80_FR_37061 80 FR 36937 - Use of Ozone-Depleting Substances; Request for Comment Concerning Essential-Use Designations

80 FR 36937 - Use of Ozone-Depleting Substances; Request for Comment Concerning Essential-Use Designations

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 124 (June 29, 2015)

Page Range36937-36939
FR Document2015-15902

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is seeking public comment on whether the uses of ozone-depleting substances (ODSs), including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), in certain FDA-regulated products currently designated essential are no longer essential under the Clean Air Act due to the availability of alternatives that do not use CFCs or because the products are no longer being marketed. Essential-use products are exempt from FDA's ban on the use of CFC propellants in FDA-regulated products and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) ban on the use of CFCs in pressurized dispensers. FDA is seeking public comment because it is responsible for determining which FDA-regulated products that release CFCs or other ODSs are essential uses under the Clean Air Act. FDA is soliciting comments to assist the Agency in striking an appropriate balance that will best protect the public health, both by ensuring the availability of an adequate number of alternatives and by curtailing the release of ODSs.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 124 (Monday, June 29, 2015)
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 124 (Monday, June 29, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36937-36939]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15902]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

21 CFR Part 2

[Docket No. FDA-2015-N-1355]


Use of Ozone-Depleting Substances; Request for Comment Concerning 
Essential-Use Designations

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice and request for public comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is seeking 
public comment on whether the uses of ozone-depleting substances 
(ODSs), including chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), in certain FDA-regulated 
products currently designated essential are no longer essential under 
the Clean Air Act due to the availability of alternatives that do not 
use CFCs or because the products are no longer being marketed. 
Essential-use products are exempt from FDA's ban on the use of CFC 
propellants in FDA-regulated products and the Environmental Protection 
Agency's (EPA's) ban on the use of CFCs in pressurized dispensers. FDA 
is seeking public comment because it is responsible for determining 
which FDA-regulated products that release CFCs or other ODSs are 
essential uses under the Clean Air Act. FDA is soliciting comments to 
assist the Agency in striking an appropriate balance that will best 
protect the public health, both by ensuring the availability of an 
adequate number of alternatives and by curtailing the release of ODSs.

DATES: Submit written or electronic comments by August 28, 2015.

[[Page 36938]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

Electronic Submissions

    Submit electronic comments in the following way:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Written Submissions

