E9-30657. Draft Guidance for Industry on Tobacco Health Document Submission; Availability

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance document entitled “Tobacco Health Document Submission.” The draft guidance is intended to assist persons making certain document submissions to FDA under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act).

DATES:

Although you can comment on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5)), to ensure that the agency considers your comment on this draft guidance before it begins work on the final version of the guidance, submit written or electronic comments on the draft guidance by January 22, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

Submit written requests for single copies of the draft guidance document entitled “Tobacco Health Document Submission” to the Center for Tobacco Products, Food and Drug Administration, 9200 Corporate Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850-3229. Send one self-addressed adhesive label to assist that office in processing your request or include a fax number to which the draft guidance document may be sent.

Submit electronic comments to http://www.regulations.gov. Submit written comments on the guidance to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Identify comments with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for electronic access to the guidance document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

May Nelson, Center for Tobacco Products, Food and Drug Administration, 9200 Corporate Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850-3229, 240-276-1717, [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

On June 22, 2009, the President signed the Tobacco Control Act (Public Law 111-31) into law. The Tobacco Control Act amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) by, among other things, adding a new chapter granting FDA important new authority to regulate the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of tobacco products to protect the public health generally and to reduce tobacco use by minors.

Section 904(a)(4) of the act, as amended by the Tobacco Control Act, requires each tobacco product manufacturer or importer, or agent thereof, to submit all documents developed after June 22, 2009, “* * * that relate to health, toxicological, behavioral, or physiologic effects of current or future tobacco products, their constituents (including smoke constituents), ingredients, components, and additives.” Information required under section 904(a)(4) of the act must be submitted to FDA beginning December 22, 2009. FDA recognizes the challenges associated with the collection, review, organization, and production of documents. We also recognize that additional time may be necessary for the production of documents in a digital format, which FDA strongly encourages in order to improve the management and accessibility of submitted documents. Therefore, FDA does not intend to enforce the December 22, 2009, deadline provided you submit by April 30, 2009, all documents described in section 904(a)(4) of the act developed between June 23, 2009, and March 31, 2010.

II. Significance of Guidance

FDA is issuing this draft guidance document consistent with FDA's good guidance practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The draft guidance, when finalized, will represent the agency's current thinking on “Tobacco Health Document Submission.” It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. An alternative approach may be used if such approach satisfies the requirements of the applicable statute and regulations.

III. Comments

Interested persons may submit to the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES) written or electronic comments regarding this document. Submit a single copy of electronic comments or two paper copies of any mailed comments, except that individuals may submit one paper copy. Comments are to be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. The draft guidance document and received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

IV. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

This draft guidance contains proposed collections of information that are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). As required by the PRA, FDA has published an analysis of, among other information collections, the information collection concerning the submission of tobacco health documents (74 FR 45219, September 1, 2009, as corrected by 74 FR 47257, September 15, 2009) and will submit them for OMB approval.

V. Electronic Access

An electronic version of the guidance document is available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov and http://www.fda.gov/​TobaccoProducts/​GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/​default.htm.

Dated: December 22, 2009.

David Horowitz,

Assistant Commissioner for Policy.