95-23032. Viruses, Serums, Toxins, and Analogous Products; State-Federal Licensure of Veterinary Biologics  

  • [Federal Register Volume 60, Number 180 (Monday, September 18, 1995)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 48020-48022]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 95-23032]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
    Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
    
    9 CFR Parts 102 and 114
    
    [Docket No. 93-136-2]
    
    
    Viruses, Serums, Toxins, and Analogous Products; State-Federal 
    Licensure of Veterinary Biologics
    
    AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: We are amending the regulations concerning State-Federal 
    licensing of veterinary biological products. The effect of the 
    amendment is that a Federally licensed establishment will not be 
    allowed to produce the same veterinary biological product under both a 
    State and Federal product license. Autogenous biologics will not be 
    subject to the same requirement in that a Federally licensed 
    establishment may hold both State and Federal product licenses for 
    autogenous biologics, but must choose to produce each specific serial 
    of such biologic under either a State or Federal product license. No 
    autogenous biologic may be produced at the same time under both a 
    Federal and State license. The amendment is necessary in order to 
    ensure the integrity of the Federal licensing system and the safety of 
    biological products produced in Federally licensed establishments.
        We are also removing outdated sections from the regulations 
    referring to interim establishment licenses and exemption procedures 
    that were permitted during the 5-year transition period to attain 
    Federal licensure under the 1985 amendments to the Virus-Serum-Toxin 
    Act.
    
    EFFECTIVE DATE: October 18, 1995.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. David A. Espeseth, Deputy 
    Director, Veterinary Biologics, BBEP, APHIS, USDA, 4700 River Road Unit 
    148, Riverdale, MD 20737-1237, (301) 734-8245.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    Background
    
        The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), U.S. 
    Department of Agriculture (USDA), licenses veterinary biological 
    products under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act (21 U.S.C. 151-159, 
    hereinafter, the Act), as amended by the Food Security Act of 1985. 
    Veterinary biologics licensed by APHIS include products such as 
    vaccines, antitoxins, viruses, diagnostics, and autogenous biologics 
    (vaccines, bacterins, and toxoids) which are normally used in the herd 
    of origin (the herd from which the disease causing microorganism is 
    derived) to immunize animals against infectious disease.
        Under the Act, veterinary biological products are licensed on the 
    basis of their purity, safety, potency, and efficacy. The 1985 
    amendments to the Act exempt certain products from the requirement that 
    they be produced pursuant to an unsuspended and unrevoked Federal 
    license. Such products include those which are prepared solely for 
    distribution within the State of production pursuant to a license 
    granted by such State under a program approved by the Administrator of 
    APHIS.
        The regulations in 9 CFR part 102 contain Federal licensing 
    provisions for biological products. The regulations in 9 CFR part 114 
    prescribe conditions under which an unlicensed product may be prepared 
    in a USDA-licensed establishment.
        On March 6, 1995, we published in the Federal Register (60 FR 
    12162-12165, Docket No. 93-136-1) a proposal to amend parts 102 and 
    114.
        We proposed to amend part 102 by removing the outdated reference to 
    Federal interim licenses in Sec. 102.1 and by removing Sec. 102.4(h), 
    which refers to outdated provisions. We also proposed minor editorial 
    changes to Sec. 102.4(b)(3) and Sec. 102.6 (introductory paragraph and 
    paragraph (a)) to reflect organizational changes within APHIS.
        We also proposed to amend part 114 by removing outdated provisions 
    for interim licenses and certain exemption procedures that were used in 
    implementing the 5-year transition to Federal licensure under the 1985 
    amendments to the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act. In addition, we proposed to 
    amend part 114 to establish the conditions that must be maintained when 
    a State-licensed veterinary biological product is produced in an 
    establishment holding a U.S. Veterinary Biologics Establishment 
    License.
        Under the proposed amendments, a Federally licensed establishment 
    would not be allowed to produce the same veterinary biological product 
    under both a State and Federal product license. Autogenous biologics 
    would not be subject to the same requirement in that a Federally 
    licensed establishment could hold both State and Federal product 
    licenses for autogenous biologics, but would have to choose to produce 
    each specific serial of such biologic under either a State or Federal 
    product license. No autogenous biologic 
    