    Submit written submissions in the following ways:
     Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for paper submissions): 
Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket 
No(s). ([INSERT]). All comments received may be posted without change 
to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided. For additional information on submitting comments, see the 
``Comments'' heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this 
document.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov and insert the 
docket number(s), found in brackets in the heading of this document, 
into the ``Search'' box and follow the prompts and/or go to the 
Division of Dockets Management, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, 
MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Daniel Orr, Center for Drug Evaluation 
and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., 
Bldg. 51, Rm. 6246, Silver Spring, MD 20993, 240-402-0979, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Any drug, device, cosmetic, or food contained in an aerosol product 
or other pressurized dispenser that releases a CFC or other ODS 
propellant is not an essential use of the ODS under the Clean Air Act 
except as provided in 21 CFR 2.125(c) and (e). This prohibition is 
based on scientific research indicating that CFCs reduce the amount of 
ozone in the stratosphere and thereby increase the amount of 
ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth. An increase in ultraviolet 
radiation will increase the incidence of skin cancer, and produce other 
adverse effects of unknown magnitude on humans, animals, and plants. 
Sections 2.125(c) and (e) provide exemptions for essential uses of ODSs 
for certain products containing ODS propellants that FDA determines 
provide unique health benefits that would not be available without the 
use of a CFC.
    EPA regulations implementing the provisions of section 610 of the 
Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7671i) contain a general ban on the use of 
CFCs in pressurized dispensers, such as metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) 
(40 CFR 82.64(c) and 82.66(d)). These EPA regulations exempt from the 
general ban ``medical devices'' that FDA considers essential and that 
are listed in 21 CFR 2.125(e). Section 601(8) of the Clean Air Act (42 
U.S.C. 7671(8)) defines ``medical device'' as any device (as defined in 
the FD&C Act), diagnostic product, drug (as defined in the FD&C Act), 
and drug delivery system, if such device, diagnostic product, drug, or 
drug delivery system uses a class I or class II ODS for which no safe 
and effective alternative has been developed (and, where necessary, 
approved by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs (the Commissioner)); and 
if such device, diagnostic product, drug, or drug delivery system has, 
after notice and opportunity for public comment, been approved and 
determined to be essential by the Commissioner in consultation with the 
Administrator of EPA (the Administrator). Class I substances include 
CFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, methyl bromide, 
and other chemicals not relevant to this document (see 40 CFR part 82, 
appendix A to subpart A). Class II substances include 
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (see 40 CFR part 82, appendix B to subpart A).
    Production of ODSs is being phased out worldwide under the terms of 
the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer 
(Montreal Protocol), Sept. 16, 1987, S. Treaty Doc. No. 10, 100th 
Cong., 1st sess., 26 I.L.M. 1541 (1987). In accordance with the 
provisions of the Montreal Protocol, under authority of Title VI of the 
Clean Air Act (section 601 et seq.), manufacture of ODSs, including 
CFCs, in the United States was banned generally as of January 1, 1996. 
To receive permission to manufacture CFCs in the United States after 
the phase-out date, manufacturers must obtain an exemption from the 
phase-out requirements from the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. 
Procedures for securing an essential-use exemption under the Montreal 
Protocol are described in the most recent request by EPA for 
applications for exemptions (60 FR 54349, October 23, 1995). Firms that 
wish to use CFCs manufactured after the phase-out date in medical 
devices (as defined in section 601(8) of the Clean Air Act) covered 
under section 610 of the Clean Air Act must receive exemptions for 
essential uses under the Montreal Protocol.
    Faced with the statutorily mandated phase-out of the production of 
CFCs, drug manufacturers have developed alternatives to MDIs and other 
self-pressurized drug dosage forms that do not contain ODSs. Examples 
of these alternative dosage forms are MDIs that use non-ODSs as 
propellants and dry-powder inhalers. The current and future 
availability of technically feasible alternatives to the use of a CFC 
may mean that the existing listing of an essential use in 21 CFR 
2.125(e) no longer reflects current conditions. It is with this 
situation in mind that FDA is seeking public comment regarding the 
Agency's consideration of whether certain uses of ODSs are no longer 
essential.
    FDA is soliciting comments to assist the Agency in striking an 
appropriate balance that will best protect the public health by 
ensuring the availability of an adequate number of treatment 
alternatives and by curtailing the release of ODSs.

II. Listed Uses That May No Longer Be Considered Essential

    There are certain uses of CFCs currently listed in 21 CFR 2.125(e) 
as essential that may no longer be considered as essential. Section 
2.125(g) sets forth standards for determining whether the use of an ODS 
in a medical product is no longer essential. FDA is seeking public 
comment concerning whether the following uses should still be 
considered essential:

A. Sterile Aerosol Talc Administered Intrapleurally by Thoracoscopy for 
Human Use (21 CFR 2.125(e)(4)(ix))

    There is currently one sterile aerosol talc product containing ODSs 
which is approved for administration intrapleurally by thoracoscopy for 
human use for the treatment of recurrent malignant pleural effusion 
(MPE) in symptomatic patients. Under 21 CFR 2.125(g)(3), an essential-
use designation for individual active moieties marketed as ODS products 
and represented by one new drug application may no longer be essential 
if:
     At least one non-ODS product with the same active moiety 
is marketed with the same route of administration, for the same 
indication, and with approximately the same level of convenience of use 
as the ODS product containing that active moiety;
     Supplies and production capacity for the non-ODS 
product(s) exist or will exist at levels sufficient to meet patient 
need;

[[Page 36939]]

