Guidance for Industry 

Biological Product Deviation 

Reporting for Licensed Manufacturers 

of Biological Products Other than 

Blood and Blood Components 

Additional copies of this guidance document are available from the Office of Communication, 

Training and Manufacturers Assistance, (HFM-40), 1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 200N, Rockville, 

MD 20852-1448, or by calling 1-800-835-4709 or 301-827-1800, or from the Internet at 

http://www.fda.gov/cber/guidelines.htm. 

or 

Office of Training and Communication, Division of Drug Information, HFD-240, Center for 

Drug Evaluation and Research, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, or by calling 301- 

827-4573, or from the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/cder/guidance/index.htm. 

For questions on the content of this guidance, contact (CBER) Office of Compliance and 

Biologics Quality at 301-827-6220 or by email at bp_deviations@fda.hhs.gov; or (CDER) 

Division of Compliance Risk Management and Surveillance, at 301-827-8920. 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 

Food and Drug Administration 

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research 

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research 

October 2006
Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

Table of Contents 

I. INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 1

II. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................... 1

III. GUIDANCE....................................................................................................................... 3

A. Who Must Report? (21 CFR 600.14(a)).............................................................. 3 

Examples of who must report: ................................................................................ 4 

B. What Do I Report? (21 CFR 600.14(b)).............................................................. 6 

Biological Product Deviation Reporting Flow Chart for Licensed Manufacturers 

of Biological Products Other than Blood and Blood Components......................... 7 

C. When Do I Report? (21 CFR 600.14(c))............................................................ 11 

D. How and Where Do I Report? (21 CFR 600.14(d) and (e)) ............................ 12 

IV. EXAMPLES OF REPORTABLE AND NON-REPORTABLE EVENTS BY 

MANUFACTURING SYSTEM .................................................................................... 13

A. Incoming Material .............................................................................................. 13 

B. Process Controls.................................................................................................. 14 

C. Testing.................................................................................................................. 15 

D. Labeling ............................................................................................................... 16 

E. Product Specifications........................................................................................ 16 

F. Quality Control and Distribution...................................................................... 17 

V. REFERENCES................................................................................................................ 18

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Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

Guidance for Industry 

Biological Product Deviation Reporting for Licensed Manufacturers 

of Biological Products Other than Blood and Blood Components

This guidance represents the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) current thinking on this 

topic. It does not create or confer any rights, for or on any person and does not operate to bind 

FDA or the public. You can use an alternate approach if the approach satisfies the requirements 

of the applicable statutes and regulations. If you want to discuss an alternative approach, 

contact the appropriate FDA staff. If you cannot identify the appropriate FDA staff, call the 

appropriate number listed on the title page of this guidance.

I. INTRODUCTION 

This guidance document provides you, a licensed manufacturer of biological products other than 

blood and blood components, with the FDA’s current thinking related to the biological product 

deviation (BPD) reporting requirements. This guidance document finalizes the draft guidance of 

the same title dated August 2001. 

FDA’s guidance documents, including this guidance, do not establish legally enforceable 

responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the FDA’s 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. BACKGROUND 

In the Federal Register of November 7, 2000 (65 FR 66621), we, FDA, issued a final rule 

amending the regulation requiring licensed manufacturers of biological products to report events 

that represent unexpected or unforeseeable events or deviations from current good manufacturing 

practice (CGMP), applicable regulations, applicable standards, or established specifications that 

may affect the safety, purity, or potency of a product (Title 21 Code of Federal Regulations (21 

CFR 600.14).1

The amended regulation at 21 CFR 600.14, effective May 7, 2001: 

• Replaces the term “error and accident” with “biological product deviation”; 

• More clearly describes the types of events that you must report to us; 

• Limits reporting to those events that may affect the safety, purity, or potency of 

distributed products; 

 

1 See separate guidance for reporting of biological product deviations by licensed manufacturers of blood and blood 

components, unlicensed registered blood establishments, and transfusion services (Guidance for Industry: Biological 

Product Deviation Reporting for Blood and Plasma Establishments, October 2006). This guidance document is 

available through the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/cber/guidances.htm or through CBER’s Office of 

Communication, Training, and Manufacturers Assistance.

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Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

• Establishes a reporting time frame of 45 days from the date the event was discovered. 

Under 21 CFR 600.14, you are required to report certain events associated with the 

manufacturing, to include testing, processing, packing, labeling, or storage, or with the holding 

or distribution of a licensed biological product, which may affect the safety, purity, or potency of 

a distributed licensed product. Safety, purity, and potency are defined in 21 CFR 600.3(p), (r), 

and (s). 