    [[Page 48021]]
    could be produced at the same time under both a Federal and State 
    license.
        We solicited comments concerning our proposal for 60 days ending 
    May 5, 1995. We did not receive any comments. The proposed rule 
    provides the basis for this final rule.
        Therefore, based on the rationale set forth in the proposed rule, 
    we are adopting the provisions of the proposal as a final rule without 
    change.
    
    Executive Order 12866 and Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        This rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12866. The rule 
    has been determined to be not significant for purposes of Executive 
    Order 12866, and, therefore, has not been reviewed by the Office of 
    Management and Budget.
        This rule removes outdated sections from the regulations in 
    Secs. 102.1 and 102.4(h) and Sec. 114.2 (b) and (d). These sections 
    refer to outdated provisions related to the implementation of the 1985 
    amendments to the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act. These provisions expired on 
    June 30, 1991.
        This rule also establishes conditions applicable to some 100 
    producers to prepare a biological product under either a State or USDA 
    product license in a USDA licensed establishment. An exception is 
    provided for autogenous biologics. The amendment will not have an 
    adverse economic impact on these producers of biologics since it still 
    allows the production of both State and Federally licensed products in 
    Federally-licensed establishments. Therefore, it is not anticipated 
    that the amendment will have an economic impact on producers or small 
    businesses.
        Under these circumstances, the Administrator of the Animal and 
    Plant Health Inspection Service has determined that this action will 
    not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
    entities.
    
    Executive Order 12372
    
        This program/activity is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
    Assistance under No. 10.025 and is subject to Executive Order 12372, 
    which requires intergovernmental consultation with State and local 
    officials. (See 7 CFR part 3015, subpart V.)
    
    Executive Order 12778
        This final rule has been reviewed under Executive Order 12778, 
    Civil Justice Reform. It is not intended to have retroactive effect. 
    This rule will not preempt any State or local laws, regulations, or 
    policies, unless they present an irreconcilable conflict with this 
    rule. There are no administrative procedures which must be exhausted 
    prior to a judicial challenge to the provisions of this rule.
    
    Paperwork Reduction Act
    
        This document contains no new information collection or 
    recordkeeping requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 
    (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
    
    List of Subjects
    
    9 CFR Part 102
    
        Animal biologics, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    
    9 CFR Part 114
    
        Animal biologics, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    
        Accordingly, 9 CFR parts 102 and 114 are amended as follows:
    
    PART 102--LICENSES FOR BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS
    
        1. The authority citation for part 102 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 21 U.S.C. 151-159; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.51, and 371.2(d).
    
        2. Section 102.1 is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 102.1  Licenses issued by the Administrator.
    
        Each establishment qualified to prepare biological products under 
    the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act shall hold an unexpired and unrevoked U.S. 
    Veterinary Biologics Establishment License issued by the Administrator 
    and a U.S. Veterinary Biological Product License for each product 
    prepared in such establishment unless the product is subject to the 
    provisions of 9 CFR parts 103 or 106 of this subchapter.
    
    
    Sec. 102.4  [Amended]
    
        3. In Sec. 102.4, paragraph (b)(3), the words ``Veterinary 
    Services'' are removed and the words ``Animal and Plant Health 
    Inspection Service'' are added in their place.
        4. In Sec. 102.4, paragraph (h) is removed.
    
    
    Sec. 102.6  [Amended]
    
        5. In Sec. 102.6, in the introductory paragraph and paragraph (a), 
    the term ``Deputy'' is removed.
    
    PART 114--PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR BIOLOGICAL PRODUCTS
    
        6. The authority citation for part 114 is revised to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 21 U.S.C. 151-159; 7 CFR 2.17, 2.51, and 371.2(d).
    