     Adequate U.S. postmarketing-use data are available for the 
non-ODS product(s); and
     Patients who medically require the ODS product are 
adequately served by the non-ODS product(s) containing that active 
moiety and other available products (21 CFR 2.125(g)(3)).
    Sterile aerosol talc is currently marketed for intrapleural 
administration in two non-ODS formulations--powder and aerosol. Sterile 
aerosol talc is a powder formulation of talc available for intrapleural 
administration via chest tube. Sclerosol Intrapleural Aerosol (sterile 
talc powder) is an aerosol formulation which contains the propellant, 
hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) 134a and is approved for intrapleural 
administration. Sclerosol Intrapleural Alcohol, a form of aerosol 
sterile talc, is indicated for the treatment of recurrent MPE in 
symptomatic patients.
    The route of administration, indications, and level of convenience 
appear to be the same for the ODS and non-ODS formulations of sterile 
aerosol talc. Moreover, because production of non-ODS formulations are 
not limited by restrictions on the use of ODSs, the Agency believes 
that non-ODS formulations can be produced at greater quantities and 
have the potential to be more widely available than prior formulations 
that contained ODSs. In addition, there is adequate U.S. postmarketing-
use data indicating that the non-ODS products are available in 
sufficient quantities to serve the current patient population. For 
these reasons, we believe that patients may be adequately served by the 
non-ODS products containing sterile aerosol talc. Thus, FDA is seeking 
public comment concerning whether sterile aerosol talc administered 
intrapleurally by thoracoscopy for human use is no longer an essential 
use of ODSs described in 21 CFR 2.125(e).

B. Drug Products That Are No Longer Being Marketed

    Under 21 CFR 2.125(g)(1), an active moiety may no longer be an 
essential-use (21 CFR 2.125(e)) if it is no longer marketed in an 
approved ODS formulation. FDA believes failure to market indicates non-
essentiality because the absence of a demand sufficient for even one 
company to market the product is highly indicative that the use is not 
essential.
    FDA is seeking public comment as to whether metered-dose atropine 
sulfate aerosol human drugs administered by oral inhalation (21 CFR 
2.125(e)(4)(vi)) and anesthetic drugs for topical use on accessible 
mucous membranes of humans where a cannula is used for application (21 
CFR 2.125(e)(4)(iii)) are no longer essential uses as described at 21 
CFR 2.125(e). FDA has information that these products are not currently 
being marketed in an approved form that releases ODSs, and, under 21 
CFR 2.125(g)(1), they may no longer constitute an essential-use. 
Because these products are no longer being marketed, FDA does not 
believe that loss of essential use status would not result in any drugs 
being made unavailable to patients.

III. Comments

    Interested persons may submit either electronic comments regarding 
this document to http://www.regulations.gov or written comments to the 
Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES). It is only necessary to 
send one set of 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, and will be posted to the docket at http://www.regulations.gov.

    Dated: June 24, 2015.
Leslie Kux,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2015-15902 Filed 6-26-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4164-01-P



                                                                                                                                                                                                      36937

                                               Proposed Rules                                                                                                 Federal Register
                                                                                                                                                              Vol. 80, No. 124