Under 21 CFR 600.14, you should submit reports as soon as possible, but you are required to 

submit reports at a date not to exceed 45 calendar days from the date of discovery of information 

reasonably suggesting a reportable event has occurred. To facilitate reporting, we have 

developed a standardized reporting format that you may submit electronically, or in paper form 

by mail. 

The amended regulation does not change any of the requirements in 21 CFR Part 211 or Part 820 

for conducting investigations of any unexplained discrepancy or the failure of a lot or unit to 

meet any of its specifications. Those regulations require you to evaluate and investigate, as 

appropriate, unexplained discrepancies and failures to meet specifications, and to maintain 

complaint records, including records of investigations and follow-up (21 CFR 211.192, 211.198, 

820.90, and 820.100). We recommend that your procedures for the investigation of any 

unexplained discrepancy or the failure of a lot or unit to meet any of its specifications include 

provisions for: 

-

-

-

-

a timely investigation; 

an appropriate corrective action plan to prevent recurrence; 

procedures to gain control of unsuitable products in a timely manner; 

appropriate disposition of all affected products (in-date and expired). 

On June 30, 2003, FDA transferred some of the therapeutic biological products that had been 

reviewed and regulated by the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) to the 

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). CDER now has regulatory responsibility, 

including premarket review and continuing oversight, over the transferred products. In 

regulating the products assigned to them, CBER and CDER will consult with each other 

regularly and whenever necessary. 

Questions about the assignment of specific products to CBER or CDER should be directed to the 

center jurisdiction officers at: 

• CDER Ombudsman: 301-594-5480 

• CBER Ombudsman: 301-827-0379 

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Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

III. GUIDANCE 

A. Who Must Report? (21 CFR 600.14(a)) 

Under 21 CFR 600.14, the manufacturer who holds the biologics license and who had 

control over the product when the deviation from current good manufacturing practice 

(CGMP), applicable regulations, applicable standards, or established specifications, or an 

unexpected or unforeseeable event (such a deviation or unexpected, unforeseen event is 

referred to hereafter as an “event”) that may affect the safety, purity, or potency occurred, 

must submit a report. This reporting requirement applies to licensed manufacturers of 

biological products including vaccines, allergenic products, therapeutics, plasma 

derivatives, and in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) (e.g., test kits or reagents used for donor 

screening). 

We define “control” in 21 CFR 600.3(ii) as having responsibility for maintaining the 

continued safety, purity, and potency of the product and for compliance with applicable 

product and establishment standards and for compliance with current good manufacturing 

practices (CGMP). 

If you are a plasma fractionator or IVD manufacturer that collects Source Plasma or other 

blood components to be used as your source material for further manufacture into a 

finished product, you are subject to reporting under either 21 CFR 600.14 or 21 CFR 

606.171, based on when the event occurs. Under 21 CFR 606.171, you are required to 

report events that occur during the manufacture of such source material. Under 21 CFR 

600.14, you are required to report events that occur after the manufacture of such source 

material and during the manufacture of a finished biological product that is licensed (e.g., 

Immune Globulin Intravenous (Human), Reagent Red Blood Cells). 

Under 21 CFR 600.14, if you manufacture unlicensed source material (except for blood 

or blood components) and do not use that material in a finished product, you are not 

required to report events that occur during manufacturing of the unlicensed source 

material. You may, of course, report any events to the consignees of the material. 

If you manufacture a finished licensed product in which its unlicensed source material 

was subject to an event in manufacturing, under 21 CFR 600.14, you must report the 

event if the safety, purity, or potency of the final distributed product may be affected. 

The use of unsuitable source material would represent an unexpected or unforeseeable 

event as referenced in 21 CFR 600.14(b)(1)(ii). 

You are not required to report events under 21 CFR 600.14, if you manufacture an 

unlicensed product that is subject to an investigational new drug (IND) application. If 

you manufacture a licensed product that is also being studied under an IND, you are 

required to report events under 21 CFR 600.14. 

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Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

Cooperative Manufacturing Arrangements

Occasionally, a manufacturer establishes a contract with another entity to perform some 

or all of the manufacture of a product. Some common manufacturing steps performed 

under contract include testing, filling, storage, and distribution. If you contract out any 

manufacturing step, for the purposes of 21 CFR 600.14 and as described in this guidance 

document, that step is performed under your control. Under 21 CFR 600.14(a), you must 

establish, maintain and follow a procedure for receiving information from that contract 

manufacturing facility on all deviations, complaints, and adverse events that may affect 

your product. 

