Antiperspirant drug products for over-the-counter human use; final monograph. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule in the form of a final monograph establishing conditions under which over-the-counter (OTC) antiperspirant drug products are generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded as part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products. FDA is issuing this final rule after considering public comments on its proposed regulation, issued as a tentative final monograph (TFM), and all new data and information on antiperspirant drug products that have come to the agency's attention.     

Sunscreen drug products for over-the-counter human use; final monograph. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule in the form of a final monograph establishing conditions under which over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen drug products are generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded as part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products. FDA is issuing this final rule after considering public comments on the agency's proposed regulation, which was issued in the form of a tentative final monograph, and new data and information on sunscreen drug products that have come to the agency's attention. FDA is also issuing final rules regarding the labeling of certain cosmetic products to inform consumers that these products do not provide protection from the sun.     

Ophthalmic drug products for over-the-counter human use; proposed amendment of final monograph--FDA. Proposed rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to amend the final monograph for over-the-counter (OTC) ophthalmic drug products. The amendment adds a new warning and revises an existing warning for ophthalmic vasoconstrictor drug products. These products contain the ingredients ephedrine hydrochloride, naphazoline hydrochloride, phenylephrine hydrochloride, or tetrahydrozoline hydrochloride; and they are used to relieve redness of the eye due to minor eye irritations. This proposal is part of the ongoing review of OTC drug products conducted by FDA.     

Digoxin products for oral use; revocation of conditions for marketing. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is revoking the regulation establishing conditions for marketing digoxin products for oral use. This regulation is no longer necessary because the products, which are new drugs, can be regulated under the approval process for new drug applications (NDAs) and abbreviated new drug applications (ANDAs) as set forth in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act).     

Over-the-counter human drugs; labeling requirements; final rule; technical amendment. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule; technical amendment

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the regulation that established a standardized format and standardized content requirements for the labeling of over-the-counter (OTC) drug products, and is amending several related OTC drug product labeling regulations. This amendment corrects and conforms several aspects of the new labeling requirements to other regulatory provisions and eliminates unnecessary text from the new labeling regulation.     

Cold,cough, allergy,bronchodilator, and antiasthmatic drug products for over-the-counter human use; final monograph for combination drug products. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule in the form of a final monograph that establishes conditions under which over-the-counter (OTC) cold, cough, allergy, bronchodilator, and antiasthmatic (cough-cold) combination drug products are generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded as part of its ongoing review of OTC drug products. FDA is issuing this final rule after considering public comments on the agency's proposed regulation (tentative final monograph) and new data and information on OTC cough- cold combination drug products that have come to the agency's attention.     

Investigational new drug applications; clinical holds--FDA. Direct final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending its regulations governing investigational new drug applications (IND's) for human drug and biological products. This action amends the IND clinical hold requirements to state that the agency will respond in writing to a sponsor's request that a clinical hold be removed from an investigation within 30-calendar days of the agency's receipt of the request and the sponsor's complete response to the issue(s) that led to the clinical hold. FDA is taking this action in accordance with provisions of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (the Modernization Act). Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is publishing a companion proposed rule under FDA's usual procedure for notice-and-comment rulemaking to provide a procedural framework to finalize the rule in the event the agency receives significant adverse comments and withdraws this direct final rule.     

Revocation of Office of Generic Drug's interim policy statement on inactive ingredients. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Notice

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is revoking an interim policy statement on inactive ingredients in parenteral, ophthalmic, otic, and topical generic drug products (Interim Inactive Ingredient Policy). These generic drug products are the subjects of abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA's). The Interim Inactive Ingredient Policy was issued as a memorandum from the Acting Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research's (CDER's) Office of Generic Drugs, FDA, to CDER's Associate Director for Science and Medical Affairs, FDA. FDA is taking this action because the Interim Inactive Ingredient Policy no longer represents current agency policy.     

International Conference on Harmonisation; guidance on Q6A specifications: test procedures and acceptance criteria for new drug substances and new drug products: chemical substances. Notice

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is publishing a guidance entitled "Q6A Specifications: Test Procedures and Acceptance Criteria for New Drug Substances and New Drug Products: Chemical Substances." The guidance was prepared under the auspices of the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). The guidance describes or provides recommendations concerning the selection of test procedures and the setting and justification of acceptance criteria for new chemical drug substances and new drug products produced from them. The guidance is intended to assist in the establishment of a single set of global specifications for new drug substances and new drug products.     

Cold, cough, allergy, bronchodilator, and antiasthmatic drug products for over-the-counter human use; amendment of final monograph for OTC antitussive drug products. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule amending the final monograph for over-the-counter (OTC) antitussive drug products (products that relieve cough). Use of topical/inhalant products containing camphor or menthol near a flame, in hot water, or in a microwave oven may cause the products to splatter and cause serious burns to the user. As part of its ongoing review of OTC drug products, FDA is adding warnings and directions to inform consumers about these improper uses and is amending its final regulations for OTC drug labeling requirements to add this new flammability warning for antitussive drug products containing camphor or menthol.     

Iron-containing supplements and drugs; label warning statements and unit-dose packaging requirements; removal of regulations for unit-dose packaging requirements for dietary supplements and drugs. Final rule; removal of regulatory provisions in response to court order

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is removing, in part, a final rule that required unit-dose packaging for iron-containing dietary supplement and drug products that contain 30 milligrams (mg) or more of iron per dosage unit. FDA is taking this action in response to the Court's ruling in Nutritional Health Alliance v. FDA, in which the Court concluded that the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) does not provide FDA with authority to require manufacturers of iron-containing dietary supplement and drug products to use unit-dose packaging for poison prevention purposes. Today's action takes the ministerial step of removing the unit-dose packaging provisions from title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations.     

