2010-27824. Generic Drug User Fee; Notice of Public Meeting; Reopening of the Comment Period

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice; reopening of the comment period.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reopening until December 6, 2010, the comment period for the notice of public meeting entitled Generic Drug User Fee; Public Meeting; Request for Comments, published in the Federal Register of August 9, 2010 (75 FR 47820). In that notice, FDA announced a public meeting that took place on September 17, 2010, to gather stakeholder input on the development of a generic drug user fee program. FDA is reopening the comment period to permit public consideration of late-received comments and to provide an opportunity for all interested parties to provide information and share views on the matter.

DATES:

Submit either electronic or written comments by December 6, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

Submit electronic comments 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Peter C. Beckerman, Office of Policy, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 32, Rm. 4238, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-796-4830, Fax: [phone], E-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

In the Federal Register of August 9, 2010 (75 FR 47820), FDA published a notice of a public meeting on the development of a generic drug user fee program. In that notice, FDA posed several questions related to a user fee for human generic drugs, and sought public input on such a program. The Agency received submissions and presentations from the public meeting, which are now posted on FDA's Web site. Some submissions arrived after the formal closing of the docket and FDA has decided to reopen the docket to permit public input on all the submissions.

Interested persons were originally given until October 17, 2010, to comment on the development of a generic drug user fee program. FDA is now reopening the docket to permit comment until December 6, 2010.

II. Request for Comments

Following publication of the August 9, 2010, meeting notice and request for comment, FDA received a request to allow interested persons additional time to comment. The requester asserted that the time period of 30 days was insufficient to respond fully to FDA's specific requests for comments and to allow potential respondents to thoroughly evaluate and address pertinent issues. In light of this request, and the arrival of late submitted comments, FDA is reopening the comment period for an additional 30 days.

III. How To Submit Comments

Regardless of attendance at the public meeting, interested persons may submit to the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES) either electronic or written comments regarding this document. It is only necessary to send one set of comments. It is no longer necessary to send two copies of mailed 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.

Dated: October 29, 2010.

David Dorsey,

Acting Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Planning and Budget.