Department of Health and Human Services August 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Food and Drug Administration is correcting a notice that appeared in the Federal Register of August 3, 2009 (74 FR 38438). The document announced the availability of a draft guidance entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Tomatoes.'' The document was published with an incorrect date for submitting written or electronic comments on the draft guidance. This document corrects that error.

The Food and Drug Administration is correcting a notice that appeared in the Federal Register of August 3, 2009 (74 FR 38439). The document announced the availability of a draft guidance entitled ``Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Leafy Greens.'' The document was published with an incorrect date for submitting written or electronic comments on the draft guidance. This document corrects that error.

In the last decade, the Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) has achieved great success in reforming and modernizing its regulatory processes and responsibilities as a result of changes and improvements driven by the requirements of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), the 1997 FDA Modernization Act (FDAMA), and other legislation. PDUFA was reauthorized by the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007, Title I, Prescription Drug User Fee Amendments of 2007 (PDUFA IV). FDA plans to make even greater progress during the PDUFA IV timeframe (Fiscal Years 2008 through 2012), building on the foundation established in previous years. The additional resources provided by user fees, when combined with appropriations, have enabled the FDA to modernize its information technology infrastructure and begin a monumental transformation from a paper-based to an electronic work environment.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to amend its postmarket medical device reporting regulation to require that manufacturers, importers, and user facilities submit mandatory reports of individual medical device adverse events, also known as medical device reports (MDRs) to the agency in an electronic format that FDA can process, review, and archive. Mandatory electronic reporting would improve the agency's process for collecting and analyzing postmarket medical device adverse event information. The proposed regulatory changes would provide the agency with a more efficient data entry process that would allow for timely access to medical device adverse event information and identification of emerging public health issues. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is also announcing a draft guidance document that provides recommendations on how to prepare and submit electronic MDRs to FDA in a manner that satisfies the requirements of this proposed regulation. The proposal also includes modifications to the regulations specifying the content of required MDRs to better track information already solicited on the FDA Form 3500A.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of the draft guidance entitled ``eMDRElectronic Medical

This notice announces the intention of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) to request that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approve the proposed information collection project: ``2010-2011 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Insurance Component.'' In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed information collection.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a collection of information entitled ``MedWatch: Food and Drug Administration Medical Products Reporting Program'' has been approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

We are proposing to add Chapare virus to the list of HHS select agents and toxins. We are proposing this action because Chapare virus has been phylogenetically identified as a Clade B arenavirus and is closely related to other currently regulated South American arenaviruses that cause haemorrhagic fever, particularly Sabia virus.

Notice is hereby given that the Office of Research Integrity (ORI) and the Assistant Secretary for Health have taken final action in the following case:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing that a collection of information entitled ``Mental Models Study of Farmers' Understanding and Implementation of Good Agricultural Practices'' 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 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 is correcting a notice entitled that appeared in the Federal Register of August 3, 2009 (74 FR 38429). The document announced the Fiscal Year 2010 fee rates for the Animal Drug User Fee Act. The document was published with a typographical error. This document corrects that error.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reorganized the Office of the Commissioner (OC). This reorganization includes the organizations and their substructure components as listed in this document. This reorganization includes the re-alignment of four Deputy- level offices within the Office of the Commissioner: the Office of the Chief Scientist; the Office of Administration (formerly titled the Office of Operations); the Office of Foods; and the Office of Policy, Planning and Budget (formerly titled the Office of Policy, Planning and Preparedness).

The inventions listed below are owned by an agency of the U.S. Government and are available for licensing in the U.S. in accordance with 35 U.S.C. 207 to achieve expeditious commercialization of results of Federally-funded research and development. Foreign patent applications are filed on selected inventions to extend market coverage for companies and may also be available for licensing.