State General Laboratory Annual Report 2019

42 State General laboratory Annual Report 2019 CONSUMER PRODUCTS The laboratory testing of consumer products (pharmaceuticals (for hu- man and veterinary use), cosmetics, toys, textiles, adhesives, chemical mixtures for household use and air fresheners), and customs samples is carried out by five specialised laboratories of the SGL having developed seven control-monitoring-surveillance programmes in the framework of national and EU legislation. Pharmaceuticals The control of pharmaceuticals, along with the foodstuffs control, was one of the first priorities of the SGL, since its foundation in 1932. The SGL contributed over time to ensure the quality, efficacy and safety of phar- maceuticals traded in the domestic market or produced by the Cypriot pharmaceutical industry for export. Furthermore, the frequent laboratory control contributed to the qualitative development of the Cypriot pharma- ceutical industry as well as to the trade improvement of pharmaceuticals. In order to protect public health, the SGL performs quality control of pharmaceuticals for human and veterinary use to evaluate their quality, safety and efficiency according to the specifications of the finished product dos- sier of the MAH (Manufacturers Authorization Holder) and/or official compendial method.  Physicochemical and pharmaceutical specifications that are usually tested: Quality : identification, uniformity of weight, assay of the active ingredient, uniformity of content, pH, water determination, optical rotation, clarity and degree of opalescence of liquids, refractive index Efficiency : disintegration of tablets, capsules and suppositories, dissolution test for solid dosage forms Safety : related substances, impurities, degradation products, visible and sub-visible particles in parenteral preparations