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Q3C – Guideline for Residual Solvents

Guideline number: Q3C(R9)
Status: Implementation (Step 5)
Adopted (Step 4): 24 January 2024

The Q3C ICH Guideline was finalised under Step 4 in July 1997, providing recommendations on the use of less toxic solvents in the manufacture of drug substances and dosage forms, and setting pharmaceutical limits for residual solvents (organic volatile impurities) in drug products.

Maintenance Process

As part of the Maintenance process, the Q3C Guideline incorporated the revision and inclusion of new Permitted Daily Exposure (PDE) levels as new toxicological data for solvents became available.

The ICH Harmonised Guideline was finalised under Step 4 in July 1997. This document covers the preclinical safety testing requirements for biotechnological products. It addresses the use of animal models of disease, determination of when genotoxicity assays and carcinogenicity studies should be performed, and the impact of antibody formation on duration of toxicology studies.

An addendum was proposed to provide clarification on S6 and an update of the following topics discussed in the original ICH S6 Guideline: species selection, study design, immunogenicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity and assessment of carcinogenic potential. The Harmonised addendum provides further complementary guidance to the S6 Guideline and helps to define the current recommendations and reduce the likelihood that substantial differences will exist among regions.

The addendum reached Step 4 of the harmonisation process in June 2011 and was integrated as part II in the core Guideline that was then renamed S6(R1).

Guideline
Other Documents

Annexes

Annexes

Guideline implementation

ANMAT, Argentina

-

Not yet implemented;
ANVISA, Brazil

-

In the process of implementation;
COFEPRIS, Mexico

-

Not yet implemented;
EC, Europe

-

Implemented; Date: 29 April 2024; Reference: EMA/CHMP/ICH/82260/2006
EDA, Egypt

-

Implemented; Date: 1 June 2024; Reference: (Guidelines for File Assessment for Pharmaceutical Products for Human Use) and (Regulatory Guide for mechanisms, procedures and rules of implementing the Decree of Egyptian Drug Authority No.343 of 2021)
FDA, United States

-

Not yet implemented;
HSA, Singapore

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Implemented; Date: 1 July 2024; Reference: These guidelines are cross-referred in M4Q and applied in the routine evaluation. See regulatory guidance.
Health Canada, Canada

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Implemented; Date: 27 June 2025; Reference: 25-102237-854
JFDA, Jordan

-

Not yet implemented;
MFDS, Republic of Korea

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Implemented; Date: 31 December 2025; Reference: 1) Korean Pharmacopoeia : Guideline of Residual Solvents Test 2) Question & Answers : Guideline of Residual Solvents Test
MHLW/PMDA, Japan

-

Implemented; Date: 15 April 2024; Reference: PSB/ PED Notification No. 0415-1
MHRA, UK

-

Not yet implemented;
NAFDAC, Nigeria

-

Not yet implemented;
NMPA, China

-

Implemented; Date: 20 June 2024; Reference: NMPA, China Announcement No. 76(2024)
SAHPRA, South Africa

-

Implemented; Date: 1 May 2003; Reference: SAHPGL-PEM-02
SFDA, Saudi Arabia

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Implemented; Date: 22 September 2011;
Swissmedic, Switzerland

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Implemented; Date: 24 January 2024; Reference: ICH Guidelines apply in Switzerland automatically upon reaching Step 4: Swissmedic Journal 05/2006, p. 504
TFDA, Chinese Taipei

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Implemented; Date: 19 June 2025; Reference: Public Announcement for ” List for ICH Guidelines Adopted.”
TITCK, Türkiye

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Implemented; Date: 11 December 2021; Reference: Q3C(R9) is referred to in Guideline on Requirements for Quality of Biological İnvestigational Medicinal Products in Clinical Trials; and Guideline on Common Technical Document (CTD)

Q+A

Q+A Status: Implementation (Step 5)