If you are a contract manufacturer (i.e., if, under contract, you perform a step in 

manufacturing for another facility), you must conduct such manufacturing in accordance 

with CGMP (21 USC 351(a)(2)(B)), but you are not required to report BPDs to us. 

Divided manufacturing is an arrangement in which two or more manufacturers, each 

registered with us in accordance with Part 207 or 607 and licensed to manufacture a 

specific biological product in its entirety, participate jointly in the manufacture of the 

product. 

Shared manufacturing is an arrangement in which two or more manufacturers are 

licensed and responsible for different, specific aspects of the manufacture of a product, 

but neither is licensed for all aspects of the product manufacturing. A participating 

manufacturer may perform a particular manufacturing step and/or contract with another 

entity or entities to do so and assume responsibility for compliance with the applicable 

product and establishment standards as described for an applicant in 21 CFR 600.3(t). A 

participating manufacturer that performs (or is responsible for the performance of) 

significant product manufacturing is considered eligible for separate licensure under this 

arrangement. 

If you are involved in divided or shared manufacturing arrangements you are responsible 

for reporting events that occur during the manufacturing operation(s) while the product is 

under your control. 

Examples of who must report:

1. EVENT 

You are a vaccine manufacturer who contracts with another establishment 

(contract filler) to perform the filling operation for your vaccine product. The 

filling operation was not performed in accordance with written production and 

process control procedures provided by you and the product fails to meet 

applicable specifications, which may affect the safety, purity, or potency of the 

product. 

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Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

REPORTING 

Under 21 CFR 211.192 and 211.198, the contract filler must perform an 

investigation. The contract filler would provide you with the details of the 

deviation that occurred during the filling process. The contract filler is NOT 

required to report to us. 

Under 21 CFR 600.14(a), you must establish, maintain, and follow a procedure 

for receiving information from the contract filler about deviations concerning the 

filling operation. Under 21 CFR 600.14(b), you must submit a report to us if you 

distributed the improperly filled product. We recommend that you assure that the 

contract filler performed an adequate investigation. 

2. EVENT 

You are a licensed test kit manufacturer who distributed an HBsAg test kit to a 

consignee. The consignee, a blood establishment, stored the product at an 

unacceptable temperature, which may affect the safety, purity, or potency of the 

product. 

REPORTING 

You are NOT required to report to us or perform an investigation, since the 

product was not in your control at the time the event occurred. 

Under 21 CFR 606.100(c), 211.192 and 211.198, the consignee is required to 

perform an investigation if they used the test kit for blood donor testing. Under 

21 CFR 606.171, the consignee would submit a report to us, if they distributed 

blood components that were tested using the improperly stored test kit (see 

footnote 1). 

3. EVENT 

You are a manufacturer who received glass vials and stoppers from a vendor. 

You determined that the vials and stoppers did not conform with all appropriate 

written procedures, which may affect the safety, purity, or potency of the final 

product. 

 REPORTING 

We recommend that you notify the vendor so the vendor can investigate the 

deviation. The vendor is NOT required to report to us. 

You are NOT required to report to us unless you used the unsuitable vials and 

stoppers and distributed the final product. 

4. EVENT 

A Source Plasma establishment collected and tested a unit of Source Plasma and 

shipped it to you, a fractionator. The plasma establishment then discovered that 

the viral marker testing was incorrectly performed and subsequently retested a 

reserve sample of the unit. The unit retested as positive for a viral marker. 

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Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

REPORTING 

Under 21 CFR 600.14, you are required to submit a report if you used the 

improperly tested plasma in the manufacture of a licensed biological product and 

distributed the final product, because the safety, purity, or potency of the final 

product may be affected. We recommend that you establish a procedure for 

receiving information from the Source Plasma establishment about deviations. 

Under 21 CFR 606.100(c), the plasma establishment must perform an 

investigation of the improper testing and release of the unit. Under 21 CFR 

606.171, the plasma establishment is required to submit a report to us (see 

footnote 1). 

5. EVENT 

You are a licensed manufacturer who distributed a product under appropriate 

shipping conditions to a distributor (not a licensed manufacturer of the product). 

The distributor shipped the product to a pharmacy. The product was not 

appropriately maintained under the labeled storage or shipping conditions, either 

at the pharmacy or at the distributor. 

REPORTING 

You are not required to submit a report because the event occurred after the 

product left your control. The distributor would only be required to report if the 

distributor were licensed. 

