Ohayou Gozaimasu. This week the term/phrase specific to Japan, the doctor would like to introduce to the readers is: “Fukusui bon ni kaerazu.” For those of you moderately fluent in Japanese, the phrase is: “覆水盆に帰らず.” The literal translation is “Spilled water will not return to the tray” or simply stated, “No use crying over spilled milk.” The good news is that if an individual having dinner in Japan spills their milk, Sake is always an acceptable replacement. In fact, forget the milk and just order some Sake out of the gate.

In this week’s guidance the doctor will expand on the use and importance of “Seihin Hyojun Sho.” The Seihin Hyojun Sho is the Device Master File, similar in construction to the European Technical File. However, there is additional information placed into the file specific to Japanese regulatory requirements and the Market Authorization Holder (MAH). When PMDA shows up on a device manufacturer’s door step for a friendly visit, they will probably want to review the Seihin Hyojun Sho. As the doctor nears the end of this series of articles on MO 169; hopefully, Dr. D’s “hortative” (look-it-up) style of writing and analyzing requirements will continue to be beneficial to the readers.  Enjoy this week’s guidance.

Article 66

If a device manufacturer is selling Class IIa and IIb product into the European market, a Technical File for these devices; hopefully a robust one, already exists. As stated in the introduction, a Seihin Hyojun Sho is nothing more than the Japanese equivalent of a Technical File. The expectation from PMDA is that the Device Master File be accurate, complete, and current. That means it cannot sit on a shelf collecting dust, hint, hint!

There are specific requirements associated with Article 66 that device manufacturers need to ensure are captured within their Seihin Hyojun Sho (reference Table 1.0):

• Product storage;
• Product packaging;
• Product labeling; and
• Product testing.

The Device Master File should adequately describe storage, packaging, labeling, and testing, and a reference to the actual procedure number. However, written procedures are still needed to address these requirements.

Chances are pretty good device manufacturers already have in place procedures for: (a) various elements of manufacturing, (b) quality control, (c) control of nonconforming product; (d) CAPA; (e) internal audits; (f) training; (g) document control; and (h) the control of records. If your organization has procedure for these elements already approved and released, then DSTSS “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” However, if these procedures have not been scripted, there is not time like the present to start typing.

Table 1.0 – Examples of Content Requirement for Seihin Hyojun Sho
Item to be Stipulated	Documents Containing the Information
Generic Name & Selling Product Name	N/A for Foreign Facilities
Approval Date & Number	N/A for Foreign Facilities
Specifications of the Product	DHF
Design & Drawings	DHF
Manufacturing Method & Procedures	DHF, Procedures, Work Instructions, & Test Methods
* Courtesy of PMDA Website

Now granted, high-level procedures are acceptable for general requirements associated with storage, packaging, labeling, and testing; however, product-specific work instructions are going to need to be created for specific product packaging and labeling requirements. Unless special storage requirements are needed for products, one high-level procedure should be acceptable. Testing requirements, although typically defined in the batch work order or production traveler, will still need a work instruction that defines the parameters of testing and the operation of test equipment (don’t forget the test method validation).

Remember, processes (e.g., packaging) described within the Seihin Hyojun Sho still needs to be supported by written procedures and work instructions. During a compliance inspection PMDA will review a Device Master File. For a pre-approval inspection, PMDA will permit the material typically placed into the Device Master File to be presented in an alternate method, providing all of the appropriate information is available.

From a procedural standpoint putting all of the requirements delineated within Article 66 into one procedure is not practical. Why? For starters, the requirements are too disparate for inclusion into one cohesive document, so device manufacturers will need to place these requirements into multiple procedures. Table 2.0 reflects the need to consider multiple procedures to compliance with Article 66.

Table 2.0: Sample Requirements Matrix
Procedure(s)	Procedure Name(s)	Requirement	21 CFR Part 820	EN ISO 13485:2003	MHLW MO 169
1274-1 Rev B   1275-1 Rev A  1276-1 Rev A	Material Handling & Storage  Product Packaging  Labeling Control	Manufacturing Control & Quality Control	820.80  820.120  820.130  820.150	7.5.1  7.5.5	Article 66

For this edition of DG, Dr. D will leave the readers with three pieces of guidance. One – compilation of the Seihin Hyojun Sho is a necessary evil for device manufacturers wanting to introduce product into the Japanese market. Two – PMDA will review the Seihin Hyojun Sho during an inspection. Three – it is not feasible to fit all of the requirements associated with Article 66 into one cohesive procedure, so please do not frustrate yourself by trying.

Until the next edition of DG, when the doctor provides guidance on: MO 169 – Chapter 3 “Manufacturing Control and Quality Control in Manufacturing Sites of Labeling, etc. Category Medical Device Manufacturers, etc.” (Article 67 – Manufacturing Control and Quality Control), sayonara from Dr. D and best wishes for continued professional success.

1. Code of Federal Regulation. (2011, April). Title 21 Part 820: Quality system regulation. Washington, D.C.: U. S. Government Printing Office.
2. Device master file. (2012). Emergo Group Website. Retrieved November 29, 2012, from http://www.emergogroup.com/services/japan/device-master-file-japan
3. EN ISO 13485:2012. (2012, February). Medical devices – quality management systems – requirements for regulatory purposes (EN ISO 13485:2012).
4. Linguanaut the Japanese phrases and expressions. (2012). Retrieved September 8, 2012, from http://www.linguanaut.com/english_japanese.htm
5. Ministerial Ordinance 169. (2004). MHLW ministerial ordinance 169 on standards for manufacturing control and quality control for medical devices and in-vitro   diagnostic reagents. Retrieved June 1, 2012, from http://www.pmda.go.jp/english/service/pdf/ministerial/050909betsu3.pdf
6. Quality management system inspection of medical devices and in-vitro diagnostics in Japan.  (2012). PMDA Website. Retrieved November 30, 2012, from http://www.pmda.go.jp/english/service/pdf/qms.pdf