Saint-Hyacinthe zinc oxide company GHC first in america to receive european certification

G.H. Chemicals (GHC) Ltd., based in Saint-Hyacinthe’s Camille-Mercure industrial park, recently obtained a Certificate of Suitability (CEP) to market its pharmaceutical-grade zinc oxide in Europe. It is only the second company in the world—and the first in America—to obtain this important certification.

Awarded by the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines (EDQM), this certification helps strengthen GHC’s position as a world leader in the production and exportation of French-process zinc oxide. In addition to opening the door to the European market, the certification will create many global business opportunities as GHC customers wanting to export to Europe can now use its zinc as an approved ingredient in their medications, veterinary products and personal care products.

CEP certification was required following the adoption, in 2013, of new European directives on pharmaceutical ingredients, whose aim is to better protect public health. The directives raised the standards, namely concerning product quality and the control of the production and distribution chain for all pharmaceuticals manufactured in EU countries.

This is not the first time GHC has been recognized for quality. Just four years ago, it was the first international company to receive a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) license for active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). Issued by Health Canada, this license allows the company to produce and distribute pharmaceutical-grade zinc oxide for the API market.

“We are extremely proud to obtain this certification, which once again proves our product’s exceptional quality. Adding a CEP certificate to our GMP license guarantees that GHC customers in Europe and around the world will receive the best possible zinc oxide to register products that comply with European legislation,” said GHP’s president,  Stephan Tabah.

Since 1974, GHC Ltd. has produced some 25,000 metric tons of zinc oxide (high quality and various grades) annually at its production facility in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada. Its products serve as raw material ingredients for the following industries: pneumatics, customer rubber and plastic compounds, ceramics, agriculture, lubricating oil additives, specialty chemicals, food fortification and pharmaceutical products.

For more information about the company and its products, visit GHC Ltd.’s website at www.ghchemicals.com.