CLEVELAND, March 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- SAI Global in conjunction with the Personal Care Products Council ('the Council') announces the official launch of the Personal Care Manufacturing Assessment Program (PCMAP).

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Developed in alliance with the Council with extensive input from product manufacturers and ingredient suppliers, PCMAP is the first customized industry-wide assurance program that provides cosmetic and personal care product manufacturers with the tools to evaluate the effectiveness of the various processes that contribute to product quality and to demonstrate their adherence to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), Council and industry requirements and other applicable cosmetic product quality standards.

The program includes training, an implementation guidance document, the option for pre-assessments and the option to choose either an 'Assessment' or an 'SAI Global Certified Assessment' depending on the organization's preference and their customer's requirements.

PCMAP is based on the international standard ISO 22716 which provides Guidelines on Good Manufacturing Practices for the Cosmetics industry. The guidelines cover the quality aspects relating to production, control, storage and shipment of cosmetic products, with the objective of meeting defined quality specifications and reducing the risk of adulteration of cosmetic products at all stages.

In addition to the requirements of ISO 22716, the assessment criteria have been enhanced by incorporating quality requirements / specifications based on input from the Council's QA Sub-Committee, industry members and other sources, including FDA, IPEC-PQG, ICH and other GMP Guidelines with the intent of promoting adherence to high standards and allowing a more evidence based assessment.

PCMAP is designed to address the unique needs of different manufacturers / supplier categories based on the potential risk levels, taking into account the types of products / ingredients manufactured and the extent of control exercised at various stages in the supply chain.

The Council has identified six main categories for cosmetic product and ingredient manufacturers and has defined specific assessment criteria for each of these categories. The manufacturing categories include packaging manufacturers, manufacturers of cosmetic ingredients, OTC excipients, OTC active ingredients, and cosmetic and OTC contract manufacturers.

Customized public and onsite PCMAP training has been developed to help individuals understand, implement and audit the program.

The PCMAP Understanding and Implementing Course is an interactive training course that describes the essential components required to implement a quality and safety management system that ensures the proper production, control, storage and shipment of cosmetic products.

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SAI Global in Conjunction With the Personal Care Products Council Announces the Official Launch of the Personal Care ...