GHP is a system for ensuring that products are produced and controlled consistently according to quality standards. It is designed to minimize the risks involved in any food, pharmaceutical production that cannot be eliminated through testing the final product. The main risks are: unexpected contamination of products, causing damage to health or even death; incorrect labels on containers, which could mean that receive the wrong medicine; insufficient or too much active ingredient, resulting in ineffective treatment or adverse effects.

GHP regulations address issues including recordkeeping, personnel qualifications, sanitation, cleanliness, equipment verification, process validation, and complaint handling. Most GMP requirements are very general and open-ended, allowing each manufacturer to decide individually how best to implement the necessary controls. This provides much flexibility, but also requires that the manufacturer interpret the requirements in a manner which makes sense for each individual business.