                                                                                                                                                              Monday, June 29, 2015



                                               This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER                       • Fax: (202) 482–0827. Include RIN                  this notice must be resubmitted in order
                                               contains notices to the public of the proposed          0605–AA38 in the subject line.                         to be considered.
                                               issuance of rules and regulations. The                     • Mail: Dr. Michael Toland, Office of                 If no comments are received, a rule
                                               purpose of these notices is to give interested                                                                 will be published, effective as proposed
                                                                                                       Privacy and Open Government, 1401
                                               persons an opportunity to participate in the                                                                   in 80 FR 26499 (May 8, 2015) on the
                                               rule making prior to the adoption of the final          Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC
                                                                                                       20230.                                                 date of publication, in the Federal
                                               rules.
                                                                                                          Instructions: All submissions received              Register.
                                                                                                       must include the agency name and                         Dated: June 19, 2015.
                                               DEPARMENT OF COMMERCE                                   docket number or RIN for this                          Catrina D. Purvis,
                                                                                                       rulemaking. All comments received will                 Department of Commerce, Chief Privacy
                                               Office of the Secretary                                 be posted without change to                            Officer and Director for Open Government.
                                                                                                       regulations.gov, including any personal                [FR Doc. 2015–15865 Filed 6–26–15; 8:45 am]
                                               15 CFR Part 4                                           information received. For detailed                     BILLING CODE 3510–BX–P
                                               [Docket No. 150324296–5527–02]                          instructions on submitting comments
                                                                                                       and additional information on the
                                               RIN 0605–AA38                                           rulemaking process, see the ‘‘Public                   DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                               Public Information, Freedom of                          Participation’’ heading of the                         HUMAN SERVICES
                                               Information Act and Privacy Act                         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for
                                               Regulations                                             the proposed rule published May 8,                     Food and Drug Administration
                                                                                                       2015 (80 FR 26499).
                                               AGENCY:  Office of the Secretary, U.S.                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.                   21 CFR Part 2
                                               Department of Commerce.                                 Michael Toland, Office of Privacy and                  [Docket No. FDA–2015–N–1355]
                                               ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of                     Open Government, 1401 Constitution
                                               public comment period.                                  Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20230, (202)                  Use of Ozone-Depleting Substances;
                                               SUMMARY:   On May 8, 2015, the                          482–3842.                                              Request for Comment Concerning
                                               Department of Commerce (Department)                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 8,                   Essential-Use Designations
                                               published in the Federal Register a                     2015, the Department of Commerce                       AGENCY:   Food and Drug Administration,
                                               proposed rule to revise the Department’s                published in the Federal Register a rule               HHS.
                                               regulations under the Privacy Act. In                   proposing revisions to the Department’s                      Notice and request for public
                                                                                                                                                              ACTION:
                                               particular, the Department proposed to                  Privacy Act regulations under the                      comment.
                                               amend its regulations regarding                         Privacy Act. The revisions of the
                                               applicable exemptions to the Privacy                    Privacy Act regulations in subpart B of                SUMMARY:   The Food and Drug
                                               Act to reflect new Department wide                      part 4 incorporate changes to the                      Administration (FDA or Agency) is
                                               systems of records notices published                    language in the regulations in the                     seeking public comment on whether the
                                               since the last time the regulations were                following provisions: § 4.33 (General                  uses of ozone-depleting substances
                                               updated. The Department opened a                        exemptions); and § 4.34 (Specific                      (ODSs), including chlorofluorocarbons
                                               public comment period through June 8,                   Exemptions). See 80 FR 26499, May 8,                   (CFCs), in certain FDA-regulated
                                               2015. The Department is reopening the                   2015. In the original proposal, the                    products currently designated essential
                                               original public comment period of 30                    Department requested comment on or                     are no longer essential under the Clean
                                               days for the proposed rulemaking for an                 before June 8, 2015. The public                        Air Act due to the availability of
                                               additional 30 days from the date of                     comment period is being reopened                       alternatives that do not use CFCs or
                                               publication of this notice. The                         because not all interested parties may                 because the products are no longer
                                               reopening is necessary because not all                  have been given adequate notice, as well               being marketed. Essential-use products
                                               interested parties may have been given                  as time to respond with comments about                 are exempt from FDA’s ban on the use
                                               appropriate notification about this                     the Department’s proposal to revise its                of CFC propellants in FDA-regulated
                                               proposed new system of records, as well                 regulations under the Privacy Act of                   products and the Environmental
                                               as time to respond with comments prior                  1974. This reopening will provide an                   Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) ban on the
                                               to the closing date of the original public              opportunity for appropriate review and                 use of CFCs in pressurized dispensers.
                                               comment period of June 8, 2015.                         comment of the proposed rulemaking                     FDA is seeking public comment because
                                               DATES: The comment period for the                       now posted in regulations.gov, RIN                     it is responsible for determining which
                                               proposed rule published May 8, 2015                     0605–AA38, or in the public docket,                    FDA-regulated products that release
                                               (80 FR 26499), is reopened. To be                       Docket ID No. 150324296–5265–01, for                   CFCs or other ODSs are essential uses
                                               considered, written comments must be                    30 days from the date of today’s                       under the Clean Air Act. FDA is
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                                               submitted on or before July 29, 2015.                   publication.                                           soliciting comments to assist the Agency
                                               ADDRESSES: You may submit written                          All previously submitted comments                   in striking an appropriate balance that
                                               comments, identified by Regulatory                      will be responded to as appropriate, and               will best protect the public health, both
                                               Identification Number (RIN) 0605–                       members of the public who have                         by ensuring the availability of an
                                               AA38, by any of the following methods:                  submitted comments during the prior                    adequate number of alternatives and by
                                                 • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://                 comment period need not resubmit                       curtailing the release of ODSs.
                                               www.regulations.gov. Follow the                         them at this time. Comments received                   DATES: Submit written or electronic
                                               instructions for submitting comments.                   after June 8, but before publication of                comments by August 28, 2015.


