[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 26, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 16801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06611]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0477]
Center for Devices and Radiological Health: Standard Operating
Procedure for Level 1, Immediately in Effect Guidance Documents on
Premarket Data Issues; Availability
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the
availability of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Level 1,
Immediately in Effect (IIE) Guidance Documents on Premarket Data
Issues. The SOP describes the Center for Devices and Radiological
Health's (CDRH's or the Center's) process to clarify and more quickly
inform stakeholders when CDRH has changed its expectations relating to,
or otherwise has new scientific information that could affect data
submitted as part of an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) or
premarket submission, including a Premarket Notification (510(k)), a
Premarket Approval (PMA), a Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE), or
combination products containing a device constituent part for which
CDRH has jurisdiction that needs to be disseminated in a timely manner.
DATES: Submit either electronic or written comments on this SOP at any
time. General comments on Agency SOP documents are welcome at any time.
ADDRESSES: See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for information on
electronic access to the SOP. Submit electronic comments on the SOP to
http://www.regulations.gov. Submit written comments to the Division of
Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630
Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Identify comments with the
docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Philip Desjardins, Center for Devices
and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New
Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 66, Rm. 5452, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-
796-5678, [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
The Task Force on the Utilization of Science in Regulatory Decision
Making (the Task Force) published a Preliminary Report and
Recommendations in August 2010. In the report, the Task Force noted
that when new scientific information changes CDRH's regulatory
thinking, it has been challenging for the Center to communicate the
change and its basis to all affected parties in a meaningful and timely
manner. The Task Force recommended that the Center make use of more
rapid tools for broad communication on regulatory matters, including
establishing a standard practice for communicating to all manufacturers
of a particular group of devices for which the Center has changed its
regulatory expectations on the basis of new scientific information.
Currently, manufacturers typically learn of changes CDRH implements
regarding what data or how to gather specific data in support of an IDE
or premarket submission at the time of or soon after a decision is made
through individual engagement with the Center, often not until after
they have prepared that submission. Reviewers may implement these
changes, such as requesting new clinical data or using a new test
method, on a case-by-case basis, with immediate supervisory concurrence
when it is necessary to protect the public health. For example, a
reviewer may request that sponsors test their implantable device for
durability because new data demonstrate that this type of device is
prone to failure due to premature wear and tear of the technology.
Although CDRH may issue a detailed guidance document, the document may
not be published until a year or more after a Branch- or Division-level
decision has been made to request the information because of the
resource constraints in developing guidance documents.
CDRH believes that timely communication with industry about changes
in premarket regulatory expectations is important. FDA's Good Guidance
Practices regulation provides a mechanism for communicating and
implementing certain changes in regulatory expectations quickly,
without requiring prior public comment. Under 21 CFR 10.115(g)(2), FDA
may issue a Level 1, IIE Guidance Document when prior public
participation is not ``feasible or appropriate.'' Under these
circumstances, CDRH intends to use the procedures described in Sec.
10.115(g)(2) to issue guidance documents addressing changes in
premarket regulatory expectations. CDRH has developed this SOP to
facilitate issuance of such guidance documents.
On September 5, 2013 (78 FR 54655), CDRH issued a draft SOP that
meets the Center's needs and addresses concerns raised regarding an
original ``Notice to Industry Letters'' proposal (July 21, 2011, 76 FR
43693). Interested persons were invited to comment by October 21, 2013.
Three comments were received with suggestions pertaining to the
administrative process and policies regarding IIE guidances. In
response to these comments, FDA revised the SOP to clarify the
processes and policies as appropriate. This document will supersede the
``Draft Standard Operating Procedure for Level 1, Immediately in Effect
Guidance Documents on Premarket Data Issues'' issued on September 5,
2013.
II. Electronic Access
Persons interested in obtaining a copy of the SOP may do so by
using the Internet. The Standard Operating Procedure for Level 1,
Immediately in Effect Guidance Documents on Premarket Data Issues is
available at http://www.fda.gov/downloads/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocuments/UCM259172.pdf. The SOP is
also available from http://www.regulations.gov and can be located using
the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.
III. Comments
Interested persons may submit either electronic comments regarding
this document to http://www.regulations.gov or written comments to the
Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES). It is only necessary to
send one set of comments. Identify comments with the docket number
found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments
may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4
p.m., Monday through Friday, and will be posted to the docket at http://www.regulations.gov.
Dated: March 20, 2014.
Leslie Kux,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2014-06611 Filed 3-25-14; 8:45 am]
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