Recommendation ITU-T G.7041/Y.1303 defines a generic framing procedure (GFP) to delineate octet-aligned, variable-length payloads from higher-level client signals for subsequent mapping into octet-synchronous paths such as those defined in Recommendations ITU T G.707/Y.1322, ITU T G.8040/Y.1340 and ITU-T G.709/Y.1331. This Recommendation defines: - frame formats for protocol data units (PDUs) transferred between GFP initiation and termination points; - the mapping procedure for the client signals into GFP; - responses to certain defect conditions. This edition adds the information from Amendment 1 (2012), Amendment 2 (2012) and Amendment 3 (2015) to Recommendation ITU T G.7041 (2011), in addition to new material and text enhancements from contributions to the February 2016 meeting.