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                                               36938                    Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 2015 / Proposed Rules

                                               ADDRESSES:  You may submit comments                     provide unique health benefits that                    the Clean Air Act must receive
                                               by any of the following methods:                        would not be available without the use                 exemptions for essential uses under the
                                                                                                       of a CFC.                                              Montreal Protocol.
                                               Electronic Submissions                                     EPA regulations implementing the                       Faced with the statutorily mandated
                                                 Submit electronic comments in the                     provisions of section 610 of the Clean                 phase-out of the production of CFCs,
                                               following way:                                          Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7671i) contain a                    drug manufacturers have developed
                                                 • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://                 general ban on the use of CFCs in                      alternatives to MDIs and other self-
                                               www.regulations.gov. Follow the                         pressurized dispensers, such as                        pressurized drug dosage forms that do
                                               instructions for submitting comments.                   metered-dose inhalers (MDIs) (40 CFR                   not contain ODSs. Examples of these
                                                                                                       82.64(c) and 82.66(d)). These EPA                      alternative dosage forms are MDIs that
                                               Written Submissions
                                                                                                       regulations exempt from the general ban                use non-ODSs as propellants and dry-
                                                  Submit written submissions in the                    ‘‘medical devices’’ that FDA considers                 powder inhalers. The current and future
                                               following ways:                                         essential and that are listed in 21 CFR                availability of technically feasible
                                                  • Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for                    2.125(e). Section 601(8) of the Clean Air              alternatives to the use of a CFC may
                                               paper submissions): Division of Dockets                 Act (42 U.S.C. 7671(8)) defines ‘‘medical              mean that the existing listing of an
                                               Management (HFA–305), Food and Drug                     device’’ as any device (as defined in the              essential use in 21 CFR 2.125(e) no
                                               Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm.                  FD&C Act), diagnostic product, drug (as                longer reflects current conditions. It is
                                               1061, Rockville, MD 20852.                              defined in the FD&C Act), and drug                     with this situation in mind that FDA is
                                                  Instructions: All submissions received               delivery system, if such device,                       seeking public comment regarding the
                                               must include the Docket No(s).                          diagnostic product, drug, or drug                      Agency’s consideration of whether
                                               ([INSERT]). All comments received may                   delivery system uses a class I or class II             certain uses of ODSs are no longer
                                               be posted without change to http://                     ODS for which no safe and effective                    essential.
                                               www.regulations.gov, including any                      alternative has been developed (and,                      FDA is soliciting comments to assist
                                               personal information provided. For                      where necessary, approved by the                       the Agency in striking an appropriate
                                               additional information on submitting                    Commissioner of Food and Drugs (the                    balance that will best protect the public
                                               comments, see the ‘‘Comments’’ heading                  Commissioner)); and if such device,                    health by ensuring the availability of an
                                               of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION                        diagnostic product, drug, or drug                      adequate number of treatment
                                               section of this document.                               delivery system has, after notice and                  alternatives and by curtailing the release
                                                  Docket: For access to the docket to                  opportunity for public comment, been                   of ODSs.
                                               read background documents or                            approved and determined to be essential
                                                                                                       by the Commissioner in consultation                    II. Listed Uses That May No Longer Be
                                               comments received, go to http://
                                                                                                       with the Administrator of EPA (the                     Considered Essential
                                               www.regulations.gov and insert the
                                               docket number(s), found in brackets in                  Administrator). Class I substances                        There are certain uses of CFCs
                                               the heading of this document, into the                  include CFCs, halons, carbon                           currently listed in 21 CFR 2.125(e) as
                                               ‘‘Search’’ box and follow the prompts                   tetrachloride, methyl chloroform,                      essential that may no longer be
