Good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP)

Good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP) are a set of measures drawn up to facilitate the performance of pharmacovigilance in the European Union (EU). GVP apply to marketing-authorisation holders, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and medicines regulatory authorities in EU Member States. They cover medicines authorised centrally via the Agency as well as medicines authorised at national level.

Guideline on GVP

The guideline on GVP was a key deliverable of the 2010 pharmacovigilance legislation.

Each chapter and revisions are developed by a team consisting of experts from EMA and from EU Member States.

The guideline on GVP is divided into chapters that fall into two categories:

• modules covering major pharmacovigilance processes;
• product- or population-specific considerations.

Modules covering major pharmacovigilance processes

GVP modules I to XVI cover major pharmacovigilance processes and the development of this set of guidance is concluded.

The module numbers XI, XII, XIII and XIV stay void, as their planned topics have been addressed by other guidance documents on the Agency's website (see bullet points below Final GVP modules table).

Product- or population-specific considerations

The chapters on product- or population-specific considerations are available for vaccines, biological medicinal products and the paediatric population. 

A chapter on pharmacovigilance for the use of medicines during pregnancy and breastfeeding has been subject to public consultation and is currently being finalised.

GVP modules and considerations are regularly reviewed for revision needs and schedules.

Planned updates

Amendments to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 520/2012, by means of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1466 of 22 July 2025, are applicable and the guidance in GVP will be updated accordingly in upcoming revisions of the modules.

GVP modules impacted by the recently adopted ICH-E2D(R1) and ICH-M14 guidelines will also be revised.

Also on this topic

• Archive of development of good pharmacovigilance practices
• Superseded pharmacovigilance guidance documents

Introduction

Guidelines on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP): Introductory cover note, last updated with final considerations on pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children exposed in utero or via breastmilk

Reference Number: EMA/358327/2025

Final GVP modules

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices: Module I – Pharmacovigilance systems and their quality systems

Adopted Consultation dates: 21/02/2012 to 18/04/2012 Reference Number: EMA/541760/2011 Legal effective date: 02/07/2012

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices: Module II – Pharmacovigilance system master file (Rev. 2)

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/816573/2011 Legal effective date: 31/03/2017

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices: Module III – Pharmacovigilance inspections

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/119871/2012 Rev 1 Legal effective date: 16/09/2014

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP) - Module IV – Pharmacovigilance audits (Rev. 1)

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/228028/2012 Rev 1

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices: Module V – Risk management systems (Rev. 2)

Adopted Consultation dates: 21/02/2012 to 18/04/2012 Reference Number: EMA/838713/2011 Legal effective date: 31/03/2017

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP) - Module VI – Collection, management and submission of reports of suspected adverse reactions to medicinal products (Rev. 2)

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/873138/2011 Rev. 2 Legal effective date: 22/11/2017

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP) - Module VI Addendum I – Duplicate management of suspected adverse reaction reports

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/405655/2016 Legal effective date: 22/11/2017

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP) - Module VI Addendum II – Masking of personal data in individual case safety reports submitted to EudraVigilance

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/178902/2025 Legal effective date: 25/07/2025

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP): Module VII – Periodic safety update report

Adopted Consultation dates: 21/02/2012 to 18/04/2012 Reference Number: EMA/816292/2011 Rev.1* Legal effective date: 13/12/2013

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP) - Module VIII – Post-authorisation safety studies (Rev. 3)

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/813938/2011 Legal effective date: 13/10/2017

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP): Module VIII Addendum I - Requirements and recommendations for the submission of information on non-interventional post-authorisation safety studies (Rev. 3)

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/395730/2012 Rev. 3

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP): Module IX – Signal management (Rev. 1)

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/827661/2011 Legal effective date: 22/11/2017

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP): Module IX Addendum I – Methodological aspects of signal detection from spontaneous reports of suspected adverse reactions

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/209012/2015 Legal effective date: 22/11/2017

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices: Module X – Additional monitoring

Adopted Consultation dates: 27/06/2012 to 24/08/2012 Reference Number: EMA/169546/2012 Legal effective date: 25/04/2013

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices: Module XV – Safety communication (Rev. 1)

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/118465/2012 Legal effective date: 13/10/2017

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP) Module XVI – Risk minimisation measures (Rev 3)

Reference Number: EMA/204715/2012 Legal effective date: 06/08/2024

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP) - Module XVI Addendum I – Risk minimisation measures for medicinal products with embryo-fetal risks

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/608947/2021 Legal effective date: 29/08/2025

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP): Module XVI Addendum II – Methods for evaluating effectiveness of risk minimisation measures

