Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Medical Devices; Third-Party Review Under FDAMA

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 information collection requirements for medical devices; third-party review under the Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA).

DATES:

Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of information by July 30, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Submit electronic comments on the collection of information to http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/oc/dockets/edockethome.cfm. 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.

Medical Devices; Third-Party Review Under FDAMA (OMB Control No. 0910-0375)—Extension

Section 210 of FDAMA established a new section 523 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act), directing FDA to accredit persons in the private sector to review certain premarket applications and notifications. As with the third-party pilot program conducted previously by FDA, participation in this third-party review program by accredited persons is entirely voluntary. A third party wishing to participate will submit a request for accreditation. Accredited third-party reviewers have the ability to review a manufacturer's 510(k) submission for selected devices. After reviewing a submission, the reviewer will forward a copy of the 510(k) submission, along with the reviewer's documented review and recommendation, to FDA. Third-party reviews should maintain records of their 510(k) reviews and a copy of the 510(k) for a reasonable period of time. This information collection will allow FDA to continue to implement the accredited person review program established by FDAMA and improve the efficiency of 510(k) review for low to moderate risk devices.

Respondents to this information collection are businesses or other for-profit organizations.

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

The burdens are explained as follows:

1. Reporting

a. Requests for accreditation. Under the agency's third-party review pilot program, the agency received 37 applications for recognition as third-party reviewers, of which the agency recognized 7. Under this expanded program, the agency anticipates that it will not see a significant increase in the number of applicants. Therefore, the agency is estimating that it will receive 40 applications. The agency anticipates that it will accredit 35 of the applicants to conduct third-party reviews.

b. 510(k) reviews conducted by accredited third parties. In the 18 months under the third-party review pilot program, FDA received only 22 510(k)s that requested and were eligible for review by third parties. Because the third-party review program is not as limited in time, and is expanded in scope, the agency anticipates that the number of 510(k)s submitted for third-party review will remain the same as they were during the last OMB approval in 1998. The agency anticipates that it will receive approximately 140 third-party review submissions annually, i.e., approximately 4 annual reviews per each of the estimated 35 accredited reviewers.

2. Recordkeeping

Third-party reviewers are required to keep records of their review of each submission. The agency anticipates approximately 140 annual submissions of 510(k)s for third-party review.

The estimate of the times required for record preparation and maintenance is based on agency communication with industry. Other information needed to calculate the total burden hours (i.e., adverse drug reaction, lack of effectiveness, and product defect reports) are derived from agency records and experience.