        7. In Sec. 114.2, paragraphs (b) and (d) are removed; paragraph (c) 
    is redesignated as paragraph (b) and revised; and a new paragraph (c) 
    is added to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 114.2  Products not prepared under license.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) Except as provided in 9 CFR part 103, a biological product 
    shall not be prepared in a licensed establishment unless the person to 
    whom the establishment license is issued holds an unexpired, 
    unsuspended, and unrevoked product license issued by the Administrator 
    to prepare such biological product, or unless the products prepared are 
    subject to the provisions of Sec. 107.2 of this subchapter.
        (c) A biological product produced in a USDA-licensed establishment 
    shall be produced under a U.S. Veterinary Biological Product License or 
    a license granted by a State under Sec. 107.2 (referred to as a State 
    biological product license and the products prepared pursuant thereto 
    as State-licensed biological products, including autogenous biologics), 
    but not under both a U.S. Veterinary Biological Product License and a 
    State biological product license. Before a U.S. Veterinary Biological 
    Product License (including a conditional license) is issued, the 
    licensee shall relinquish its State license for that product: Provided, 
    That autogenous biologics shall not be subject to this provision when 
    they are prepared in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c)(5) 
    of this section.
        (1) State-licensed biological products (including autogenous 
    biologics) shall only be distributed or shipped intrastate, must not 
    bear a U.S. Veterinary Biologics Establishment License Number, and must 
    not otherwise be represented in any manner as having met the 
    requirements for a U.S. Veterinary Biological Product license. Labeling 
    of State- and USDA-licensed biological products produced in the same 
    establishment must be distinctly different in color and design.
        (2) All biological products in USDA-licensed establishments, 
    whether licensed by USDA or by the State, shall be prepared only in 
    locations indicated in legends filed in accordance with 9 CFR part 108. 
    A description of each State-licensed product must be filed with the 
    Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service as part of the blueprint 
    legends and must be sufficient for Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
    Service to determine any risk to the production of other products in 
    the licensed establishment and to determine that adequate procedures 
    are followed 
    
    [[Page 48022]]
    to prevent contamination during production.
        (3) Records in such establishments must be maintained in accordance 
    with Secs. 116.1 and 116.2 of this subchapter and shall include all 
    products licensed by the State or USDA.
        (4) Reports prescribed in Sec. 116.5 of this subchapter for USDA-
    licensed establishments shall be submitted for all veterinary 
    biological products in the establishment.
        (5) Under the following conditions, an autogenous biologic may be 
    produced in a USDA-licensed establishment under either a State or U.S. 
    Veterinary Biological Product License:
        (i) When a culture of microorganisms, isolated from a herd in a 
    State, is received at a USDA-licensed establishment that is in the same 
    State but that holds both a State and a U.S. Veterinary Biological 
    Products License for autogenous biologics, the isolate shall be 
    designated by the licensee for use in the production of an autogenous 
    biological product under either the State product license, or the U.S. 
    Veterinary Biological Product License: Provided, That the isolate meets 
    the requirements of the respective regulatory authority for an 
    autogenous biologic. If, after producing the product pursuant to one 
    license, the licensee elects to produce an autogenous biologic from the 
    same isolate under provisions of the other license, the licensee may do 
    so only with the approval of the other licensing authority.
        (ii) The true name of a State-licensed autogenous biologic shall 
    specify the State of licensure: e.g.
    
    `` __________ Autogenous Bacterin''     -------------------------------
      (State)
    
    or __________ Autogenous Vaccine''.   ---------------------------------
      (State)
    
        Done in Washington, DC, this 11th day of September 1995.
    Terry L. Medley,
    Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
    [FR Doc. 95-23032 Filed 9-15-95; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 3410-34-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
09/18/1995
Department:
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
95-23032
Dates:
October 18, 1995.
Pages:
48020-48022 (3 pages)
Docket Numbers:
Docket No. 93-136-2
PDF File:
95-23032.pdf
CFR: (4)
9 CFR 102.1
9 CFR 102.4
9 CFR 102.6
9 CFR 114.2