Disposal Register – Annexure-2
  3. Certificate of Disposal – Annexure-3

8. References

  • WHO TRS 986 Annex 2: GMP for Pharmaceutical Products
  • Pollution Control Board Guidelines

9. SOP Version

Version: 2.0

10. Approval Section

Prepared By Checked By Approved By
Signature
Date
Name
Designation Jr. Production Chemist QA Executive Head – Manufacturing
Department Gel Manufacturing Quality Assurance Manufacturing

11. Annexures

Annexure-1: Expired Material Disposal Request Form

Product/Material Name
Batch No.
Quantity
Expiry Date
Reason for Disposal Expired
Requested By
Approved By (QA)

Annexure-2: Disposal Register

Entry No. Date Material Batch Qty Disposal Method Witness (QA)
001

Annexure-3: Certificate of Disposal

To be provided by the approved external waste management agency and attached to batch record.

Revision History

Revision Date Revision No. Change Description Reason Approved By
15/03/2022 1.0 Initial release New SOP QA Head
09/06/2025 2.0 Added vendor compliance and deviation handling Annual revision QA Head
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