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.     

Laxative drug products for over-the-counter human use. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule establishing that the over-the-counter (OTC) stimulant laxative ingredients danthron and phenolphthalein are not generally recognized as safe and effective and are misbranded. FDA is issuing this final rule as part of its ongoing review of OTC drug products after considering data and information on the safety of danthron and phenolphthalein.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

New drug applications; drug master files. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is revising its regulation governing drug master files (DMF's). FDA is removing the provision for submitting Type I DMF's and will no longer permit information submitted in a Type I DMF to be incorporated by reference in investigational new drug applications (IND's), new drug applications (NDA's), abbreviated new drug applications (ANDA's), or amendments or supplements to any of these. This rule is intended to eliminate submissions of information that are not necessary either to conduct inspections of manufacturing facilities or to review the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls sections of IND's, NDA's, and abbreviated applications.     

Postmarketing studies for approved human drug and licensed biological products; status reports. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is revising the requirements for annual postmarketing status reports for approved human drug and biological products, and is requiring applicants to submit annual status reports for certain postmarketing studies of licensed biological products. This rule describes the types of postmarketing studies covered by these status reports, the information to be included in the reports, and the type of information that FDA would consider appropriate for public disclosure. This action will implement the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA).     

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.     

Food labeling: health claims; soy protein and coronary heart disease. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is authorizing the use, on food labels and in food labeling, of health claims on the association between soy protein and reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). Based on its review of evidence submitted with comments to the proposed rule, as well as evidence described in the proposed rule, the agency has concluded that soy protein included in a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of CHD by lowering blood cholesterol levels.     

Medical devices; labeling for menstrual tampon for the "ultra" absorbency. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule that amends its menstrual tampon labeling regulation to add the term "ultra" absorbency for tampons that absorb 15 to 18 grams (g) of fluid with the syngyna test. At present, FDA requires standardized terms to be used for the labeling of a menstrual tampon to indicate its particular absorbency. This rule enables consumers to compare the absorbency of one brand and style of tampon with the absorbency of other brands and styles. FDA is issuing this final rule under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) to ensure that labeling of menstrual tampons is not misleading. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is proposing to change the standardized menstrual tampon term "junior" to "light".     

Dental products devices; reclassification of endosseous dental implant accessories. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reclassifying the manually powered drill bits, screwdrivers, countertorque devices, placement and removal tools, laboratory pieces used for fabrication of dental prosthetics, trial abutments, and other manually powered endosseous dental implant accessories from class III to class I. These devices are intended to aid in the placement or removal of endosseous dental implants and abutments, prepare the site for placement of endosseous dental implants or abutments, aid in the fitting of endosseous dental implants or abutments, aid in the fabrication of dental prosthetics, and be used as an accessory with endosseous dental implants when tissue contact will last less than an hour. FDA is also exempting these devices from premarket notification. This reclassification is on the Secretary of Health and Human Services' own initiative based on new information. This action is being taken under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act), as amended by the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 (the 1976 amendments), the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990 (the SMDA), and the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA).     

Investigational new drug applications; amendment to clinical hold regulations for products intended for life-threatening diseases and conditions. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the regulations governing investigational new drug applications (IND's) to permit FDA to place a clinical hold on one or more studies under an IND involving a drug that is intended to treat a life-threatening disease or condition affecting both genders. The amendments permit the agency to place a clinical hold on such studies if men or women with reproductive potential who have the disease or condition are otherwise eligible but are categorically excluded from participation solely because of a perceived risk or potential risk of reproductive or developmental toxicity from use of the investigational drug. This rule was developed in response to the past practice of excluding women with reproductive potential from early clinical trials because of a perceived risk or potential risk of reproductive or developmental toxicity. The final rule does not impose requirements to enroll or recruit a specific number of men or women with reproductive potential.     

Food labeling, safe handling statements, labeling of shell eggs; refrigeration of shell eggs held for retail distribution. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is revising its food labeling regulations to require a safe handling statement on cartons of shell eggs that have not been treated to destroy Salmonella microorganisms. The agency also is requiring that, when held at retail establishments, shell eggs be stored and displayed under refrigeration at a temperature of 7.2 degrees C (45 degrees F) or less. FDA is taking these actions because of the number of outbreaks of foodborne illnesses and deaths caused by Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) that are associated with the consumption of shell eggs. These actions also respond, in part, to petitions from Rose Acres Farm, Inc., and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Safe handling statements will help consumers take measures to protect themselves from illness or deaths associated with consumption of shell eggs that have not been treated to destroy Salmonella (all serotypes). Refrigeration of shell eggs that have not been treated to destroy Salmonella will help prevent the growth of SE in shell eggs.     

Biological products: reporting of biological product deviations in manufacturing. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the regulation requiring licensed manufacturers of biological products to report errors and accidents in manufacturing that may affect the safety, purity, or potency of a product. FDA also is amending the current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) regulations for blood and blood components to require establishments involved in the manufacture of blood and blood components, including licensed manufacturers, unlicensed registered establishments and transfusion services, to report biological product deviations in manufacturing. The final rule requires licensed manufacturers, unlicensed registered blood establishments, and transfusion services who had control over the product when a deviation occurred to report to FDA the biological product deviation if the product has been distributed. The final rule also establishes a 45-day reporting period. FDA is issuing the final rule as part of a retrospective review under Executive Order 12866 of significant FDA regulations to improve the effectiveness of FDA's regulatory program.     

Medical devices; revocation of cardiac pacemaker registry. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a final rule to revoke a regulation requiring a cardiac pacemaker registry. The registry, which was mandated by the Deficit Reduction Act of 1984, requires any physician and any provider of services who requests or receives Medicare payment for an implantation, removal, or replacement of permanent cardiac pacemaker devices and pacemaker leads to submit certain information to the registry. The information is used by FDA to track the performance of permanent cardiac pacemakers and pacemaker leads and by the Health Care Finance Administration (HCFA) to administer its Medicare payment program for these devices. This action is being taken to implement an act to Repeal An Unnecessary Medical Device Reporting Requirement passed by Congress in 1996 to remove the cardiac pacemaker registry to eliminate duplicative and unnecessary reporting.     

Medical devices; laser fluorescence caries detection device. Food and Drug Administration, HHS. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is classifying the laser fluorescence caries detection device into class II (special controls). The special controls that will apply to this device are set forth below. The agency is taking this action in response to a petition submitted under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) as amended by the Medical Device Amendments of 1976 (the amendments), the Safe Medical Devices Act of 1990, and the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997. The agency is classifying this device into class II (special controls) in order to provide a reasonable assurance of safety and effectiveness of the device.     

Labeling requirements for systemic antibacterial drug products intended for human use. Final rule

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending its regulations to require that the labeling for all systemic antibacterial drug products (i.e., antibiotics and their synthetic counterparts) intended for human use include certain statements about using antibiotics in a way that will reduce the development of drug-resistant bacterial strains. The final rule reflects a growing concern in FDA and the medical community that unnecessary use of systemic antibacterials has contributed to a dramatic increase in recent years in the prevalence of drug-resistant bacterial infections. The final rule is intended to encourage physicians to prescribe systemic antibacterial drugs only when clinically necessary. The final rule is also intended to encourage physicians to counsel their patients about the proper use of such drugs and the importance of taking them exactly as directed.