Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau August 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending the closing date for the document that appeared in the Federal Register of June 3, 2015. In that document, FDA requested that public stakeholders, including patient and consumer advocacy groups, health care professionals, and scientific and academic experts, notify FDA of their intent to participate in periodic consultation meetings on the reauthorization of the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2012 (GDUFA). The statutory authority for GDUFA expires at the end of September 2017. At that time, new legislation will be required for FDA to continue collecting user fees for the generic drug program. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) requires that FDA consult with a range of stakeholders in developing recommendations for the next GDUFA program. The FD&C Act also requires that FDA hold continued discussions with patient and consumer advocacy groups at least monthly during FDA's negotiations with the regulated industry. The purpose of the request for notification is to ensure continuity and progress in these monthly discussions by establishing consistent stakeholder representation.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a final guidance entitled ``Guidance for Entities Considering Whether to Register as Outsourcing Facilities Under Section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.'' This guidance is intended to inform entities that are considering registering as outsourcing facilities under section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act), as added by the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA), of the regulatory implications of registration as an outsourcing facility.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a collection of information entitled, ``Irradiation in the Production, Processing and Handling of Food'' has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is correcting a notice that appeared in the Federal Register of July 28, 2015 (80 FR 44973). The document published with an incorrect docket number. This document corrects that error.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the reissuance of a revised draft guidance for industry (Revision 2) entitled ``Brief Summary and Adequate Directions for Use: Disclosing Risk Information in Consumer-Directed Print Advertisements and Promotional Labeling for Prescription Drugs.'' We are reissuing the revised draft guidance to incorporate animal prescription drugs. This reissued revised draft guidance, when finalized, will assist manufacturers, packers, and distributors (firms) of human prescription drugs, including biologics, and animal prescription drugs, with meeting the brief summary requirement for prescription drug advertising and the requirement that adequate directions for use be included with promotional labeling for prescription drugs when print materials are directed toward consumers.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is announcing the availability of a guidance for industry entitled ``Over- the-Counter Pediatric Oral Liquid Drug Products Containing Acetaminophen.'' The guidance is intended to help drug manufacturers, packagers, and labelers minimize the risk to consumers of acetaminophen-related liver damage associated with the use of nonprescription, also known as over-the-counter or OTC, pediatric oral liquid acetaminophen drug products. This guidance provides recommendations regarding acetaminophen concentration, container labels, carton labeling, and packaging of such products, as well as for any associated delivery devices. FDA's recommendations are designed to encourage safer use of these products by minimizing the potential for acetaminophen overdosing due to medication errors or accidental ingestion.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is classifying the external upper esophageal sphincter (UES) compression device into class II (special controls). The special controls that will apply to the device are identified in this order and will be part of the codified language for the external UES compression device's classification. The Agency is classifying the device into class II (special controls) in order to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with the University of Maryland's Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation and the Critical Path Institute, is announcing a public workshop entitled ``Evidentiary Considerations for Integration of Biomarkers in Drug Development.'' The purpose of the meeting is to discuss current scientific approaches to biomarker development, acceptance, and utility in drug and biologic (hereafter referred to as therapeutic product) development programs.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is requesting comments and scientific data and information that would assist us in identifying and evaluating intervention measures that might have an effect on the presence of bacterial pathogens in cheeses manufactured from unpasteurized milk. We are taking this action in light of scientific data on potential health risks associated with consumption of cheese made from unpasteurized milk.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled ``Dissolution Testing and Specification Criteria for Immediate-Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms Containing Biopharmaceutics Classification System Class 1 and 3 Drugs.'' This draft guidance has been developed to provide manufacturers with recommendations for submission of new drug applications (NDAs), investigational new drug applications (INDs), and/ or abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs), as appropriate, for immediate-release (IR) tablets and capsules that contain highly soluble drug substances. The draft guidance is intended to define when a standard release test and criteria may be used in lieu of extensive method development and specification-setting exercises. When final, this guidance will supersede the guidance for industry on ``Dissolution Testing of Immediate Release Solid Oral Dosage Forms'' (August 1997) for biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS) class 1 and 3 drug substances that meet the criteria in this draft guidance. For class 2 and 4 drug substances, applicants should still refer to the August 1997 guidance mentioned previously.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing a public meeting and an opportunity for public comment on Patient- Focused Drug Development for nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung infections. Patient-Focused Drug Development is part of FDA's performance commitments made as part of the fifth authorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA V). The public meeting is intended to allow FDA to obtain patient perspectives on the impact of NTM lung infections on daily life and patient views on treatment approaches. FDA is also interested in discussing issues related to scientific challenges in developing drugs to treat NTM lung infections. In the afternoon, FDA will hold a workshop and provide information for and gain perspective from patients and patient advocacy organizations, health care providers, academic experts, and industry on various aspects of clinical development of drug products intended to treat NTM lung infections. The input from this public meeting will help in developing topics for further discussion.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the rates for abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs), prior approval supplements to an approved ANDA (PASs), drug master files (DMFs), generic drug active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) facilities, and finished dosage form (FDF) facilities user fees related to the Generic Drug User Fee Program for fiscal year (FY) 2016. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act), as amended by the Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2012 (GDUFA), authorizes FDA to assess and collect user fees for certain applications and supplements for human generic drug products, on applications in the backlog as of October 1, 2012 (only applicable to FY 2013), on FDF and API facilities, and on type II active pharmaceutical ingredient DMFs to be made available for reference. This document establishes the fee rates for FY 2016.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the rates and payment procedures for fiscal year (FY) 2016 animal drug user fees. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act), as amended by the Animal Drug User Fee Amendments of 2013 (ADUFA III), authorizes FDA to collect user fees for certain animal drug applications and supplements, for certain animal drug products, for certain establishments where such products are made, and for certain sponsors of such animal drug applications and/or investigational animal drug submissions. This notice establishes the fee rates for FY 2016.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a proposed collection of information has been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the fee rates and payment procedures for fiscal year (FY) 2016 generic new animal drug user fees. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act), as amended by the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Amendments of 2013 (AGDUFA II), authorizes FDA to collect user fees for certain abbreviated applications for generic new animal drugs, for certain generic new animal drug products, and for certain sponsors of such abbreviated applications for generic new animal drugs and/or investigational submissions for generic new animal drugs. This notice establishes the fee rates for FY 2016.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the fee rates and payment procedures for medical device user fees for fiscal year (FY) 2016. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act), as amended by the Medical Device User Fee Amendments of 2012 (MDUFA III), authorizes FDA to collect user fees for certain medical device submissions and annual fees both for certain periodic reports and for establishments subject to registration. This notice establishes the fee rates for FY 2016, which apply from October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2016. To avoid delay in the review of your application, you should pay the application fee before or at the time you submit your application to FDA. The fee you must pay is the fee that is in effect on the later of the date that your application is received by FDA or the date your fee payment is recognized by the U.S. Treasury. If you want to pay a reduced small business fee, you must qualify as a small business before making your submission to FDA; if you do not qualify as a small business before making your submission to FDA, you will have to pay the higher standard fee. Please note that the establishment registration fee is not eligible for a reduced small business fee. As a result, if the establishment registration fee is the only medical device user fee that you will pay in FY 2016, you should not submit a FY 2016 Small Business Qualification and Certification request. This document provides information on how the fees for FY 2016 were determined, the payment procedures you should follow, and how you may qualify for reduced small business fees.