ICH refers to The International Council for Harmonisation, which regulates the Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use. The ICH was founded in 1990 with the aim to internationally harmonise the regulatory authorities and pharmaceutical industries of Europe, Japan and the United States.
From its inception, the ICH has contributed to advancing public health through:
- Developing and manufacturing new medicines
- Preventing unnecessary duplication of clinical trials and clinical evaluations
- Supervising and registering new medicines
- Reducing unnecessary animal testing without compromising safety and effectiveness
The ICH has achieved these goals by implementing Technical Guidelines to be followed by the appropriate regulatory authorities.
Q1 Scientific is concerned with the differing Climatic Zones for Stability Studies, as determined by the ICH. Stability studies are placed in different storage conditions with varying temperature and humidity, depending on the climatic conditions of the country in which a new drug substance, or product will be sold. Drugs must be placed within these conditions to apply for registration within the regions of Europe, Japan and the United States.
Stability testing is required to provide evidence on how the quality of a drug varies while under the influence of environmental factors of temperature, humidity, and in some instances, light. Stability testing is also used to establish recommended storage conditions for samples, and a suitable shelf life for products.
Throughout the world, there are 5 different ICH Stability Zones:
| Climatic Zone | Type of Climate | Long term Stability Testing Recommended Conditions |
| Zone I | Temperate | 21°C/45%RH |
| Zone II | Mediterranean/Subtropical | 25°C/60%RH |
| Zone III | Hot, Dry | 30°C/35%RH |
| Zone IVa | Hot Humid/ Tropical | 30°C/65%RH |
| Zone IVb | Hot/ Higher Humidity | 30°C/75%RH |
Q1 Scientific has capacity to cater for all climatic zones, ranging from -80°C to 40°C / 75%RH. Long-term testing is generally carried out at 25°C/60%RH, for a minimum of 12 months, while accelerated testing is carried out at 40°C/75%RH for a minimum of 6 months. Testing at an intermediate condition (30°C/65%RH) may also be advisable.
Contact Q1 Scientific today for more information.