Good laboratory practice or GLP

Good laboratory practice or GLP generally refers to a system of management controls for laboratories and research organizations to ensure the consistency and reliability of results - as outlined in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Principles of GLP and national regulations.

GLP applies to non-clinical studies conducted for the assessment of the safety of chemicals to man, animals and the environment.

Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) embodies a set of principles that provides a framework within which laboratory studies are planned, performed, monitored, recorded, reported and archived. These studies are undertaken to generate data by which the hazards and risks to users, consumers and third parties, including the environment, can be assessed for pharmaceuticals (only preclinical studies), agrochemicals, cosmetics, food additives, feed additives and contaminants, novel foods, biocides, detergents etc.

GLP helps assure regulatory authorities that the data submitted are a true reflection of the results obtained during the study and can therefore be relied upon when making risk/safety assessments.