B. What Do I Report? (21 CFR 600.14(b)) 

Under 21 CFR 600.14(b), you must report any event and any information relevant to the 

event associated with the manufacturing, to include testing, processing, packing, labeling, 

or storage, or with the holding or distribution, of a licensed biological product, if that 

event meets all the following criteria: 

(1) Either; 

(i) Represents a deviation from current good manufacturing practice, 

applicable regulations, applicable standards, or established specifications 

that may affect the safety, purity, or potency of that product; or 

(ii) Represents an unexpected or unforeseeable event that may affect the 

safety, purity, or potency of that product; and 

(2) Occurs in your facility or a facility under contract with you; and 

(3) Involves a distributed biological product. 

An adequate procedure for reporting would include steps for determining whether or not 

an event is one for which a report must be submitted. The decision to report should be 

based on whether the event had the potential to affect the safety, purity, or potency of a 

product. The terms safety, purity, and potency are defined in 21 CFR 600.3(p), (r), and 

(s), respectively. 

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Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

Retrieval and Consignee Notification

You are not required to submit a BPD report simply because you failed to follow your 

own internal procedures for retrieval or notification (e.g., you do not have to submit a 

report if you did not notify consignees within the time frame prescribed in your 

procedures). The failure to follow retrieval or notification procedures does not, by itself, 

affect the safety, purity, or potency of the product. However, under 21 CFR 600.14(b), 

you must submit a report if the underlying reason for the retrieval or notification meets 

the reporting criteria found in Section III.B. In that case, the report must describe the 

event that may have affected the safety, purity, or potency of the distributed product and 

should describe the failure to follow procedures. For example, you distributed a product 

that did not meet specifications, which may affect the safety, purity, or potency of the 

product. Your standard operating procedure (SOP) requires that you notify consignees of 

the product within 5 days, and you notified the consignees 2 weeks after discovering the 

event. You are required to report the improper release of the product. We recommend 

that you also include in the report that consignee notification was not in accordance with 

your SOP. 

You are not required to submit a report: 

1. When you did not distribute potentially affected products, regardless of the 

event. 

2. When you determined, prior to distributing the product, that the event did not 

actually affect the safety, purity, or potency of a product. 

3. When you detected an event and, prior to distribution, you made appropriate 

corrections, or reprocessed or reworked the product following appropriate 

procedures (which may require FDA approval). 

4. If your report would simply state that you were late in reporting an event to 

us. 

5. When there is a minor recordkeeping deviation that would not affect the 

safety, purity, or potency of the product, such as the omission of a date of 

review. 

6. If the product was not a US licensed product. 

While the above examples would not be reportable under 21 CFR 600.14, the events may 

constitute deviations from the regulations, which we would assess during inspection. 

Biological Product Deviation Reporting Flow Chart for Licensed Manufacturers of 

Biological Products Other than Blood and Blood Components

You may use the following flow chart to help you determine if you are required to report 

an event to us. 

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Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

(1) Was the event 

associated with 

“manufacturing” or with 

holding/distribution?

No Action under 

21 CFR 600.14

(2a) Was there a deviation 

that may affect the safety, 

purity, or potency of a 

product?

(2b) Was there an 

unexpected event that may 

affect the safety, purity, or 

potency of a product?

Record, evaluate, and 

investigate per 21 CFR 

211.192, & 211.198, or 

820.90 & 820.100

(3) Did it occur 

in your facility?

(3) Did it occur in 

a facility under 

contract with you?

You may notify 

responsible party

(4) Did you have control 

over the product when the 

event occurred?

You may notify the 

manufacturer with 

control over the product

(5) Was the product 

distributed?

Record, evaluate, and 

investigate per 21 CFR 

211.192, & 211.198, or 

820.90 & 820.100

Record, evaluate, and 

investigate per 21 CFR 

211.192, & 211.198, 

or 820.90 & 820.100

We recommend that you evaluate 

the need for product retrieval or 

consignee notification per 

21 CFR, Part 7

Submit report to CBER 

or CDER per 21 CFR 

600.14

NO

NO NO

NO

NO

NO

YES

YES

YES

YES

YES

NO

Biological Product Deviation Flow Chart for Licensed Manufacturers of

Biological Products Other than Blood and Blood Components

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Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

The following questions correspond to the flow chart: 

(1) Was the event associated with “manufacturing” or holding or distribution as they are 

described in the regulation? 

As described in 21 CFR 600.14(b), manufacturing includes testing, processing, packing, 

labeling, or storage. In addition you must report events associated with the holding or 

distribution, of a licensed biological product. 

Under 21 CFR 600.14, you are not required to report events that occur after you distribute the 

product, including those that occur due to misuse or mishandling of the product by the user, such 

as administration errors. 

