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COS-GMP
Practical articles on standards, audits and the Cornerstone platform — written by the team that implements them.
COS-GMP
COS-GMP Explained Section by Section: The Full Series
A complete guide to COS-GMP, Apex Global Quality's cosmetics GMP standard, working through every section with links to a detailed explanation of each.
Rob
Cornerstone team
COS-GMP
9 Jul 2026 · 4 min read
COS-GMP Section 13 Explained: Design and Development
COS-GMP Section 13 covers product design and development, labelling, and claims legality — ground that ISO 22716 does not address at all.
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COS-GMP
8 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
COS-GMP Section 12 Explained: Inspections and Acceptance
COS-GMP Section 12 covers test methods, acceptance criteria, sampling, and retain samples — broadly equivalent to ISO 22716's quality control laboratory section.
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COS-GMP
7 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
COS-GMP Section 11 Explained: Storage and Despatch
COS-GMP Section 11 covers storage, positive release, despatch, and returns, with a specific FEFO stock rotation requirement.
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COS-GMP
6 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
COS-GMP Section 10 Explained: Production
COS-GMP Section 10 covers bulk manufacturing and filling and packaging operations, using the term traceability code rather than batch number throughout.
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COS-GMP
5 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
COS-GMP Section 9 Explained: Purchasing and Goods Intake
COS-GMP Section 9 covers goods intake and release, with a distinct sub-section on water used as a stock item.
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COS-GMP
4 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
COS-GMP Section 8 Explained: Equipment
COS-GMP Section 8 covers equipment design, new equipment acceptance, calibration, and cleaning — with a distinct factory acceptance testing concept not explicit in ISO 22716.
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COS-GMP
3 Jul 2026 · 4 min read
COS-GMP Section 7 Explained: Premises and Site Standards
COS-GMP Section 7 covers premises requirements with more specific detail than ISO 22716 on signage, staff facilities, and documented site plans.
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COS-GMP
2 Jul 2026 · 3 min read
COS-GMP Section 6 Explained: Personnel
COS-GMP Section 6 covers personnel requirements, with an explicit Senior Management commitment clause that goes further than ISO 22716's equivalent.
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COS-GMP
1 Jul 2026 · 4 min read
COS-GMP Section 5 Explained: GMP Safety and Quality Management
COS-GMP Section 5 is the standard's largest section, covering nonconformances, CAPA, concessions, traceability, complaints, recalls, procurement, change control, and internal audits.
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COS-GMP
30 Jun 2026 · 3 min read
COS-GMP Section 4 Explained: Risk Control
COS-GMP Section 4 introduces a formal HARA process and detailed contamination controls that go well beyond what ISO 22716 requires explicitly.
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COS-GMP
29 Jun 2026 · 3 min read
COS-GMP Section 3 Explained: Documentation
COS-GMP Section 3 covers document and record control, including specific rules on electronic documentation that go further than older cosmetics GMP standards.
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