Q4B Evaluation and Recommendation 
of Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the 
ICH Regions 
 
Annex 9(R1) 
Tablet Friability General Chapter  
Guidance for Industry 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U. S. Department of Health and Human Services 
Food and Drug Administration 
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) 
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) 
 
September 2017 
ICH 
 
Revision 1
   
Q4B Evaluation and Recommendation of 
Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the  
ICH Regions 
 
Annex 9(R1) 
Tablet Friability General Chapter 
Guidance for Industry 
 
 
Additional copies are available from: 
 
Office of Communications, Division of Drug Information 
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research 
Food and Drug Administration 
 10001 New Hampshire Ave., Hillandale Bldg., 4th Floor 
Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002  
Phone: 855-543-3784 or 301-796-3400; Fax: 301-431-6353 
Email: druginfo@fda.hhs.gov 
https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/default.htm 
 
or 
 
Office of Communication, Outreach and Development 
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research 
 Food and Drug Administration 
10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 71, Room 3128 
Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002 
Phone: 800-835-4709 or 240-402-8010 
Email: ocod@fda.hhs.gov  
 https://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/default.htm 
 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
Food and Drug Administration 
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) 
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) 
 
September 2017 
ICH 
 
Revision 1 
   
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 
I.  INTRODUCTION (1) ....................................................................................................... 1 
II.  Q4B OUTCOME (2) ......................................................................................................... 2 
A.  Analytical Procedures (2.1) ........................................................................................................... 2 
B.  Acceptance Criteria (2.2) ............................................................................................................... 2 
III.  TIMING OF ANNEX IMPLEMENTATION (3) .......................................................... 2 
IV.  CONSIDERATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION (4) .................................................. 2 
A.  General Consideration (4.1) .......................................................................................................... 2 
B.  FDA Consideration (4.2) ............................................................................................................... 2 
C.  EU Consideration (4.3) .................................................................................................................. 3 
D.  MHLW Consideration (4.4) .......................................................................................................... 3 
E.  Canada Consideration (4.5) .......................................................................................................... 3 
V.  REFERENCES USED FOR THE Q4B EVALUATION (5) ........................................ 3 
  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
Q4B Evaluation and Recommendation of Pharmacopoeial Texts  
for Use in the ICH Regions 
 
Annex 9(R1) 
Tablet Friability General Chapter 
1
Guidance for Industry  
 
 
 
This guidance represents the current thinking of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) on 
this topic.  It does not create or confer any rights for any person and is not binding on FDA or the public.  
You can use an alternative approach if it satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and 
regulations.  To discuss an alternative approach, contact the FDA office responsible for this guidance as 
listed on the title page.  
 
 
 
I.  INTRODUCTION (1)2 
 
This annex is one in a series of guidance documents that describe the evaluations and 
recommendations by the Q4B Expert Working Group (EWG) of selected pharmacopoeial texts 
to facilitate their recognition by regulatory authorities for use as interchangeable in the ICH 
regions.  Implementation of the Q4B annexes is intended to avoid redundant testing by industry.  
For general information on the Q4B process, the reader is referred to the core guidance Q4B 
Evaluation and Recommendation of Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the ICH Regions.3 
 
This annex is the result of the Q4B process for the Tablet Friability General Chapter.  The 
proposed texts were submitted by the Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group (PDG).  This revision, 
Q4B Annex 9(R1), adds the Health Canada interchangeability statement in section IV.E (4.5). 
 
 
                                                 
1 This guidance was developed within the Expert Working Group (Quality) of the International Council for 
Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), formerly the International 
Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, and 
has been subject to consultation by the regulatory parties, in accordance with the ICH process.  This document has 
been endorsed by the ICH Steering Committee at Step 4 of the ICH process, September 2010.  At Step 4 of the 
process, the final draft is recommended for adoption to the regulatory agencies. 
 
2 Arabic numbers reflect the organizational breakdown of the document endorsed by the ICH Steering Committee at 
Step 4 of the ICH process, September 2010. 
 
