Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Labeling Requirements for Prescription Drugs

Download PDF
Federal RegisterSep 19, 2024
89 Fed. Reg. 76853 (Sep. 19, 2024)
Document Headings

Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following:

  • the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document
  • the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to
  • the agency docket number / agency internal file number
  • the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions
  • See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details.

    Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration
  • [Docket No. FDA-2024-N-4167]
  • AGENCY:

    Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

    ACTION:

    Notice.

    SUMMARY:

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing an opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including each proposed revision of an existing collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on information collection associated with labeling requirements for prescription drugs.

    DATES:

    Either electronic or written comments on the collection of information must be submitted by November 18, 2024.

    ADDRESSES:

    You may submit comments as follows. Please note that late, untimely filed comments will not be considered. The https://www.regulations.gov electronic filing system will accept comments until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time at the end of November 18, 2024. Comments received by mail/hand delivery/courier (for written/paper submissions) will be considered timely if they are received on or before that date.

    Electronic Submissions

    Submit electronic comments in the following way:

    • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted electronically, including attachments, to https://www.regulations.gov will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment does not include any confidential information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone else's Social Security number, or confidential business information, such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in the body of your comments, that information will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov.
    • If you want to submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner detailed (see “Written/Paper Submissions” and “Instructions”).

    Written/Paper Submissions

    Submit written/paper submissions as follows:

    • Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier (for written/paper submissions): Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
    • For written/paper comments submitted to the Dockets Management Staff, FDA will post your comment, as well as any attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, as confidential, if submitted as detailed in “Instructions.”

    Instructions: All submissions received must include Docket No. FDA-2024-N-4167 for “Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Labeling Requirements for Prescription Drugs.” Received comments, those filed in a timely manner (see ADDRESSES ), will be placed in the docket and, except for those submitted as “Confidential Submissions,” publicly viewable at https://www.regulations.gov or at the Dockets Management Staff between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 240-402-7500.

    • Confidential Submissions—To submit a comment with confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states “THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.” The Agency will review this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in its consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the claimed confidential information redacted/blacked out, will be available for public viewing and posted on https://www.regulations.gov. Submit both copies to the Dockets Management Staff. If you do not wish your name and contact information to be made publicly available, you can provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body of your comments and you must identify this information as “confidential.” Any information marked as “confidential” will not be disclosed except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other applicable disclosure law. For more information about FDA's posting of comments to public dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or access the information at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf.

    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this document, into the “Search” box and follow the prompts and/or go to the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852, 240-402-7500.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Domini Bean, Office of Operations, Food and Drug Administration, Three White Flint North, 10A-12M, 11601 Landsdown St., North Bethesda, MD 20852, 301-796-5733, PRAStaff@fda.hhs.gov.

    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3521), 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 revision 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 these topics: (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.

    Labeling Requirements for Prescription Drugs

    OMB Control Number 0910-0572—Revision

    This information collection helps implement statutory and regulatory requirements that govern the labeling of prescription drugs. FDA regulations codified in part 201 (21 CFR part 201), subpart B (§ 201.50 to § 201.58) apply to requisite labeling elements that include a statement of identity; a declaration of net quantity of contents; a statement of dosage; and specific content and formatting of information. The regulations also provide for requesting that FDA waive any requirement under §§ 201.56, 201.57, and 201.80. Since last approval of the information collection, FDA requested, and OMB approved, adding tasks provided for under § 201.25(d), requiring that manufacturers submit a written request for exemption from applicable bar code requirements, and tasks relating to exceptions or alternatives to the labeling requirements of products in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) as provided for in § 201.26, to the scope of the activity. Under the Public Health Service Act (PHS Act), the Department of Health and Human Services stockpiles medical products that are essential to the security of the Nation (section 319F-2 of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C. 247d-6b). Information regarding the SNS is available at the following website: www.phe.gov/about/sns/Pages/default.aspx.

    Relevant information regarding applicable statutory and regulatory requirements are also discussed in topic-specific guidance documents issued consistent with 21 CFR 314.445, 21 CFR 601.29 (guidance documents), and Agency Good Guidance Practice regulations in 21 CFR 10.115, which provide for public comment at any time. The following guidance documents discuss activities included in the information collection:

    “Safety Labeling Changes—Implementation of Section 505(o)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act,” (July 2013). The guidance document includes instruction on communicating with FDA regarding labeling changes required under section 505(o)(4) (Section IV—Procedures) and is available for download from our website at https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/safety-labeling-changes-implementation-section-505o4-federal-food-drug-and-cosmetic-act.

    “Guidance for Industry on Hypertension Indication: Drug Labeling for Cardiovascular Outcome Claims,” (March 2011). The guidance document is intended to help respondents with developing labeling for cardiovascular outcome claims for drugs that are indicated to treat hypertension. The guidance document is available for download from our website at https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/hypertension-indication-drug-labeling-cardiovascular-outcome-claims.

    Respondents to the information collection are sponsors of product labeling subject to the applicable labeling requirements. We characterize the information collection activities as recordkeeping, consistent with 5 CFR 1320.3(m), noting that a recordkeeping requirement means a requirement to maintain specified records, including the requirement to retain, notify third parties, the Federal government, or the public regarding such records. Regulations in part 201 govern the statement of ingredients and declaration of net quantity of contents with regard to prescription drug product labeling. The regulations require that firms identify bulk or transport containers with the name of the product contained therein and that containers be accompanied by documentation that identifies the product as meeting applicable compendial standards. New drug product and biological product applicants must: (1) design and create prescription drug labeling containing “Highlights,” “Contents,” and “Full Prescribing Information;” (2) test the designed labeling (for example, to ensure that the designed labeling fits into carton-enclosed products); and (3) submit it to FDA for approval.

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

    Table 1—Estimated Annual Recordkeeping Burden

    Activity/21 CFR section Number of respondents Number of responses per respondent Total annual responses Average burden per response Total hours
    Labeling requirements for prescription drugs; §§ 201.56 and 201.57 414 1.326 549 3,349 1,838,601
    Labeling applicable to medical gas containers; §§ 201.161(b) and 201.328 260 1,663 432,380 0.17 (10 minutes) 73,505
    Exemption from barcode requirements § 201.25(d) 2 1 2 24 48
    Safety labeling required under section 505(o)(4) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), and rebuttal statement 36 1 36 6 216
    Safety labeling changes; posting approved letter on application holder's website 351 1 351 4 1,404
    Exceptions or alternatives to labeling requirements for human drug product held by SNS; § 201.26 1 1 1 32 32
    Hypertension claims; recommended labeling considerations 5 1 5 18 90
    Total 433,324 1,913,896
    There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information.