81_FR_35469 81 FR 35363 - Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals: Target Mean and Upper Bound Concentrations for Sodium in Commercially Processed, Packaged, and Prepared Foods; Draft Guidance for Industry; Availability

81 FR 35363 - Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals: Target Mean and Upper Bound Concentrations for Sodium in Commercially Processed, Packaged, and Prepared Foods; Draft Guidance for Industry; Availability

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 106 (June 2, 2016)

Page Range35363-35367
FR Document2016-12950

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing the availability of a draft guidance entitled ``Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals: Target Mean and Upper Bound Concentrations for Sodium in Commercially Processed, Packaged, and Prepared Foods.'' The draft guidance, when finalized, will describe our views on voluntary short- term and long-term goals for sodium reduction in a variety of identified categories of foods that are commercially processed, packaged, or prepared. These goals are intended to address the excessive intake of sodium in the current population and promote improvements in public health.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 106 (Thursday, June 2, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 106 (Thursday, June 2, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35363-35367]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-12950]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2014-D-0055]


Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals: Target Mean and Upper Bound 
Concentrations for Sodium in Commercially Processed, Packaged, and 
Prepared Foods; Draft Guidance for Industry; Availability

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or we) is announcing the 
availability of a draft guidance entitled ``Voluntary Sodium Reduction 
Goals: Target Mean and Upper Bound Concentrations for Sodium in 
Commercially Processed, Packaged, and Prepared Foods.'' The draft 
guidance, when finalized, will describe our views on voluntary short-
term and long-term goals for sodium reduction in a variety of 
identified categories of foods that are commercially processed, 
packaged, or prepared. These goals are intended to address the 
excessive intake of sodium in the current population and promote 
improvements in public health.

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 the 
draft guidance before it begins work on the final version of the 
guidance, submit either electronic or written comments on Issues 1 
through 4 listed in section IV of this document by August 31, 2016. 
Submit either electronic or written comments on Issues 5 through 8 
listed in section IV of this document by October 31, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments as follows:

Electronic Submissions

    Submit electronic comments in the following way:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted 
electronically, including attachments, to http://www.regulations.gov 
will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be 
made public, you are

[[Page 35364]]

solely responsible for ensuring that your comment does not include any 
confidential information that you or a third party may not wish to be 
posted, such as medical information, your or anyone else's Social 
Security number, or confidential business information, such as a 
manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your name, 
contact information, or other information that identifies you in the 
body of your comments, that information will be posted on http://www.regulations.gov.
     If you want to submit a comment with confidential 
information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, 
submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner 
detailed (see ``Written/Paper Submissions'' and ``Instructions'').

