[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 40, Volume 23]
[Revised as of July 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 40CFR160.35]

[Page 155-156]
 
                   TITLE 40--PROTECTION OF ENVIRONMENT
 
         CHAPTER I--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (CONTINUED)
 
PART 160_GOOD LABORATORY PRACTICE STANDARDS--Table of Contents
 
                  Subpart B_Organization and Personnel
 
Sec. 160.35  Quality assurance unit.

    (a) A testing facility shall have a quality assurance unit which 
shall be responsible for monitoring each study to assure management that 
the facilities, equipment, personnel, methods, practices, records, and 
controls are in conformance with the regulations in this part. For any 
given study, the quality assurance unit shall be entirely separate from 
and independent of the personnel engaged in the direction and conduct of 
that study. The quality assurance unit shall conduct inspections and 
maintain records appropriate to the study.
    (b) The quality assurance unit shall:
    (1) Maintain a copy of a master schedule sheet of all studies 
conducted at the testing facility indexed by test substance, and 
containing the test system, nature of study, date study was initiated, 
current status of each study, identity of the sponsor, and name of the 
study director.
    (2) Maintain copies of all protocols pertaining to all studies for 
which the unit is responsible.
    (3) Inspect each study at intervals adequate to ensure the integrity 
of the study and maintain written and properly signed records of each 
periodic inspection showing the date of the inspection, the study 
inspected, the phase or segment of the study inspected, the person 
performing the inspection, findings and problems, action recommended and 
taken to resolve existing problems, and any scheduled date for 
reinspection. Any problems which are likely to affect study integrity 
found during the course of an inspection shall be brought to the 
attention of the study director and management immediately.

[[Page 156]]

    (4) Periodically submit to management and the study director written 
status reports on each study, noting any problems and the corrective 
actions taken.
    (5) Determine that no deviations from approved protocols or standard 
operating procedures were made without proper authorization and 
documentation.
    (6) Review the final study report to assure that such report 
accurately describes the methods and standard operating procedures, and 
that the reported results accurately reflect the raw data of the study.
    (7) Prepare and sign a statement to be included with the final study 
report which shall specify the dates inspections were made and findings 
reported to management and to the study director.
    (c) The responsibilities and procedures applicable to the quality 
assurance unit, the records maintained by the quality assurance unit, 
and the method of indexing such records shall be in writing and shall be 
maintained. These items including inspection dates, the study inspected, 
the phase or segment of the study inspected, and the name of the 
individual performing the inspection shall be made available for 
inspection to authorized employees or duly designated representatives of 
EPA or FDA.
    (d) An authorized employee or a duly designated representative of 
EPA or FDA shall have access to the written procedures established for 
the inspection and may request testing facility management to certify 
that inspections are being implemented, performed, documented, and 
followed up in accordance with this paragraph.