E6-18901. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Guidance for Industry on How to Use E-Mail to Submit Information to the Center for Veterinary Medicine

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 extending Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval on the existing reporting requirements relating to how one may submit information electronically to the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM), using e-mail.

DATES:

Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of information by January 8, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Submit electronic comments on the collection of information to: http://www.fda.gov/​dockets/​ecomments. Submit written comments on the collection of information to the Division of Dockets Management (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:

Denver Presley, Jr., Office of the Chief Information Officer (HFA-250), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-827-1472.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal agencies must obtain approval from 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 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.

Guidance for Industry on How to Use E-Mail to Submit Information to the Center for Veterinary Medicine—21 CFR 11.2 (OMB Control Number 0910-0454—Extension)

CVM accepts certain types of submissions electronically with no requirement for a paper copy. These types of documents are listed in public docket 97S-0251 as required by 21 CFR 11.2. CVM's ability to receive and process information submitted electronically is limited by its current information technology capabilities and the requirements of the Electronic Records; Electronic Signatures final regulation. CVM's guidance entitled “Guidance for Industry #108: “How to Submit Information in Electronic Format by E-Mail” outlines general standards to be used for the submission of any information by e-mail.

The likely respondents are sponsors for new animal drug applications.

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

Table 1.—Estimated Annual Reporting Burden¹

21 CFR Section	No. of Respondents	Annual Frequency per Response	Total Annual Responses2	Hours per Respondent	Total Hours
11.2	25	5.62	140	.08	11.2
1 There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information.
2 Electronic submissions received between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 2006.

The number of respondents in table 1 of this document is the number of sponsors registered to make electronic submissions (25). The number of total annual responses is based on a review of the actual number of such submissions made between July 1, 2005, and June 30, 3006. (140 x hours per response (.08) =11.2 total hours.)

Dated: November 2, 2006.

Jeffrey Shuren,

Assistant Commissioner for Policy.