Written/Paper Submissions

    Submit written/paper submissions as follows:
     Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for written/paper 
submissions): Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
     For written/paper comments submitted to the Division of 
Dockets Management, FDA will post your comment, as well as any 
attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, 
as confidential, if submitted as detailed in ``Instructions.''
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket No. 
FDA-2014-D-0055 for ``Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals: Target Mean and 
Upper Bound Concentrations for Sodium in Commercially Processed, 
Packaged, and Prepared Foods; Draft Guidance for Industry.'' Received 
comments will be placed in the docket and, except for those submitted 
as ``Confidential Submissions,'' publicly viewable at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Division of Dockets Management between 9 
a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
     Confidential Submissions--To submit a comment with 
confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly 
available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You 
should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information 
you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states 
``THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.'' The Agency will 
review this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in 
its consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the 
claimed confidential information redacted/blacked out, will be 
available for public viewing and posted on http://www.regulations.gov. 
Submit both copies to the Division of Dockets Management. If you do not 
wish your name and contact information to be made publicly available, 
you can provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body 
of your comments and you must identify this information as 
``confidential.'' Any information marked as ``confidential'' will not 
be disclosed except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other 
applicable disclosure law. For more information about FDA's posting of 
comments to public dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or 
access the information at: http://www.fda.gov/regulatoryinformation/dockets/default.htm.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, 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.
    Submit written requests for single copies of the draft guidance to 
the Office of Food Additive Safety, Center for Food Safety and Applied 
Nutrition (HFS-255), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch 
Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740. Send two self-addressed adhesive labels 
to assist that office in processing your request. See the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section for electronic access to the draft guidance.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kasey Heintz, Center for Food Safety 
and Applied Nutrition (HFS-255), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 
Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, 240-402-1376.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    Many expert advisory panels have concluded that scientific evidence 
supports the value of reducing sodium intake in the general population 
(Ref. 1). Recent analysis, including the findings of the 2013 Institute 
of Medicine (IOM) report, ``Sodium Intake in Populations: Assessment of 
Evidence'' (IOM report), continue to support this conclusion (Ref. 2). 
The 2013 IOM report confirmed a positive relationship between higher 
levels of sodium intake and the risk of heart disease, and found 
substantial evidence of population benefit and no evidence of negative 
health effects associated with reductions in sodium intake down to 
2,300 milligrams of sodium per day (mg/day) (Ref. 2). Members of the 
committee which authored the 2013 IOM report also clarified in a 
subsequent publication that different groups using a variety of methods 
and data have obtained results consistent with the committee's analysis 
that current U.S. intake is excessive, that it should be reduced, and 
that reduction is expected to have significant public health benefit 
(Ref. 3). Moreover, the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee 
Sodium Working Group examined the relationship between sodium and blood 
pressure and other cardiovascular outcomes in adults, as well as sodium 
and blood pressure in children. The Committee's recommendations 
concurred with previous reports that sodium intake among the U.S. 
population remains high and that higher levels of sodium intake are 
associated with increased blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular 
disease (Ref. 4).
    Multiple researchers have estimated the public health benefits 
associated with broad reduction in sodium intakes in the United States 
(Ref. 1). Reasonable reductions in average intake (modeled at a variety 
of intake levels below current intake, down to an average level of 
roughly 2,200 mg/day) have been estimated to result in tens of 
thousands fewer cases of heart disease and stroke each year, as well as 
billions of dollars in health care savings over time. A recent study 
(Ref. 5) used three epidemiological datasets to forecast the separate 
public health benefits of reducing the population's average sodium 
intake to 2,200 mg/day over 10 years. (This 2,200 mg/day final mean 
intake level was derived from intake values embedded in the sources of 
evidence used for the study.) Researchers found that this pattern of 
reduction would save between 280,000 and 500,000 premature deaths over 
10 years; sustained sodium reduction would prevent additional premature 
deaths.
    FDA is not conducting rulemaking with regard to sodium, and these 
goals are voluntary. Given the potentially significant benefits to 
public health, as well as FDA's role in safeguarding America's food 
supply and enabling consumers to choose healthy diets, we are committed 
to exploring effective and efficient strategies to promote sodium 
reduction in the food supply. We believe that these voluntary goals can 
be an effective means to achieve significant benefits to public health 
through sodium reduction in commercially processed, packaged, and 
prepared foods.

[[Page 35365]]