Other provisions require you to report adverse experiences. Manufacturers of biological drug 

products are required to report adverse experiences in accordance with 21 CFR 600.80; in 

addition, certain vaccine adverse experiences are reportable under the Vaccine Adverse Event 

Reporting System (VAERS) (42 USC 300aa-25; see also guidance on 

www.fda.gov/cber/vaers/vaers.htm). Device manufacturers are subject to Medical Device 

Reporting in accordance with 21 USC 360i and 21 CFR Part 803. If a reportable adverse 

experience occurs in connection with a reportable deviation or unexpected or unforeseeable 

event in manufacturing, you must submit both an adverse experience/event report and a 

biological product deviation report. 

(2a) Was there a deviation that may affect the safety, purity, or potency of a product? 

A deviation that may affect the safety, purity, or potency of a product could include any change 

from the validated manufacturing process that prevents a product from meeting all CGMP 

requirements, applicable standards, and established specifications. The CGMP and applicable 

regulations are currently found in 21 CFR Parts 210, 211, 600 - 680, and 820. Standards refer to 

specifications and procedures applicable to the manufacture or release of products, which are 

established in the biologics license application and designed to help ensure the continued safety, 

purity, and potency of such products. Specifications refer to quality standards (i.e., tests, 

analytical procedures, and acceptance criteria) that confirm the quality of products and other 

materials used in the production of a product. 

(2b) Was there an unexpected or unforeseeable event that may affect the safety, purity, or 

potency of a product? 

An unexpected or unforeseeable event is one in which, despite the fact that you followed all 

required procedures, something occurred that may affect the safety, purity, or potency of a 

product. This may be due to information that you did not have at the time of manufacturing. 

Examples of unexpected or unforeseeable events in which the safety, purity, or potency of the 

product may be affected include the following: 

• After you distributed the product, your materials vendor informed you that materials 

used in the manufacturing process, such as components, drug product containers, or 

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Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

closures, did not meet all written specifications, and you could not have detected the 

deviation during your routine incoming material qualification procedures. 

• After you distributed the product, your supplier of source or raw material informed 

you that the material did not meet all written specifications, and you could not have 

detected the deviation during your routine incoming material qualification 

procedures. 

If an event occurred, but could not have affected the safety, purity or potency of a product, you 

must record, evaluate, and investigate it in accordance with 21 CFR 211.192 and 211.198 for 

drug products and 21 CFR 820.90 and 820.100 for device products, but you do not need to report 

to us. 

Most deviations and discrepancies should be identified during your manufacturing process or as 

part of your QC (Quality Control) activities and prior to the distribution of products. However,

under 21 CFR 600.14, if you discover an event after you distributed a product and the safety, 

purity, or potency of the product may have been affected because of the event, you must report 

the event regardless of whether consignee notification or product retrieval is necessary. You 

must report the event even if you ultimately determined, through investigation, that the safety, 

purity, or potency of the product was not actually affected.

For example, if you distributed a product that was not tested for all established specifications, 

you must report that to FDA, even if you subsequently tested the product and found it to be 

acceptable. 

If you discovered an event prior to distribution of a product and 

determined that the event did not affect the safety, purity, or potency of the product, 

or

-

-

-

reprocessed or reworked the product in accordance with appropriate procedures 

(which may require FDA approval), or 

otherwise corrected the problem (such as performed necessary testing if it is 

discovered that release testing was not performed), 

you are not required to report under 21 CFR 600.14. 

For example, if you discovered a deviation in testing prior to the distribution of a product and the 

investigation determines the testing was invalid, and you appropriately retested the product and 

found it to be acceptable, you are not required to report to us under 21 CFR 600.14. 

(3) Did it occur in your facility or in a facility under contract with you? 

You are required to submit a report if the event occurs within your facility or a facility under 

contract with you, such as a testing laboratory or contract filler. Under 21 CFR 600.14(a) and 

(b), you must report events that occur at the contractor and you must establish, maintain, and 

follow a procedure for receiving information from the contract facility on all deviations, 

complaints, and adverse events concerning your potentially affected product. 

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Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

If you are a contract manufacturer, such as a testing laboratory or contract filler, who is not a 

licensed manufacturer of the product, and an event occurs within your facility, you would notify 

the licensed manufacturer with control over the product (the entity you are under contract with), 

if the event may effect the safety, purity, or potency of the product. You are not responsible for 

reporting the event to us. 

