Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Export of Medical Devices-Foreign Letters of Approval

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on collection of information requirements for reporting requirements for firms that intend to export certain unapproved medical devices.

DATES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information by August 21, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written comments on the collection of information to the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Peggy Schlosburg, Office of Information Resources Management (HFA-250), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-1223.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520) Federal agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. “Collection of information” is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with this requirement, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed collection of information set forth in this document.

With respect to the following collection of information, FDA invites comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's functions, including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of FDA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques, when appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Export of Medical Devices—Foreign Letters of Approval—Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act—21 U.S.C. 381(e)(2) (OMB Control No. 0910-0264)—Extension

Section 801(e)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) (21 U.S.C. 381(e)(2)) provides for the exportation of an unapproved device under certain circumstances if the exportation is not contrary to the public health and safety and it has the approval of the foreign country to which it is intended for export.

Requesters communicate (either directly or through a business associate in the foreign country) with a representative of the foreign government to which they seek exportation, and written authorization must be obtained from the appropriate office within the foreign government approving the importation of the medical device.

FDA uses the written authorization from the foreign country to determine whether the foreign country has any objection to the importation of the device into their country.

The respondents to this collection of information are companies that seek to export medical devices.

FDA estimates the burden of this collection of information as follows:

These estimates are based on the experience of FDA's medical device program personnel, who estimate that completion of the requirements of this collection of information should take approximately 2.5 hours to complete. Prior to the enactment of the Food and Drug Export Reform and Enhancement Act of 1996, FDA received approximately 800 requests from U.S. firms to export medical devices under section 801(e)(2) of the act. The enactment of the Food and Drug Export Reform and Enhancement Act of 1996 has greatly reduced the number of export permit requests made to the present estimated 20 per year.