# A guide to defective medicinal products

Source: https://www.keypedia.com/records/uk_mhra_guidance/uk-mhra/6406842a-845a-468a-ba5d-feaa07d9011a
Type: Guidance
Published: July 21, 2005
Updated: February 16, 2026

> The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) provides this guidance to outline the protocols for reporting and managing defective medicinal products and substances used in their manufacture or packaging. This regulatory framework is designed to protect public health by ensuring that any quality defects in human medicines are identified and addressed promptly through the Defective Medicines Report Centre (DMRC). The scope of this guidance specifically includes issues related to the physical or chemical integrity of a product, its ingredients, or its container. It is important to note that this guidance does not apply to all clinical incidents. Specifically, it excludes errors or near-miss incidents, adverse drug reactions, and quality issues involving medical devices or veterinary medicinal products, which are governed by alternative regulatory pathways. For pharmaceutical companies and manufacturers, the required actions involve monitoring for quality inconsistencies and reporting suspected defects to the MHRA for assessment. This oversight ensures that potentially harmful products are identified before reaching patients or are recalled effectively if already distributed. By following these protocols, stakeholders maintain the safety and efficacy of the UK pharmaceutical supply chain, ensuring that all medicinal substances adhere to strict quality standards throughout their lifecycle.

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## Content

This guidance is on defective medicines and substances used in their manufacture or packaging which may also be defective. The guidance doesn’t cover: errors or near-miss incidents adverse drug reactions quality defects in or incidents involving medical devices quality defects in or incidents involving veterinary medicinal products

## Attachments

- [A guide to defective medicinal products](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/698f286b43eb912f2e15b3fd/DMRC_Guide-to-Defective-Medicinal_Products-Feb2026.pdf)
- [Defective Medicines Online Reporting Form - Reference Guide ](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/698f27f1ceeaa48d377f6b36/Defective-Medicines-Online-Reporting-Form_Reference-Guide-Feb2026.pdf)