II. Background

    We are announcing the availability of a draft guidance for industry 
entitled ``Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals: Target Mean and Upper 
Bound Concentrations for Sodium in Commercially Processed, Packaged, 
and Prepared Foods.'' (For purposes of this draft guidance, 
``commercially processed, packaged, and prepared foods'' refers to 
processed, multiple-ingredient foods that have been packaged by a 
member of the food industry for direct sale to consumers or for use in 
restaurants and similar retail food establishments including, but not 
limited to, restaurants, or for resale to other members of the food 
industry, as well as foods that are prepared by food establishments for 
direct consumption.) The draft guidance provides information to the 
food industry on sodium reduction, expressed as measurable voluntary 
goals for sodium content (from sodium chloride, commonly called 
``salt,'' as well as other sodium-containing ingredients) in 
commercially processed, packaged, and prepared foods. Approximately 75 
percent of sodium consumed by Americans is added to foods before they 
are sold (Ref. 6). Thus, the goals are intended to promote reductions 
in the amount of sodium added during processing, manufacturing, and 
preparation, especially for uses not necessary for microbial safety, 
stability, and/or physical integrity. We particularly encourage 
attention by food manufacturers whose products make up a significant 
proportion of national sales in one or more categories and restaurant 
chains that are national or regional in scope.
    Broad adoption of these voluntary recommendations by the industry 
members would create a meaningful reduction in population intake over 
time and support adjustment of consumer taste preferences. We recognize 
that many companies have initiated sodium reduction efforts and have 
made commitments on their own. The voluntary goals are intended to 
support ongoing efforts, including progress that has already been made 
by industry. This approach also builds on other efforts such as an 
initiative by New York City in partnership with local and State health 
departments and health organizations and international approaches from 
foreign governments such as Canada and the United Kingdom. The 
voluntary goals are intended to provide a shared framework for 
describing and analyzing the success of voluntary reduction efforts by 
various industry stakeholders and to promote continued discussion on 
sodium reduction opportunities. The guidance is intended to help 
achieve public health goals and see safe, gradual, and broadly 
distributed change over time across the full range of commercially 
processed, packaged, and prepared foods. To accomplish these goals, 
discussion and collaboration among FDA, Federal partners, the food 
industry, consumers, and other stakeholders will be essential.
    We are issuing the draft guidance consistent with our good guidance 
practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The draft guidance, when 
finalized, will represent the current thinking of the FDA on this 
topic. It does not establish any rights for any person and is not 
binding on FDA or the public. You may use an alternate approach to 
reducing sodium as long as these approaches satisfy the requirements of 
the applicable statutes and regulations.
    The draft guidance provides our tentative views with respect to 
identifying challenging, yet feasible, target mean and upper bound 
concentrations of sodium (referred to in this document as ``sodium 
concentration goals'') across a wide variety of food categories. Our 
targets are based on our analysis of the current minimum and upper 
bound levels of sodium in a variety of identified food categories, 
available literature on the amount of salt needed for different 
functions in food, and discussions with experts on different food 
categories. Our milestone date for the short-term goals is the second 
year after publication of the final guidance. Our milestone date for 
the long-term goals is the 10th year after publication of the final 
guidance. The short-term targets are intended to be more easily 
achievable and as many as half of all products may already have 
achieved these interim targets. We recognize that the longer term 
targets are more difficult to achieve. We are aware that new 
ingredients capable of replacing some salt as well as other innovative 
strategies are being explored and more research and development may be 
needed. We also want to make clear that broader public health goals and 
maintenance of nutritional quality are important considerations in 
developing sodium reduction or reformulation strategies. For example, 
sodium reduction that relies on increases in added sugars would not be 
consistent with the public health goals of this guidance.
    The sodium concentration goals in this voluntary draft guidance are 
intended to:
     Support increased food choice for consumers seeking to 
consume a diverse diet that is consistent with recommendations of the 
2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans;
     support the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines and the Healthy 
People 2020 recommendations of less than 2,300 mg per day for many 
individuals;
     provide shared goals as metrics (mg/100g) for voluntary 
reduction efforts by various industry stakeholders;
     support successful efforts already underway in the private 
sector to reduce sodium content;
     focus on total amount of sodium in a given food as opposed 
to any individual sodium-containing ingredient; and
     support and extend industry's voluntary efforts to reduce 
sodium across the range of commercially processed, packaged, and 
prepared foods.
    This guidance does not:
     Recommend specific methods and technologies for sodium 
reduction;
     prescribe how much of any individual sodium-containing 
ingredient, such as salt or sodium nitrite, should be used in a 
formulation (in other words, we focus on the total amount of sodium in 
a given food);
     focus on foods that contain only naturally occurring 
sodium (e.g., milk); or
     address salt that individuals add to their food.
    As described in the notice ``Approaches to Reducing Sodium 
Consumption; Establishment of Dockets; Request for Comments, Data, and 
Information'' (76 FR 57050, September 15, 2011, referred to in this 
document as the 2011 request for comment), current sodium intake is 
substantially higher than what scientific and public health agencies 
and organizations have recommended in recent years. There have been a 
number of public and industry initiatives to reduce sodium intake, as 
well as initiatives in other countries (76 FR 57050 at 75051). In April 
2010, IOM released a report titled ``Strategies to Reduce Sodium Intake 
in the United States'' which concluded that sodium intake, with the 
greatest contribution from salt, remains well above recommended levels 
(Ref. 1).
    We recognize that a successful effort to reduce sodium intake 
requires information on a wide variety of topics, resulting from a 
genuine dialogue with all interested persons. To begin this dialogue, 
in 2011, FDA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food 
Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) opened parallel dockets for public 
comment and described the rationale for sodium intake reduction and 
identified 15 specific issues for