                                               and/or go to the Division of Dockets                    methyl bromide, and other chemicals                    considered as essential. Section 2.125(g)
                                               Management, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm.                      not relevant to this document (see 40                  sets forth standards for determining
                                               1061, Rockville, MD 20852.                              CFR part 82, appendix A to subpart A).                 whether the use of an ODS in a medical
                                               FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                       Class II substances include                            product is no longer essential. FDA is
                                               Daniel Orr, Center for Drug Evaluation                  hydrochlorofluorocarbons (see 40 CFR                   seeking public comment concerning
                                               and Research, Food and Drug                             part 82, appendix B to subpart A).                     whether the following uses should still
                                                                                                          Production of ODSs is being phased                  be considered essential:
                                               Administration, 10903 New Hampshire
                                                                                                       out worldwide under the terms of the
                                               Ave., Bldg. 51, Rm. 6246, Silver Spring,                                                                       A. Sterile Aerosol Talc Administered
                                                                                                       Montreal Protocol on Substances that
                                               MD 20993, 240–402–0979, daniel.orr@                                                                            Intrapleurally by Thoracoscopy for
                                                                                                       Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal
                                               fda.hhs.gov.                                                                                                   Human Use (21 CFR 2.125(e)(4)(ix))
                                                                                                       Protocol), Sept. 16, 1987, S. Treaty Doc.
                                               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              No. 10, 100th Cong., 1st sess., 26 I.L.M.                 There is currently one sterile aerosol
                                                                                                       1541 (1987). In accordance with the                    talc product containing ODSs which is
                                               I. Background
                                                                                                       provisions of the Montreal Protocol,                   approved for administration
                                                 Any drug, device, cosmetic, or food                   under authority of Title VI of the Clean               intrapleurally by thoracoscopy for
                                               contained in an aerosol product or other                Air Act (section 601 et seq.),                         human use for the treatment of recurrent
                                               pressurized dispenser that releases a                   manufacture of ODSs, including CFCs,                   malignant pleural effusion (MPE) in
                                               CFC or other ODS propellant is not an                   in the United States was banned                        symptomatic patients. Under 21 CFR
                                               essential use of the ODS under the                      generally as of January 1, 1996. To                    2.125(g)(3), an essential-use designation
                                               Clean Air Act except as provided in 21                  receive permission to manufacture CFCs                 for individual active moieties marketed
                                               CFR 2.125(c) and (e). This prohibition is               in the United States after the phase-out               as ODS products and represented by one
                                               based on scientific research indicating                 date, manufacturers must obtain an                     new drug application may no longer be
                                               that CFCs reduce the amount of ozone                    exemption from the phase-out                           essential if:
                                               in the stratosphere and thereby increase                requirements from the Parties to the                      • At least one non-ODS product with
                                               the amount of ultraviolet radiation                     Montreal Protocol. Procedures for                      the same active moiety is marketed with
                                               reaching the Earth. An increase in                      securing an essential-use exemption                    the same route of administration, for the
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                                               ultraviolet radiation will increase the                 under the Montreal Protocol are                        same indication, and with
                                               incidence of skin cancer, and produce                   described in the most recent request by                approximately the same level of
                                               other adverse effects of unknown                        EPA for applications for exemptions (60                convenience of use as the ODS product
                                               magnitude on humans, animals, and                       FR 54349, October 23, 1995). Firms that                containing that active moiety;
                                               plants. Sections 2.125(c) and (e) provide               wish to use CFCs manufactured after the                   • Supplies and production capacity
                                               exemptions for essential uses of ODSs                   phase-out date in medical devices (as                  for the non-ODS product(s) exist or will
                                               for certain products containing ODS                     defined in section 601(8) of the Clean                 exist at levels sufficient to meet patient
                                               propellants that FDA determines                         Air Act) covered under section 610 of                  need;


