Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024
(a) Inspection.
(1) To enforce this subchapter or the Texas Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act,
Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 431 (Act), the commissioner, an authorized agent, or a health authority
may, on presenting appropriate credentials to the owner, operator, or agent in charge of a place of business:
(A) enter at reasonable times a place of business, including a factory or
warehouse, in which a prescription drug is manufactured, packed, or held for introduction into commerce or
held after the introduction;
(B) enter a vehicle being used to
transport or hold a prescription drug in commerce; or
(C) inspect
at reasonable times, within reasonable limits, and in a reasonable manner, the place of business or vehicle
and all equipment, finished and unfinished materials, containers, and labeling of any item and obtain samples
necessary for the enforcement of this subchapter or the Act.
(2) The inspection of a place of business, including a factory, warehouse,
or consulting laboratory, in which a prescription drug is manufactured, processed, packed, or held for
introduction into commerce extends to any place or thing, including a record, file, paper, process, control,
or facility, to determine whether the drug:
(A) is adulterated or
misbranded;
(B) may not be manufactured, introduced into
commerce, sold, or offered for sale under the Act; or
(C) is
otherwise in violation of this subchapter or the Act.
(3) An inspection under paragraph (2) of this subsection does not extend
to:
(A) financial data;
(B)
sales data other than shipment data;
(C) pricing data;
(D) personnel data other than data relating to the qualifications of
technical and professional personnel performing functions under the Act;
(E) research data other than data:
(i)
relating to new drugs and antibiotic drugs; and
(ii) subject to
reporting and inspection under regulations issued under §505(i) or (j) of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act, 21 United States Code (USC) §301, et seq., as amended, (Federal Act); or
(F) data relating to other drugs, in the case of a new drug,
subject to reporting or inspection under regulations issued under §505(j) of the Federal Act.
(4) An inspection under paragraph (2) of this subsection must be
started and completed with reasonable promptness.
(b)
Receipt for samples. An authorized agent or health authority who inspects a place of business, including a
factory or warehouse, and obtains a sample during or on completion of the inspection and before leaving the
place of business, must give the owner, operator, or the owner's or operator's agent a receipt describing the
sample.
(c) Access to records.
(1) A person required to maintain records referenced in this subchapter or
under the Act or Chapter V of the Federal Act or a person in charge or custody of those records must, at the
request of an authorized agent or health authority, permit the authorized agent or health authority at all
reasonable times, access to and to copy and verify the records.
(2) A person, including a carrier engaged in commerce, or other person
receiving a prescription drug in commerce or holding a prescription drug received in commerce must, at the
request of an authorized agent, permit the authorized agent at all reasonable times to have access to and to
copy and verify all records showing:
(A) the movement in commerce of any
prescription drug;
(B) the holding of any prescription drug after
movement in commerce; and
(C) the quantity, shipper, and
consignee of any prescription drug.
(d)
Retention of records. Records required by this subchapter must be maintained at the place of business or
other location reasonably accessible for a period of at least three years following disposition of the
prescription drug unless a greater period of time is required by §
229.420 of this subchapter (relating to Applicable Laws and
Regulations).
(e) Adulterated or misbranded prescription drug. If
the department identifies an adulterated or misbranded prescription drug, the department may impose the
applicable enforcement provisions of Subchapter C of the Act including detention, emergency order, recall,
and administrative penalties. The department may request the attorney general or local law enforcement
institute an action for criminal penalties, collection of civil penalties, condemnation, destruction, and
injunction under the Act.
(f) Order to cease distribution.
(1) The commissioner must issue an order requiring a person, including a
manufacturer, distributor, or retailer of a prescription drug, to immediately cease distribution of the drug
if the commissioner determines there is a reasonable probability:
(A) a
wholesale distributor has:
(i) violated this subchapter or the Act;
or
(ii) sold, distributed, transferred, manufactured, repackaged,
handled, or held a counterfeit prescription drug intended for human use that could cause serious adverse
health consequences or death; and
(B) other procedures
would result in unreasonable delay.
(2) An order under
this subsection must provide the person subject to the order an opportunity for an informal hearing on the
actions required by the order to be held not later than the 10th day after issuance of the order.
(3) If, after providing an opportunity for a hearing, the commissioner
determines inadequate grounds exist to support the actions required by the order, the commissioner must
vacate the order.