If you, a licensed manufacturer, detect an event that occurred with respect to a licensed product 

produced by another licensed manufacturer, you are not required to report to us. For example, if 

you receive licensed bulk material that was shipped under improper conditions, we recommend 

that you notify that manufacturer, who would be responsible for reporting to us, if appropriate. 

You are not required to report to us unless you used the unacceptable bulk material for 

manufacturing into a final product and distributed that product.

(4) Did you have control over the product when the event occurred? 

You have control over the product if you have overall responsibility for: 

• maintaining the continued safety, purity, and potency of the product, 

• compliance with applicable product and establishment standards, and 

• compliance with current good manufacturing practices. 

You are responsible for reporting if you had control over the product when the event occurred 

and you distributed the affected product. 

You have control over the product if you are the license holder and you contract with another 

entity to perform all or some of the manufacture of a product. Under 21 CFR 600.14(a)(1), you 

must establish, maintain, and follow a procedure for receiving information from the contract 

manufacturing facility on all deviations, complaints and adverse events. The contract 

manufacturer is responsible for documenting, recording, evaluating, and investigating the event 

under 21 CFR 211.192 and 211.198 for drug products, or 21 CFR 820.90 and 820.100 for device 

products. The contract manufacturer is not responsible for reporting to us. 

(5) Was the product distributed? 

We define “distributed” in 21 CFR 600.3(hh) as meaning that the biological product has left the 

control of the licensed manufacturer. 

If you distributed the product, we recommend that you also assess the need for product retrieval 

or consignee notification in accordance with 21 CFR Part 7. You must document, evaluate, and 

investigate the event in accordance with 21 CFR 211.192 and 211.198 for drug products, or 21 

CFR 820.90 and 820.100 for device products, regardless of whether you distributed the product. 

C. When Do I Report? (21 CFR 600.14(c)) 

Under 21 CFR 600.14(c), you should report a biological product deviation as soon as 

possible, but you must report at a date not to exceed 45 calendar days from the date that 

you, your agent, or another person who performs a manufacturing, holding, or 

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Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

distribution step under your control, acquire information reasonably suggesting that a 

reportable event has occurred. You acquire such information when any employee of your 

facility, not just those involved in quality assurance or quality control, learns about the 

event. As soon as you acquire information, you should make an assessment of whether 

the event had the potential to affect the safety, purity, and potency of products and 

determine the status of the products (i.e., whether they have been distributed or need to be 

quarantined). 

If you contract with a facility to perform a manufacturing step and an event occurs at the 

contractor, the time period for reporting starts when your contractor learns about the 

event. 

D. How and Where Do I Report? (21 CFR 600.14(d) and (e)) 

Under 21 CFR 600.14(d) and (e), you must use Form FDA-3486 to report BPDs. You 

must submit the completed report either electronically through CBER’s web site at 

http://www.fda.gov/cber/biodev/biodev.htm or by mail to: 

Director, Office of Compliance and Biologics Quality (HFM-600) 

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research 

1401 Rockville Pike, Suite 200N 

Rockville, Maryland 20852-1448 

Reports involving biological therapeutic products that have been assigned to CDER 

should be sent to: 

Division of Compliance Risk Management and Surveillance (HFD-330) 

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research 

Food and Drug Administration 

5600 Fishers Lane 

Rockville, MD 20857 

If the event occurred at your contract manufacturer, we recommend that you include in 

the BPD Report the details reported to you by the contract manufacturer regarding the 

event. 

Complete a separate report for each event. If an event involves more than one product, 

you only need to complete one report listing all distributed products affected. 

The Form FDA-3486 and instructions for completing both formats may be found at 

http://www.fda.gov/cber/biodev/biodev.htm 

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Contains Nonbinding Recommendations 

IV. EXAMPLES OF REPORTABLE AND NON-REPORTABLE EVENTS BY 

MANUFACTURING SYSTEM 

We categorize BPD reports according to the manufacturing system where the event occurred. 

Following the bulleted list, each system is explained further and we provide examples of both 

reportable and non-reportable events. An event may be the result of a failure within a variety of 

systems. It is important for you to know both where the event occurred and why your product 

was allowed to continue through the manufacturing process and distributed, so that you can 

implement appropriate corrective action to prevent recurrence. 

•

•

•

•

•

•

An incoming material specification event occurs during the receipt and acceptance of 

incoming materials (See Section IV. A.). 

A process control event occurs during the manufacturing process (See Section IV. B.). 

A testing event occurs during in-process or release testing (See Section IV. C.). 

A product labeling event occurs during the labeling process, which includes assuring the 

labeling information is correct, printing the label, and applying the label to the product 

(See Section IV. D.). 

