Manufacturing

What is WHO-GMP, and why it matters when choosing a pharmaceutical manufacturer

WHO-GMP (World Health Organization Good Manufacturing Practice) is a set of internationally recognised standards that ensure pharmaceutical products are consistently produced and controlled to the quality appropriate for their intended use. For brand owners, distributors and importers, partnering with a WHO-GMP certified manufacturer is the single clearest signal that products are made safely, consistently and in compliance with regulatory expectations.

What does WHO-GMP actually cover?

GMP applies to every part of production. It covers the premises and equipment, the qualifications and training of staff, raw-material sourcing and testing, documented manufacturing procedures, in-process and finished-product quality control, batch records and traceability, storage conditions, and complaint and recall handling. The goal is simple: every batch should meet the same approved specification, every time.

Why it matters when you choose a manufacturer

• Consistency & safety: documented, validated processes reduce the risk of contamination, mix-ups and out-of-specification batches.
• Regulatory acceptance: WHO-GMP compliance (alongside a national licence such as a DRAP licence in Pakistan) is often a prerequisite for product registration in export markets.
• Export documentation: a GMP-compliant manufacturer can support a Certificate of Pharmaceutical Product (CoPP) and registration dossiers.
• Reputation protection: your brand is only as trustworthy as the quality behind it.

How to verify a manufacturer's quality credentials

When evaluating a partner, ask for evidence of GMP status and the national manufacturing licence, confirm the dosage forms they are approved to make, and ask how they handle raw-material testing, stability studies and batch release. A serious manufacturer will have a dedicated quality assurance and quality control function and will be able to walk you through its documentation and traceability.

Star Laboratories and quality

Star Laboratories (Pvt) Ltd has manufactured human and veterinary medicines under GMP standards since 1962, exporting to more than 30 countries. You can read more about our quality, certifications and compliance, explore our product range, or learn about contract and third-party manufacturing.