Form for reporting serious adverse events and product problems with human drug and biological products and devices; availability--FDA. Notice

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a new form for reporting adverse events and product problems with human drug products, biologic products, medical devices (including in-vitro diagnostics), special nutritional products (dietary supplements, medical foods, infant formulas), and other products regulated by FDA. There are two versions of the form. One version of the form (FDA Form 3500) is available for use by health professionals for voluntary reporting; the other version of the form (FDA Form 3500A) is to be used by user facilities, distributors, and manufacturers for reporting that is required by statute or FDA regulations. The new form will simplify and consolidate the reporting of adverse events and product problems and will enhance agency-wide consistency in the collection of postmarketing data. This notice also responds to written comments the agency received on proposed versions of this form. Copies of both versions of the new form appear at the end of this document.     

Over-the-counter human drugs; labeling requirements. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule establishing a standardized format and standardized content requirements for the labeling of over-the-counter (OTC) drug products. This final rule is intended to assist consumers in reading and understanding OTC drug product labeling so that consumers may use these products safely and effectively. This final rule will require all OTC drug products to carry the new, easy-to-read format and the revised content requirements within prescribed implementation periods.     

Antidiarrheal drug products for over-the-counter human use; final monograph. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule in the form of a final monograph establishing conditions under which over-the-counter (OTC) antidiarrheal drug products (to control the symptoms of diarrhea) are generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded. This final rule is part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products. FDA is issuing this final rule after considering public comments on the agency's proposed regulation, which was issued in the form of a tentative final monograph (TFM), and all new data and information on OTC antidiarrheal drug products that have come to the agency's attention. Also, this final rule amends the regulation that lists nonmonograph active ingredients by adding those OTC antidiarrheal active ingredients that have been found to be not generally recognized as safe and effective.     

Topical antifungal drug products for over-the-counter human use; amendment of final monograph. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule amending the monograph for over-the-counter (OTC) topical antifungal drug products. The amendment makes a minor change in the indications for these drug products. This final rule is part of the ongoing review of OTC drug products conducted by FDA.     

Skin protectant drug products for over-the-counter human use; final monograph. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule in the form of a final monograph establishing conditions under which over-the-counter (OTC) skin protectant drug products are generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded as part of the ongoing review of OTC drug products conducted by FDA. The final monograph includes OTC skin protectant drug products for minor cuts, scrapes, burns, chapped skin and lips, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, and insect bites. FDA is issuing this final rule after considering public comments on the agency's proposed regulation, which was issued in the form of a tentative final monograph, and all new data and information on skin protectant drug products for these specific uses that have come to the agency's attention. This final rule amends the regulation that lists nonmonograph active ingredients by adding those OTC skin protectant ingredients that have been found to be not generally recognized as safe and effective. This final rule also lifts the stay of 21 CFR part 352 (published at 66 FR 67485, December 31, 2001) to amend the final monograph for OTC sunscreen drug products to include sunscreen-skin protectant combination drug products, and then stays Sec. 347.20(d) (21 CFR 347.20(d)) and part 352 until further notice in the Federal Register.     

Pediculicide drug products for over-the-counter human use; amendment of final monograph. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule amending the final monograph (FM) for over-the-counter (OTC) pediculicide drug products to revise labeling for the statement of identity, warnings, directions, and other required statements. Pediculicide drug products are used for the treatment of head, pubic (crab), and body lice. FDA is issuing this final rule as part of its ongoing review of OTC drug products after considering public comment on its proposed regulation and all relevant data and information that have come to the agency's attention.     

Investigational new drug applications; clinical holds; companion document to direct final rule--FDA. Proposed rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to amend its regulations governing investigational new drug applications (IND's) for human drug and biological products. This proposed action would amend the IND clinical hold requirements to state that the agency will respond in writing to a sponsor's request that a clinical hold be removed from an investigation within 30-calendar days of the agency's receipt of the request and the sponsor's complete response to the issue(s) that led to the clinical hold. This proposed action is being taken in accordance with provisions of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (the Modernization Act). This proposed rule is a companion document to a direct final rule published elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register. If FDA receives any significant adverse comment, the direct final rule will be withdrawn, and the comments will be considered in the development of a final rule using usual notice-and-comment rulemaking based on this proposed rule.     

Revocation of regulation on positron emission tomography drug products--FDA. Final rule; revocation

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is revoking a regulation on positron emission tomography (PET) radiopharmaceutical drug products. The regulation permits FDA to approve requests from manufacturers of PET drugs for exceptions or alternatives to provisions of the current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations. FDA is taking this action in accordance with provisions of the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (Modernization Act). Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is publishing a notice revoking two notices concerning certain guidance documents on PET drugs and the guidance documents to which the notices relate.     

Skin protectant drug products for over-the-counter human use; astringent drug products; final monograph; direct final rule. Direct final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the regulation that established conditions under which over-the-counter (OTC) skin protectant astringent drug products are generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded. This action revises some labeling for astringent drug products to be consistent with the final rule for OTC skin protectant drug products (68 FR 33362, June 4, 2003) and adds labeling for certain small packages (styptic pencils). This action is part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is publishing a companion proposed rule, under FDA's usual procedure for notice-and-comment rulemaking, to provide a procedural framework to finalize the rule in the event the agency receives any significant adverse comments and withdraws this direct final rule.