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                                                                        Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 124 / Monday, June 29, 2015 / Proposed Rules                                           36939

                                                  • Adequate U.S. postmarketing-use                    application (21 CFR 2.125(e)(4)(iii)) are              ADDRESSES:   To ensure that you do not
                                               data are available for the non-ODS                      no longer essential uses as described at               duplicate your docket submissions,
                                               product(s); and                                         21 CFR 2.125(e). FDA has information                   please submit them by only one of the
                                                  • Patients who medically require the                 that these products are not currently                  following means:
                                               ODS product are adequately served by                    being marketed in an approved form                        • Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
                                               the non-ODS product(s) containing that                  that releases ODSs, and, under 21 CFR                  http://www.regulations.gov and follow
                                               active moiety and other available                       2.125(g)(1), they may no longer                        the online instructions for submitting
                                               products (21 CFR 2.125(g)(3)).                          constitute an essential-use. Because                   comments.
                                                  Sterile aerosol talc is currently                    these products are no longer being                        • Mail: Docket Management Facility,
                                               marketed for intrapleural administration                marketed, FDA does not believe that                    U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200
                                               in two non-ODS formulations—powder                      loss of essential use status would not                 New Jersey Ave. SE., West Building
                                               and aerosol. Sterile aerosol talc is a                  result in any drugs being made                         Ground Floor Room W12–140,
                                               powder formulation of talc available for                unavailable to patients.                               Washington, DC 20590–0001;
                                               intrapleural administration via chest                                                                             • Hand Delivery: West Building
                                               tube. Sclerosol Intrapleural Aerosol                    III. Comments                                          Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200
                                               (sterile talc powder) is an aerosol                        Interested persons may submit either                New Jersey Ave. SE., between 9 a.m. 5
                                               formulation which contains the                          electronic comments regarding this                     p.m., Monday through Friday, except
                                               propellant, hydrofluoroalkane (HFA)                     document to http://www.regulations.gov                 Federal holidays. The telephone number
                                               134a and is approved for intrapleural                   or written comments to the Division of                 is (202) 366–9329;
                                               administration. Sclerosol Intrapleural                  Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES). It                    • Instructions: You must include the
                                               Alcohol, a form of aerosol sterile talc, is             is only necessary to send one set of                   agency name and docket number DOT–
                                               indicated for the treatment of recurrent                comments. Identify comments with the                   FHWA-or the Regulatory Identification
                                               MPE in symptomatic patients.                            docket number found in brackets in the                 Number (RIN) for the rulemaking at the
                                                  The route of administration,                         heading of this document. Received                     beginning of your comments. All
                                               indications, and level of convenience                   comments may be seen in the Division                   comments received will be posted
                                               appear to be the same for the ODS and                   of Dockets Management between 9 a.m.                   without change to http://
                                               non-ODS formulations of sterile aerosol                 and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and                 www.regulations.gov, including any
                                               talc. Moreover, because production of                   will be posted to the docket at http://                personal information provided.
                                               non-ODS formulations are not limited                    www.regulations.gov.                                   FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
                                               by restrictions on the use of ODSs, the
                                               Agency believes that non-ODS                              Dated: June 24, 2015.                                Gerald Yakowenko, Contract
                                               formulations can be produced at greater                 Leslie Kux,                                            Administration Team Leader, Office of
                                               quantities and have the potential to be                 Associate Commissioner for Policy.                     Program Administration, (202) 366–
                                               more widely available than prior                        [FR Doc. 2015–15902 Filed 6–26–15; 8:45 am]            1562, or Ms. Janet Myers, Office of the
                                               formulations that contained ODSs. In                    BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
                                                                                                                                                              Chief Counsel, (202) 366–2019, Federal
                                               addition, there is adequate U.S.                                                                               Highway Administration, 1200 New