A product specification event involves a product that failed to meet one or more of its 

final product specifications, at the time of release or at anytime during the labeled dating 

period (See Section IV. E.). 

A quality control and distribution event occurs during the quality control approval 

process or during distribution of the final product (See Section IV. F.). 

The following examples of events are not all-inclusive and do not represent all variations that 

may occur. The examples include deviations from CGMP, applicable regulations, applicable 

standards, and established specifications, in addition to unexpected or unforeseeable events. Not 

all of these examples will necessarily apply to you or to all products you manufacture. Whether 

or not the examples apply to you depends on your manufacturing operations and procedures. 

Under 21 CFR 211.192 and 211.198 for drug products and 21 CFR 820.90 and 820.100 for 

device products, all events must be investigated. 

A. Incoming Material 

Incoming materials include, but are not limited to, source material, raw material, 

components, containers, and closures used in manufacturing. An event involving 

incoming material occurs when you receive, accept, and manufacture licensed products 

from incoming materials that are defective, do not meet established specifications, or 

otherwise are determined to be unsuitable, which you did not discover until after you 

distributed the product. This includes receiving information from the material supplier 

that the product was manufactured using non-conforming material. 

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Under 21 CFR 600.14(b), you must submit a report when there is an event (a deviation or 

unexpected or unforeseeable event) involving incoming material specifications that may 

affect the safety, purity, or potency of a licensed product you distributed. Examples of 

reportable events associated with incoming material specifications may include: 

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Containers or closures (e.g., stoppers) that did not conform to all appropriate 

written specifications or were found to be defective were used in manufacturing. 

Source or raw material that did not meet specifications or was otherwise found to 

be unsuitable was used in manufacturing. For example, the source or raw 

material: 

Was contaminated with microorganisms, such as bacteria or mold (if 

required to be sterile); 

Contained chemical impurities that exceed specifications; 

Contained precipitate (specification not met); 

Was subject to a testing deviation (required testing not performed or 

performed incorrectly); 

Tested positive for viral marker (e.g., Source Plasma, recovered plasma); 

or 

Was stored or shipped at incorrect temperature (e.g., lack of controlled 

shipment temperature for sensitive material). 

Component that did not meet specification was used for testing or processing 

(e.g., used out of date components). 

DO NOT REPORT: 

Material did not meet appropriate written specifications and was rejected and not 

used in manufacturing. 

B. Process Controls 

Process control events occur during the manufacturing process, which you did not 

discover until after you distributed the product. 

Under 21 CFR 600.14(b), you must submit a report when there is an event (a deviation or 

unexpected or unforeseeable event) during the manufacturing process that may affect the 

safety, purity, or potency of a licensed product you distributed. Examples of reportable 

events associated with the manufacturing process may include: 

• Manufacturing or processing was performed using incorrect parameters, such as 

Incorrect temperature; 

Filling was not performed according to procedures; or 

Aseptic processing was not performed according to procedures. 

Bulk or intermediate product was stored improperly, such as 

At the incorrect temperature; or 

For an excessive time. 

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Manufacturing process was interrupted (e.g., due to a power outage). 

*Sanitization procedures were not performed or performed incorrectly. 

*Media fill failure or media fill performed incorrectly. 

Equipment was not performing properly in accordance with the written 

procedures. 

Equipment failure. 

Bulk material did not meet specifications or was otherwise unsuitable due to: 

Contamination with microorganisms, such as bacteria or mold (if required to 

be sterile); 

Chemical impurities exceeding specification; or 

 Presence of precipitate (specification not met). 

In-process specification not met. 

* If an event occurs in a process control operation that you perform only 

periodically, your report should identify all potentially affected products distributed 

since last successful operation. 

C. Testing 

Testing events include those that occur during testing, which you did not discover until 

after you distributed the product. This includes testing that was not performed or was 

performed incorrectly. It includes situations where there is no record of testing and the 

safety, purity, or potency of the product may be affected. This also includes testing 

performed using incorrect or inappropriate (e.g., expired) samples, reagents, or media. 

Under 21 CFR 600.14(b), you must submit a report when there is an event (a deviation or 

unexpected or unforeseeable event) during testing that may affect the safety, purity, or 

potency of a licensed product you distributed. Examples of reportable events during 

testing may include: 

Safety, purity, potency, sterility, identity, or stability testing was 

Not performed or not performed at required interval; or 

Performed incorrectly. 

There was no documentation of testing performed. 

