Department of Health and Human Services August 21, 2020 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing an opportunity for the public to comment on CMS' intention to collect information from the public. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information (including each proposed extension or reinstatement of an existing collection of information) and to allow 60 days for public comment on the proposed action. Interested persons are invited to send comments regarding our burden estimates or any other aspect of this collection of information, including the necessity and utility of the proposed information collection for the proper performance of the agency's functions, the accuracy of the estimated burden, ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected, and the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology to minimize the information collection burden.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA, the Agency, or we) is issuing a final rule to remove the specified test for the presence of Mycoplasma for live virus vaccines and inactivated virus vaccines produced from in vitro living cell cultures. The rule is being finalized because the existing test for Mycoplasma is overly restrictive in that it identifies only one test method in detail to be used even though other methods also may be appropriate. More sensitive and specific methods exist and are currently being practiced, and removal of the specific method to test for Mycoplasma provides flexibility for accommodating new and evolving technology and capabilities without diminishing public health protections. This action is part of FDA's implementation of Executive Orders under which FDA is comprehensively reviewing existing regulations to identify opportunities for repeal, replacement, or modification that will result in meaningful burden reduction, while allowing the Agency to achieve our public health mission and fulfill statutory obligations.