[[Page 35366]]

comment by all interested persons (76 FR 57050). These issues concerned 
multiple aspects of sodium reduction, including technical challenges 
and opportunities, implementation of reduction targets, and potential 
unintended consequences of reduction.
    In November 2011, FDA and FSIS, in conjunction with other Federal 
agencies interested in sodium reduction efforts, including the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention and USDA's Agricultural Research 
Service and Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion, sponsored a 
public meeting to provide a forum for discussion of the issues raised 
in the 2011 request for comment. FDA and FSIS together received 
approximately 1,500 comments, which addressed the following key themes:
     The need for slow and gradual change;
     the importance of acknowledging technical and regulatory 
constraints;
     the need for consumer acceptance and market viability of 
new or reformulated products;
     the critical importance of maintaining a safe food supply;
     the potential health consequences of broad sodium 
reduction;
     the costs associated with broad reductions in sodium;
     the potential for positive incentives to promote 
reformulation; and
     reports of successful reduction efforts.
    We reviewed the comments submitted to the 2011 request for comments 
as well as other available information. In particular, we have 
considered the 2013 IOM report, ``Sodium Intake in Populations: 
Assessment of Evidence.'' The IOM report concluded that evidence from 
studies on direct health outcomes associated with sodium intake was 
sufficient to support reducing excessive sodium intake, noting a 
benefit for cardiovascular disease outcomes if population sodium intake 
came down to a level of 2,300 mg/day. Ultimately, this report 
reaffirmed the association between sodium intake and health outcomes, 
which supports the need to engage in population-based efforts to lower 
excessive dietary sodium intakes (Ref. 2).

III. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This draft guidance refers to previously approved collections of 
information found in FDA regulations. These collections of information 
are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). The 
collections of information in 21 CFR part 101 have been approved under 
OMB control number 0910-0381. The collections of information in 21 CFR 
101.11 have been approved under OMB control number 0910-0783.

