Department of Health and Human Services February 6, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a guidance document entitled ``Fish and Fisheries Products Hazards and Controls Guidance, Third Edition June 2001: Letter to Seafood Processors that Purchase Grouper, Amberjack and Related Predatory Reef Species Captured in the Northern Gulf of Mexico.'' The guidance sets forth the agency's recommendations for ensuring the safety of grouper, amberjack, and related predatory reef species captured in the northern Gulf of Mexico with respect to ciguatera fish poisoning (CFP). The guidance is in response to recent cases of CFP that have occurred in the United States.

This notice announces a solicitation for up to six additional hospitals to participate in the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration Program for the remainder of the 5-year time period allowed by section 410A of the MMA that is currently scheduled to end in 2010.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is providing notice of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between FDA and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This MOU establishes the terms of collaboration between the two Federal agencies to develop a unified Federal approach to adverse event (AE) reporting. Specifically, FDA and NIH will collaborate in development of a project that will result in a web-based method for consumers, health professionals, investigators, sponsors, and other parties to electronically submit AE reports. The project includes the development of at least two products: (1) A Rational Questionnaire, an interactive help system that will assist reporters of information in determining what specific data need to be submitted and to whom, and (2) a prototype to test the feasibility of a central, Federal web-based portal to provide direct, seamless, online submission of adverse event reports to appropriate agencies.