Energy Policy and New Uses Office, Agriculture Department 2015 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The HHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Select Agents and Toxins (DSAT) and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Agriculture Select Agent Services (AgSAS) are jointly charged with the oversight of the possession, use and transfer of biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public, animal or plant health or to animal or plant products (select agents and toxins). This joint effort constitutes the Federal Select Agent Program. The purpose of the webcast is to provide guidance related to the Federal Select Agent Program for interested individuals.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending the nomination period for the notice that appeared in the Federal Register of May 19, 2015. In the notice, FDA requested nominations for a list of bulk drug substances that may be used by facilities registered as outsourcing facilities under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) to compound animal drugs from bulk substances, in accordance with FDA's draft guidance for industry (GIF) #230, ``Compounding Animal Drugs from Bulk Drug Substances.'' The FDA is taking this action in response to a request for an extension to allow interested persons additional time to submit nominations.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. 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 and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on research entitled, ``Market Claims in Direct-to-Consumer Prescription Drug Print Ads.'' This study will examine the impact of market claim information in direct-to-consumer (DTC) print advertising for prescription drugs.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing an order under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) granting special termination of the debarment of David J. Brancato. FDA bases this order on a finding that Dr. Brancato provided substantial assistance in the investigations or prosecutions of offenses relating to a matter under FDA's jurisdiction, and that special termination of Dr. Brancato's debarment serves the interest of justice and does not threaten the integrity of the drug approval process.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its continuing efforts to reduce public burden and maximize the utility of government information, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This notice invites comment on the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program (PCNASP) reporting system, which was established to improve quality of care for acute stroke patients from onset of signs and symptoms through hospital care and rehabilitation and recovery.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is issuing this notice to request that public stakeholdersincluding patient and consumer advocacy groups, health care professionals, and scientific and academic expertsnotify FDA of their intent to participate in periodic consultation meetings on the reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA). The statutory authority for PDUFA expires in September 2017. At that time, new legislation will be required for FDA to continue collecting user fees for the prescription 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 PDUFA program. The FD&C Act also requires that FDA hold discussions (at least every month) with patient and consumer advocacy groups during FDA's negotiations with the regulated industry. The purpose of this request for notification is to ensure continuity and progress in these monthly discussions by establishing consistent stakeholder representation.

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: ``Medical Office Survey on Patient Safety Culture Comparative Database.'' In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. 3501-3521, AHRQ invites the public to comment on this proposed information collection. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on March 23rd, 2014 and allowed 60 days for public comment. No comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry entitled ``Testicular Toxicity: Evaluation During Drug Development.'' The draft guidance addresses nonclinical findings that may raise concerns of a drug- related adverse effect on the testes, clinical monitoring of adverse testicular effects early in clinical development, and the design and conduct of a safety clinical trial assessing drug-related testicular toxicity. The draft guidance is intended to assist sponsors developing drugs to identify nonclinical signals of testicular toxicity and to evaluate the potential for such toxicity in humans.

In compliance with the requirement for opportunity for public comment on proposed data collection projects (Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announces plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Prior to submitting the ICR to OMB, HRSA seeks comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any other aspect of the ICR.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is proposing to add certain influenza virus strains to the list of HHS select agents and toxins. Specifically, we are proposing to add the influenza viruses that contain the hemagglutinin (HA) from the Goose Guangdong/1/96 lineage (the influenza viruses that contain the hemagglutinin (HA) from the A/Gs/Gd/1/96 lineage), including wild-type viruses, as a non-Tier 1 select agent. We are also proposing to add any influenza viruses that contain the HA from the A/Gs/Gd/1/96 lineage that were made transmissible among mammals by respiratory droplets in a laboratory as a Tier 1 select agent. We have determined that these influenza viruses have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety.

This proposed rule would revise the requirements that Long- Term Care facilities must meet to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. These proposed changes are necessary to reflect the substantial advances that have been made over the past several years in the theory and practice of service delivery and safety. These proposals are also an integral part of our efforts to achieve broad-based improvements both in the quality of health care furnished through federal programs, and in patient safety, while at the same time reducing procedural burdens on providers.

In compliance with section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announces plans to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR), described below, to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR is for extending the use of the approved information collection assigned OMB control number 0990-0279, which expires on August 31, 2015. Prior to submitting that ICR to OMB, OS seeks comments from the public regarding the burden estimate, below, or any other aspect of the ICR.

Under the provisions of Section 3507(a)(1)(D) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request for review and approval of the information collection listed below. This proposed information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on April 21, 2015 (80 FR 22211), and allowed 60-days for public comment. No public comments were received. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comment. The National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health, may not conduct or sponsor, and the respondent is not required to respond to, an information collection that has been extended, revised, or implemented on or after October 1, 1995, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Direct Comments to OMB: Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) contained in this notice, especially regarding the estimated public burden and associated response time, should be directed to the: Office of Management and Budget, Office of Regulatory Affairs, OIRA_submission@omb.eop.gov or by fax to 202-395-6974, Attention: NIH Desk Officer. Comment Due Date: Comments regarding this information collection are best assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of the date of this publication.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is amending a regulation pertaining to canned Pacific salmon. The amendment removes a paragraph that contains an obsolete cross-reference.

This major proposed rule addresses changes to the physician fee schedule, and other Medicare Part B payment policies to ensure that our payment systems are updated to reflect changes in medical practice and the relative value of services, as well as changes in the statute.