21 CFR Part 610, Subpart E - Testing Requirements for Relevant Transfusion-Transmitted Infections

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reopening the comment period for the proposed rule, published in the Federal Register of December 23, 2015 (80 FR 79776), revising its regulations on prescription and nonprescription fixed-combination and co-packaged drugs and on combinations of active ingredients under consideration for inclusion in an over-the-counter monograph. FDA is reopening the comment period to permit time for additional comments.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the biologics regulations by removing the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) “lookback” requirements regarding review of historical testing records. FDA is taking this action because the HCV “lookback” regulations based on review of historical testing records expired on August 24, 2015, due to the sunset provision provided under the regulation.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is proposing to revise its regulations on prescription fixed-combination drugs to apply the regulations to both prescription and nonprescription fixed-combination and co-packaged drugs and combinations of active ingredients under consideration for inclusion in an over-the-counter (OTC) monograph. These products must meet specific evidentiary requirements for approval. The proposed revisions would harmonize the requirements for prescription and nonprescription products and make them consistent with long-standing Agency policy.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the biologics regulations by removing the general safety test (GST) requirements for biological products. FDA is finalizing this action because the existing codified GST regulations are duplicative of requirements that are also specified in biologics license applications (BLAs), or are no longer necessary or appropriate to help ensure the safety, purity, and potency of licensed biological products. FDA is taking this action as part of its retrospective review of its regulations to promote improvement and innovation, in response to the Executive order.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the regulations applicable to blood and blood components, including Source Plasma, to make the donor eligibility and testing requirements more consistent with current practices in the blood industry, to more closely align the regulations with current FDA recommendations, and to provide flexibility to accommodate advancing technology. In order to better assure the safety of the nation's blood supply and to help protect donor health, FDA is revising the requirements for blood establishments to test donors for infectious disease, and to determine that donors are eligible to donate and that donations are suitable for transfusion or further manufacture. FDA is also requiring establishments to evaluate donors for factors that may adversely affect the safety, purity, and potency of blood and blood components or the health of a donor during the donation process. Accordingly, these regulations establish requirements for donor education, donor history, and donor testing. These regulations also implement a flexible framework to help both FDA and industry to more effectively respond to new or emerging infectious agents that may affect blood product safety.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending its regulations to update address information for the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) as a result of the recent relocation of CBER offices and laboratories to the FDA White Oak campus in Silver Spring, MD, as well as make other related technical revisions. These changes are being made to ensure the accuracy of the Agency's regulations.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is extending the comment period for the proposed rule that appeared in the Federal Register of December 18, 2014. In the proposed rule, FDA requested comments on its proposal to amend its labeling regulations for human prescription drugs and biological products to require that the prescribing information intended for health care professionals that is on or within the package from which the product is dispensed be distributed electronically and not in paper form, except as provided by the proposed rule. The Agency is taking this action in response to a request for an extension to allow interested persons additional time to submit comments.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or the Agency) is proposing to amend its prescription drug and biological product labeling regulations to require electronic distribution of the prescribing information intended for health care professionals, which is currently distributed in paper form on or within the package from which a prescription drug or biological product is dispensed. FDA is also proposing that prescribing information intended for health care professionals will no longer be permitted to be distributed in paper form with the package from which a prescription drug or biological product is dispensed, except as provided by this regulation. We are proposing these actions to help ensure that the most current prescribing information is publicly accessible for the safe and effective use of human prescription drugs.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to amend the biologics regulations by removing the general safety test (GST) requirements for biological products. FDA is proposing this action because the existing codified GST regulations are duplicative of requirements that are also specified in biologics licenses, or are no longer necessary or appropriate to help ensure the safety, purity, and potency of licensed biological products. FDA is taking this action as part of its retrospective review of its regulations to promote improvement and innovation, in response to an Executive order.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of May 3, 2012. (77 FR 26162). The final rule provides manufacturers of biological products greater flexibility, as appropriate, and encourages use of the most appropriate and state-of-the-art test methods for assuring the safety of biological products. The rule was published with an inaccurate citation in the codified section of the rule. This notice corrects that error.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the sterility test requirements for biological products. This rule provides manufacturers of biological products greater flexibility, as appropriate, and encourages use of the most appropriate and state-of-the-art test methods for assuring the safety of biological products. FDA is taking this action as part of its ongoing efforts to comprehensively review and, as necessary, revise its regulations related to biological products.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is correcting a final rule that appeared in the Federal Register of January 3, 2012. In the Federal Register of January 3, 2012, FDA published a final rule entitled “Revisions to Labeling Requirements for Blood and Blood Components, Including Source Plasma,” which provided incorrect publication information regarding a 60-day notice that announced the availability of an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by FDA pertaining to the final rule. This document corrects this error. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, FDA is publishing a companion 60-day correction notice.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is adopting as a final rule, without change, the interim final rule that issued regulations permitting FDA Center Directors to grant exceptions or alternatives to certain regulatory labeling requirements applicable to human drugs, biological products, or medical devices that are or will be included in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). FDA is taking this action to complete the rulemaking initiated with the interim final rule.