DO NOT REPORT: 

Testing not performed or not documented, but the lack of testing or 

documentation was discovered prior to distribution; product distributed only after 

completion of testing and documentation; or 

Testing performed incorrectly, but investigation determines the testing was 

invalid and testing appropriately repeated and found acceptable prior to 

distribution. 

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D. Labeling 

Labeling events include those that occur during the labeling process, which you did not 

discover until after you distributed the product. Labeling events include incorrect, 

missing or misleading information on any labeling pertaining to the product, including 

the unit label, the package insert, carton labels, and any other labeling accompanying the 

product. 

Under 21 CFR 600.14(b), you must submit a report when there is an event (a deviation or 

unexpected or unforeseeable event) during labeling that may affect the safety, purity, or 

potency of a licensed product you distributed. Examples of reportable events associated 

with labeling may include: 

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Package insert was incorrect, not the current approved version, or not included 

with product. 

Information was missing or incorrect, such as product type, lot number, storage 

temperature, concentration or volume, administration route. 

Product was labeled with an extended expiration date, even if the product is 

expected to be used within the correct dating period. 

Product was missing expiration date. 

DO NOT REPORT: 

Product was labeled with a shortened expiration date, provided the date was not 

shortened because the product may not meet its specifications through the entire 

approved dating period. 

E. Product Specifications 

Product specification events involve a product that does not meet its specifications, either 

at the time of distribution or at any time during the labeled shelf life of the product, which 

you did not discover until after you distributed the product. Product may have been 

inappropriately or incorrectly analyzed during release testing, or may have deteriorated 

over time. These events may be discovered during an audit, during investigation into a 

consumer complaint, or during stability testing. 

Under 21 CFR 600.14(b), you must submit a report when there is an event (a deviation or 

unexpected or unforeseeable event) associated with product specifications that may affect 

the safety, purity or potency of a licensed product you distributed. Examples of 

reportable events associated with product specifications may include: 

Final product specifications were not met, such as 

Potency; 

Moisture content; or 

Preservative content. 

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Final product was unsuitable, such as 

Contaminated with microorganisms, such as bacteria or mold (if required to 

be sterile); 

Chemical impurities exceed specification; 

Contained precipitate (specification not met); or 

Hemolyzed (reagent red blood cells). 

• Component packaged with final product failed to meet specification, such as 

- Bacteriostatic Water for Injection; or 

- Diluent. 

Stability testing failed during the labeled dating period and under the labeled 

temperature storage conditions. 

DO NOT REPORT: 

Stability testing performed for conditions beyond those approved, such as a higher 

storage temperature or extended expiration date, and product did not pass more 

rigorous tests. 

F. Quality Control and Distribution 

Events in quality control and distribution are those in which 

Quality control procedures were not followed or not performed; or 

Distribution of product which failed to meet release criteria or was found 

unacceptable, for example: 

- Product was inappropriately distributed due to a failure in the distribution 

system; 

- Product was distributed prior to determining whether the product was suitable 

for distribution; 

- Events associated with the physical distribution of the product; 

- Additional information reveals product to be unacceptable. 

Under 21 CFR 600.14(b), you must submit a report when there is an event (a deviation or 

unexpected or unforeseeable event) in the distribution process that may affect the safety, 

purity, or potency of a licensed product you distributed. Examples of reportable events 

associated with distribution, including quality control/quality assurance, may include: 

Product was distributed prior to completion of all required testing; 

Product was distributed prior to resolution of a manufacturing problem that may 

affect the safety, purity, or potency of the product; 

Product was distributed prior to release by the quality control unit; 

Product was released prior to validation of manufacturing process; 

Product was outdated at time of distribution; 

Product was shipped at incorrect temperature or with lack of assurance that 

controlled temperatures were maintained during shipment when controlled storage 

is required; or 

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Product under quarantine was distributed. 

DO NOT REPORT: 

Product was shipped to the incorrect facility; 

Product is properly labeled but the shipping invoice differs from the actual 

shipment, (e.g., 10 vials listed on the invoice, but only 9 vials contained in the 

shipment); or 

Customer order was filled incorrectly (wrong product, wrong amount), provided 

the product was labeled appropriately.

V. REFERENCES 

1. Biological Products; Reporting of Errors and Accidents in Manufacturing; Proposed Rule (62 

FR 49642, September 23, 1997). 

2. Biological Products: Reporting of Biological Product Deviations in Manufacturing; Final 

Rule (65 FR 66621, November 7, 2000). 

3. Guidance for Industry; Biological Product Deviation Reporting for Blood and Plasma 

Establishments (October 2006). 

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