                                               postmarketing-use data indicating that                                                                         Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC
                                               the non-ODS products are available in                                                                          20590. Office hours are from 8 a.m. to
                                                                                                       DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                                               sufficient quantities to serve the current                                                                     4:30 p.m., E.T., Monday through Friday,
                                               patient population. For these reasons,                  Federal Highway Administration                         except Federal holidays.
                                               we believe that patients may be                                                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                               adequately served by the non-ODS                        23 CFR Parts 630 and 635                               Summary
                                               products containing sterile aerosol talc.               [Docket No. FHWA–2015–0009; FHWA RIN
                                               Thus, FDA is seeking public comment                                                                               This regulatory action is undertaken
                                                                                                       2125–AF61
                                               concerning whether sterile aerosol talc                                                                        to fulfill the statutory requirement in
                                               administered intrapleurally by                          Construction Manager/General                           Section 1303(b) of MAP–21 requiring
                                               thoracoscopy for human use is no longer                 Contractor Contracting                                 the Secretary to promulgate a regulation
                                               an essential use of ODSs described in 21                                                                       to implement the CM/GC method of
                                               CFR 2.125(e).                                           AGENCY: Federal Highway                                contracting. The CM/GC is a contracting
                                                                                                       Administration, DOT.                                   method that allows a contracting agency
                                               B. Drug Products That Are No Longer                     ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking                  to use a single procurement to secure
                                               Being Marketed                                          (NPRM); request for comments.                          pre-construction and construction
                                                 Under 21 CFR 2.125(g)(1), an active                                                                          services. In the pre-construction
                                               moiety may no longer be an essential-                   SUMMARY:     Section 1303 of the Moving                services phase, a contracting agency
                                               use (21 CFR 2.125(e)) if it is no longer                Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century                 procures the services of a construction
                                               marketed in an approved ODS                             Act (MAP–21) amends 23 U.S.C. 112 to                   contractor early in the design phase of
                                               formulation. FDA believes failure to                    require the Secretary of Transportation                a project in order to obtain the
                                               market indicates non-essentiality                       to promulgate regulations as necessary                 contractor’s input on constructability
                                               because the absence of a demand                         to implement the Construction                          issues that may be affected by the
                                               sufficient for even one company to                      Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC)                     project design. A CM/GC contractor
                                               market the product is highly indicative                 contracting method. This NPRM                          does not provide any preliminary or
                                                                                                       initiates the formal rulemaking process
Lhorne on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS




                                               that the use is not essential.                                                                                 final design services. As part of the
                                                 FDA is seeking public comment as to                   to fulfill the legislative requirement and             preconstruction services phase of a CM/
                                               whether metered-dose atropine sulfate                   establish such regulations as are                      GC contract, the CM/GC contractor
                                               aerosol human drugs administered by                     necessary for the FHWA’s approval of                   provides information for consideration
                                               oral inhalation (21 CFR 2.125(e)(4)(vi))                projects using the CM/GC method of                     in the design and environmental review
                                               and anesthetic drugs for topical use on                 contracting.                                           processes on construction-related
                                               accessible mucous membranes of                          DATES: Comments must be received on                    aspects of a project, including the
                                               humans where a cannula is used for                      or before August 28, 2015.                             potential effects of design elements on


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Document Created: 2015-12-15 14:24:58
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 14:24:58
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionProposed Rules
ActionNotice and request for public comment.
DatesSubmit written or electronic comments by August 28, 2015.
ContactDaniel Orr, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 51, Rm. 6246, Silver Spring, MD 20993, 240-402-0979, [email protected]
FR Citation80 FR 36937 

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