• Values and Commitments
• Global Health
• Community Programs
• U.S. Patient Assistance Programs
• Medicine Safety
• Environment, Health and Safety
  • EHS Integration
  • Programs and Performance
  • Partnering and Community Outreach
  • Case Studies
    • Lincoln, Nebraska
    • Kalamazoo, Michigan
    • Freiburg, Germany
    • La Jolla, California
    • Bornem, Belgium
    • CMR Partnering
• Diversity
• Education
• Food Safety

Case Study: CMR Partnering to Advance EHS Management

Our Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Guideline on the Management of Contract Manufacturing and Research requires that we use contract manufacturers with acceptable EHS practices and performance. Over the past two years, Pfizer has worked with a contract manufacturer in Andhra Pradesh State, India to meet this commitment.

Our global manufacturing operation identified a potential contract manufacturer in Andhra Pradesh. An evaluation of the contract manufacturer showed that it met Pfizer requirements for quality, production capability and cost and had all required local EHS regulatory approvals. However, an EHS review of the facility found that, while the manufacturer had basic EHS programs and controls in place, it did not meet Pfizer's EHS expectations for the potentially hazardous process involved. But, the company indicated a desire to improve in order to be eligible for a contract with Pfizer.

We provided guidance to the contractor regarding EHS expectations and assisted it in finding consultants to help improve its program. Areas targeted for improvement based on the proposed manufacturing operation included process safety, industrial hygiene, air emission control and process wastewater treatment. The company responded positively and subsequent site visits confirmed that the improvements had been implemented. As a result, the company not only was able to contract with Pfizer, but their Andhra Pradesh facility now has gone beyond local requirements for process safety, air emission control and wastewater treatment to set a new standard for local industry.

For example, the company installed new equipment specifically to treat the Pfizer process wastewater and upgraded its wastewater treatment system for the entire plant. The new system treats the facility's process wastewater to levels that are so clean that it can be used to water its gardens. As a result, fresh water use at the facility has been cut by 25 percent. The facility also upgraded its chemical storage area. To protect the soil from potential leaks or spills, the facility covered the storage area in concrete and installed sufficient containment capacity. In addition, the company implemented a program to conduct process hazard analyses on all hazardous processes conducted.