IV. Issues for Consideration

    We developed the sodium targets using the best available 
representation of sodium in the food supply, based on product nutrition 
data from manufacturers and widely used sales data. We welcome comment 
on any issues related to the methods for developing the sodium targets 
and for implementation of this guidance. In particular, we are 
interested in comments on collecting and organizing these data into 
food categories, our methods for quantifying sodium content, 
refinements to the specific mean and upper bound targets based on 
adjustments of our category structures and data, and any challenges of 
implementing the voluntary goals. Please provide the reasoning behind 
your comments, including, where available, any data you may have.
    1. Are there categories where foods have been grouped together that 
should be separated on the basis of different manufacturing methods or 
technical effects relating to the potential for sodium reduction? 
Conversely, are there categories which could be merged due to similar 
sodium functionality and potential for reduction? Are there foods that 
contribute to sodium intake that we have not effectively captured? Are 
the categories amenable for use by restaurant chains and if not, how 
should they be modified to make them amenable for use by restaurant 
chains?
    2. Are the baseline sodium concentration values reasonably 
representative of the state of the food supply in 2010? For categories 
that do not appear representative, what food products are not 
adequately represented? Are there situations in which our method of 
quantification could lead to unrepresentative baseline values?
    3. Are there categories for which the 2-year target concentration 
goals are infeasible? If so, why are these targets not feasible, e.g., 
for technical reasons? What goals would be feasible in the short-term 
(2-year), and why? For reference, a supplementary memorandum to the 
docket is provided to further describe the type of information needed, 
``Target Development Example: Supplementary Memorandum to the Draft 
Guidance'' (Ref. 7).
    4. Are the short-term (2-year) timeframes for these goals 
achievable? If the timeframes are not achievable, what timeframes would 
be challenging, but still achievable?
    5. Are there categories for which the 10-year target concentration 
goals are infeasible? If so, why are these targets not feasible, e.g., 
for technical reasons? What goals would be feasible in the long-term 
(10-year), and why? For reference, a supplementary memorandum to the 
docket is provided to further describe the type of information needed, 
``Target Development Example: Supplementary Memorandum to the Draft 
Guidance'' (Ref. 7).
    6. Are the long-term (10-year) timeframes for these goals 
achievable? If the timeframes are not achievable, what timeframes would 
be challenging, but still achievable?
    7. What specific research needs or technological advances (if any) 
could enhance the food industry's ability to meet these goals? What are 
possible innovations in the area of sodium reduction and are there any 
unintended consequences associated with their use?
    8. What amendments to FDA's standard of identity regulations in 21 
CFR parts 130-169 are needed to facilitate sodium reduction by 
permitting alternative ingredients to be used in standardized foods? 
For example, amendments could include revisions to specific standards 
(e.g., cheese or cheese products) and to the general requirements for 
foods named by use of a nutrient content claim (e.g., ``reduced 
sodium'') and a standardized term under 21 CFR 130.10.

V. Electronic Access

    Persons with access to the Internet may obtain the draft guidance 
at either http://www.fda.gov/FoodGuidances, or http://www.regulations.gov. Use the FDA Web site listed in the previous 
sentence to find the most current version of the guidance.

VI. References

    The following references are on display in FDA's Division of 
Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES) and are available for viewing by 
interested persons between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; 
they are also available electronically at http://www.regulations.gov. 
FDA has verified the Web site addresses, but FDA is not responsible for 
any subsequent changes to Web sites after this document publishes in 
the Federal Register.

    1. IOM. ``Strategies to Reduce Sodium Intake in the United 
States,'' Washington DC: The National Academies Press (2010).
    2. IOM. ``Sodium Intake in Populations: Assessment of Evidence 
Institutes of

[[Page 35367]]

Medicine (IOM) Report,'' Washington DC: The National Academies Press 
(2013).
    3. Strom, B. L., C. A. M. Anderson, and J. H. Ix. ``Sodium 
Reduction in Populations: Insights From the Institute of Medicine 
Committee.'' Journal of the American Medical Association. July 3, 
2013; 310(1): 31-32.
    4. ``Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory 
Committee,'' Part B, Chapter 6. http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015-scientific-report/. Accessed March 9, 2015.
    5. Coxson, P. G., N. R. Cook, M. Joffres, Y. Hong, et al. 
``Mortality Benefits From U.S. Population-Wide Reduction in Sodium 
Consumption.'' Hypertension. March 2013; 61:564-570.
    6. Mattes, R. D. and D. Donnelly. ``Relative Constitutions of 
Dietary Sodium Sources.'' Journal of the American College of 
Nutrition. August 1991;10(4):383-93.
    7. FDA. ``Memo: Target Development Example: Supplementary 
Memorandum to the Draft Guidance (2016).''

    Dated: May 27, 2016.
Leslie Kux,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2016-12950 Filed 6-1-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4164-01-P



                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 106 / Thursday, June 2, 2016 / Notices                                                  35363