Reference Number: EMA/419982/2019 Legal effective date: 06/08/2024

• Where GVP chapters refer to Modules XI or XIV, consult the Agency's page on partners and networks.
• Where GVP chapters refer to Module XII, consult the Agency's page on post-marketing authorisation: regulatory and procedural guidance for human medicinal products.
• Where GVP chapters refer to Module XIII, consult the Agency's page on the incident management plan.
• Please note the document on Reporting requirements of marketing authorisation holders in the EU regarding suspected adverse reactions occurring with medicinal products they donate outside the EU to public health programmes against neglected tropical diseases
• In relation to the GVP VII module please note that an explanatory note and a question and answer guidance document for assessors have been developed to clarify certain aspects of the single assessment that are specific to nationally authorised products. These documents should be considered as interim guidance until the GVP VII module is revised as per the established process. Once the updated GVP module is published, this guidance will be removed. These documents can be found on the Periodic safety update reports: questions and answers page.
• Where GVP modules refer to the European Medicines Agency's and the Heads of Medicines Agencies' procedural advice on referral procedures for safety reasons, consult referral procedures page.

Final GVP product- or population-specific considerations

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP): Product- or population-specific considerations I: Vaccines for prophylaxis against infectious diseases

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/488220/2012 Legal effective date: 13/12/2013

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP): Product- or population-specific considerations II: Biological medicinal products

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/168402/2014 Legal effective date: 16/08/2016

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP): Product- or population-specific considerations III: Pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children exposed in utero or via breastmilk

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/653036/2019 Legal effective date: 09/02/2026

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP): Product- or Population-Specific Considerations IV: Paediatric population

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/572054/2016 Legal effective date: 08/11/2018

Final GVP annex I - Definitions

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices: Annex I - Definitions (Rev. 5)

Reference Number: EMA/876333/2011 Legal effective date: 06/08/2024

Final GVP annex II - Templates

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices: Annex II – Templates: Cover page of periodic safety update report (PSUR)

Adopted Consultation dates: 21/02/2012 to 18/04/2012 Reference Number: EMA/170043/2013 Legal effective date: 25/04/2013

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices: Annex II – Templates: Direct Healthcare Professional Communication (DHPC) (Rev. 1)

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/36988/2013 Legal effective date: 13/10/2017

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices (GVP): Annex II – Templates: Communication Plan for Direct Healthcare Professional Communication (CP DHPC)

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/334164/2015 Legal effective date: 13/10/2017

For other templates developed outside the GVP process, see:

• Risk-management plans
• Pharmacovigilance: regulatory and procedural guidance

Final GVP annex III - Other pharmacovigilance guidance

Other pharmacovigilance guidance developed outside the GVP process:

• Pharmacovigilance: regulatory and procedural guidance
• Guideline on specific adverse reaction follow-up questionnaires (Specific AR FUQ)
• Signal management
• EudraVigilance
• EudraVigilance Access Policy
• European Medicines Regulatory Network Incident Management Plan for Medicines for Human Use
• Periodic safety update reports
• Guideline on registry-based studies
• ENCePP Guide on Methodological Standards in Pharmacoepidemiology
• Guideline on key aspects for the use of pharmacogenomics in the pharmacovigilance of medicinal products
• Good practice guide on recording, coding, reporting and assessment of medication errors.
• Good practice guide on risk minimisation and prevention of medication errors
• Risk minimisation strategy for high-strength and fixed-combination insulin products, addendum to the good practice guide on risk minimisation and prevention of medication errors
• Guideline on safety and efficacy follow-up and risk management of advanced therapy medicinal products - Scientific guideline
• PRAC rules of procedure

Final GVP annex IV - International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) guidelines for pharmacovigilance

• ICH E2A Clinical safety data management: definitions and standards for expedited reporting
• ICH E2B (R3) Electronic transmission of individual case safety reports (ICSRs) - data elements and message specification - implementation guide
• ICH E2C (R2) Periodic benefit-risk evaluation report
• ICH E2D Post-approval safety data management
• ICH E2E Pharmacovigilance planning (Pvp)
• ICH E2F Development safety update report
• ICH M1 Medical Dictionary for Regulatory Activities (MedDRA)
• MedDRA support documentation
• Standardised MedDRA Queries (SMQs)
• ICH M2 electronic standards for the transfer of regulatory information (ESTRI)
• ICH guideline E19 on a selective approach to safety data collection in specific late-stage pre-approval or post-approval clinical trials
• ICH M14 guideline on general principles on plan, design and analysis of pharmacoepidemiological studies that utilize real-world data for safety assessment of medicines

Final GVP annex V - Abbreviations

Guideline on good pharmacovigilance practices: Annex V – Abbreviations (Rev. 1)

Adopted Reference Number: EMA/135814/2013 Legal effective date: 13/10/2017

GVP under public consultation

No document under public consultation at present.

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Page update history

An update log is available to show the date and summary of changes to this webpage. It does not include updates to linked documents or minor edits like typos or broken link fixes.

The tracking of updates begins in February 2026.

See update history

16 February 2026

Planned updates section added