3We update guidance documents periodically.  To make sure you have the most recent version of a guidance, check 
the FDA Drugs guidance page at https://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/ 
Guidances/default.htm or the FDA Biologics guidance page at 
https://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/default.htm. 
1  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
In general, FDAs guidance documents do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities.  
Instead, guidances describe the Agencys current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only 
as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited.  The use of 
the word should in Agency guidances means that something is suggested or recommended, but 
not required. 
 
 
II.  Q4B OUTCOME (2) 
 
A.  Analytical Procedures (2.1) 
 
The ICH Steering Committee, based on the evaluation by the Q4B Expert Working Group 
(EWG), recommends that the analytical procedures described in the official pharmacopoeial 
texts, Ph. Eur. 2.9.7. Friability of Uncoated Tablets, JP General Information 26. Tablet Friability 
Test, and USP <1216> Tablet Friability, can be used as interchangeable in the ICH regions.   
 
B.  Acceptance Criteria (2.2) 
 
For interchangeability, the loss of mass for a single determination should be not more than 1.0 
percent, unless otherwise specified in the dossier.  When three determinations are conducted, 
then the mean loss of mass for the three determinations should be not more than 1.0 percent, 
unless otherwise specified in the dossier. 
 
 
III.  TIMING OF ANNEX IMPLEMENTATION (3)  
 
When this annex is implemented (incorporated into the regulatory process at ICH Step 5) in a 
region, it can be used in that region.  Timing might differ for each region. 
 
 
IV.  CONSIDERATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION (4)  
 
A.  General Consideration (4.1) 
 
When sponsors or manufacturers change their existing methods to the implemented Q4B-
evaluated pharmacopoeial texts that are referenced in section II.A (2.1) of this annex, any change 
notification, variation, and/or prior approval procedures should be handled in accordance with 
established regional regulatory mechanisms pertaining to compendial changes.  
 
B.  FDA Consideration (4.2) 
 
Based on the recommendation above, and with reference to the conditions set forth in this annex, 
the pharmacopoeial texts referenced in section II.A (2.1) of this annex can be considered 
interchangeable.  However, FDA might request that a company demonstrate that the chosen 
method is acceptable and suitable for a specific material or product, irrespective of the origin of 
the method.  
2  Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 
 
C.  EU Consideration (4.3) 
 
For the European Union (EU), regulatory authorities can accept the reference in a marketing 
authorization application, renewal or variation application citing the use of the corresponding 
text from another pharmacopoeia as referenced in section II.A (2.1), in accordance with the 
conditions set out in this annex, as fulfilling the requirements for compliance with the Ph. Eur. 
Chapter 2.9.7. on the basis of the declaration of interchangeability made above.  
 
D.  MHLW Consideration (4.4) 
 
The pharmacopoeial texts referenced in section II.A (2.1) of this annex can be used as 
interchangeable in accordance with the conditions set out in this annex.  Details of 
implementation requirements will be provided in the notification by MHLW when this annex is 
implemented. 
 
E.  Canada Consideration (4.5) 
 
In Canada, any of the pharmacopoeial texts cited in section II.A (2.1) of this annex and used in 
accordance with the conditions set out in this annex can be considered interchangeable. 
 
 
V.  REFERENCES USED FOR THE Q4B EVALUATION (5) 
 
A. (5.1)  The PDG Stage 5B sign-off document:  Japanese Pharmacopoeial Forum, 
Volume 14, number 1 (March 2005). 
 
B. (5.2)  The pharmacopoeial references for Tablet Friability General Chapter for this 
annex are: 
 
1.  (5.2.1)    European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.):  Supplement 6.6 (published June 
2009, official January 2010), Friability of Uncoated Tablets (reference 
01/2010:20907). 
 
2. (5.2.2)  Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP): The JP General Information 26. Tablet 
Friability Test as it appears in the JP Fifteenth Edition (March 31, 2006, The 
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare Ministerial Notification No. 285), 
officially updated by errata, published by MHLW at 
http://www.std.pmda.go.jp/jpPUB/Data/ENG/jpdata/H201105_jp15_errata.pdf on 
November 5, 2008. 
 
3. (5.2.3)  United States Pharmacopeia (USP):   <1216> Tablet Friability, official 
in USP 32, May 1, 2009.  
 
3