                                                    determined that TRIVARIS                                Allergan, and initially approved on June                 Dated: May 27, 2016.
                                                    (triamcinolone acetonide) injectable                    16, 2008. TRIVARIS is indicated for                    Leslie Kux,
                                                    suspension, 80 milligrams/milliliters                   sympathetic ophthalmia, temporal                       Associate Commissioner for Policy.
                                                    (mg/mL), was not withdrawn from sale                    arteritis, uveitis, and ocular                         [FR Doc. 2016–12949 Filed 6–1–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    for reasons of safety or effectiveness.                 inflammatory conditions unresponsive                   BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
                                                    This determination will allow FDA to                    to topical corticosteroids. TRIVARIS
                                                    approve abbreviated new drug                            (triamcinolone acetonide) injectable
                                                    applications (ANDAs) for triamcinolone                  suspension, 80 mg/mL, is currently                     DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
                                                    acetonide injectable suspension, 80 mg/                 listed in the ‘‘Discontinued Drug                      HUMAN SERVICES
                                                    mL, if all other legal and regulatory                   Product List’’ section of the Orange
                                                    requirements are met.                                                                                          Food and Drug Administration
                                                                                                            Book.
                                                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                                                                               [Docket No. FDA–2014–D–0055]
                                                    Linda Jong, Center for Drug Evaluation                     The Weinberg Group submitted a
                                                    and Research, Food and Drug                             citizen petition dated January 28, 2016                Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals:
                                                    Administration, 10903 New Hampshire                     (Docket No. FDA–2016–P–0378), under                    Target Mean and Upper Bound
                                                    Ave., Bldg. 51, Rm. 6288, Silver Spring,                21 CFR 10.30, requesting that the                      Concentrations for Sodium in
                                                    MD 20993–0002, 301–796–3977.                            Agency determine whether TRIVARIS                      Commercially Processed, Packaged,
                                                    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1984,
                                                                                                            (triamcinolone acetonide) injectable                   and Prepared Foods; Draft Guidance
                                                    Congress enacted the Drug Price                         suspension, 80 mg/mL, was withdrawn                    for Industry; Availability
                                                    Competition and Patent Term                             from sale for reasons of safety or
                                                                                                                                                                   AGENCY:   Food and Drug Administration,
                                                    Restoration Act of 1984 (Pub. L. 98–417)                effectiveness.
                                                                                                                                                                   HHS.
                                                    (the 1984 amendments), which                               After considering the citizen petition              ACTION:   Notice of availability.
                                                    authorized the approval of duplicate                    and reviewing Agency records and
                                                    versions of drug products under an                      based on the information we have at this               SUMMARY:   The Food and Drug
                                                    ANDA procedure. ANDA applicants                         time, FDA has determined under                         Administration (FDA or we) is
                                                    must, with certain exceptions, show that                § 314.161 that TRIVARIS (triamcinolone                 announcing the availability of a draft
                                                    the drug for which they are seeking                     acetonide) injectable suspension, 80 mg/               guidance entitled ‘‘Voluntary Sodium
                                                    approval contains the same active                       mL, was not withdrawn for reasons of                   Reduction Goals: Target Mean and
                                                    ingredient in the same strength and                     safety or effectiveness. The petitioner                Upper Bound Concentrations for
                                                    dosage form as the ‘‘listed drug,’’ which               has identified no data or other                        Sodium in Commercially Processed,
                                                    is a version of the drug that was                                                                              Packaged, and Prepared Foods.’’ The
                                                                                                            information suggesting that TRIVARIS
                                                    previously approved. ANDA applicants                                                                           draft guidance, when finalized, will
                                                                                                            (triamcinolone acetonide) injectable
                                                    do not have to repeat the extensive                                                                            describe our views on voluntary short-
                                                                                                            suspension, 80 mg/mL, was withdrawn                    term and long-term goals for sodium
                                                    clinical testing otherwise necessary to
                                                                                                            for reasons of safety or effectiveness. We             reduction in a variety of identified
                                                    gain approval of a new drug application
                                                    (NDA).                                                  have carefully reviewed our files for                  categories of foods that are
                                                       The 1984 amendments include what                     records concerning the withdrawal of                   commercially processed, packaged, or
                                                    is now section 505(j)(7) of the Federal                 TRIVARIS (triamcinolone acetonide)                     prepared. These goals are intended to
