This revised Guide builds on the original principles of ISPE's Baseline® Guide Volume 1, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, (originally entitled Bulk Pharmaceutical Chemicals). The ISPE API Baseline Guide also incorporates and builds on new regulations and guidance, such as: ICH Q7 ICH Q9 GAMP 4 21 CFR Part 11 Guidance for Industry, Sterile Drug Products Produced by Aseptic Processing - Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) FDA Draft Guidance for Industry PAT - A Framework for Innovative Pharmaceutical Manufacturing and Quality Assurance Key features of the Guide include: Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient characterization Critical process steps Potential contamination Good Engineering Practice Levels of protection Critical process parameter Critical instruments Critical unit operation (new) Contamination review (new) Design qualification (new) Intended patient use (new) Direct, indirect, and no impact systems (new) Critical and non-critical components (new) Facility designation (new) Process Analytical Technologies (new) process review (new) Risk to patient (new) Understanding of process (new) In addition, the revision of this Guide has provided the opportunity to incorporate specific current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) considerations for pharmaceutical manufacturing regions outside the U.S., and has recognized and adopted harmonization work, such as the ICH (International Conference on Harmonisation) Q7 Good Manufacturing Practices for Pharmaceutical Ingredients.