                                                    Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C.                 injectable suspension, 80 mg/mL, from                  address the excessive intake of sodium
                                                    355(j)(7)), which requires FDA to                       sale. We have also independently                       in the current population and promote
                                                    publish a list of all approved drugs.                   evaluated relevant literature and data                 improvements in public health.
                                                    FDA publishes this list as part of the                  for possible postmarketing adverse                     DATES: Although you can comment on
                                                    ‘‘Approved Drug Products With                           events. We have found no information                   any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR
                                                    Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations,’’                  that would indicate that this drug                     10.115(g)(5)), to ensure that the Agency
                                                    which is known generally as the                         product was withdrawn from sale for                    considers your comment on the draft
                                                    ‘‘Orange Book.’’ Under FDA regulations,                 reasons of safety or effectiveness.                    guidance before it begins work on the
                                                    drugs are removed from the list if the                     Accordingly, the Agency will                        final version of the guidance, submit
                                                    Agency withdraws or suspends                            continue to list TRIVARIS                              either electronic or written comments
                                                    approval of the drug’s NDA or ANDA                      (triamcinolone acetonide) injectable                   on Issues 1 through 4 listed in section
                                                    for reasons of safety or effectiveness or               suspension, 80 mg/mL, in the                           IV of this document by August 31, 2016.
                                                    if FDA determines that the listed drug                  ‘‘Discontinued Drug Product List’’                     Submit either electronic or written
                                                    was withdrawn from sale for reasons of                                                                         comments on Issues 5 through 8 listed
                                                                                                            section of the Orange Book. The
                                                    safety or effectiveness (21 CFR 314.162).                                                                      in section IV of this document by
                                                                                                            ‘‘Discontinued Drug Product List’’
                                                       A person may petition the Agency to                                                                         October 31, 2016.
                                                    determine, or the Agency may                            delineates, among other items, drug
                                                                                                            products that have been discontinued                   ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
                                                    determine on its own initiative, whether                                                                       as follows:
                                                    a listed drug was withdrawn from sale                   from marketing for reasons other than
                                                    for reasons of safety or effectiveness.                 safety or effectiveness. ANDAs that refer              Electronic Submissions
                                                    This determination may be made at any                   to TRIVARIS (triamcinolone acetonide)                    Submit electronic comments in the
                                                    time after the drug has been withdrawn                  injectable suspension, 80 mg/mL, may                   following way:
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    from sale, but must be made prior to                    be approved by the Agency as long as                     • Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
                                                    approving an ANDA that refers to the                    they meet all other legal and regulatory               www.regulations.gov. Follow the
                                                    listed drug (§ 314.161 (21 CFR 314.161)).               requirements for the approval of                       instructions for submitting comments.
                                                    FDA may not approve an ANDA that                        ANDAs. If FDA determines that labeling                 Comments submitted electronically,
                                                    does not refer to a listed drug.                        for this drug product should be revised                including attachments, to http://
                                                       TRIVARIS (triamcinolone acetonide)                   to meet current standards, the Agency                  www.regulations.gov will be posted to
                                                    injectable suspension, 80 mg/mL, is the                 will advise ANDA applicants to submit                  the docket unchanged. Because your
                                                    subject of NDA 22–220, held by                          such labeling.                                         comment will be made public, you are


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:30 Jun 01, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00071   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\02JNN1.SGM   02JNN1


                                                    35364                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 106 / Thursday, June 2, 2016 / Notices

                                                    solely responsible for ensuring that your               for public viewing and posted on http://               sodium per day (mg/day) (Ref. 2).
                                                    comment does not include any                            www.regulations.gov. Submit both                       Members of the committee which
                                                    confidential information that you or a                  copies to the Division of Dockets                      authored the 2013 IOM report also
                                                    third party may not wish to be posted,                  Management. If you do not wish your                    clarified in a subsequent publication
                                                    such as medical information, your or                    name and contact information to be                     that different groups using a variety of
                                                    anyone else’s Social Security number, or                made publicly available, you can                       methods and data have obtained results
                                                    confidential business information, such                 provide this information on the cover                  consistent with the committee’s analysis
                                                    as a manufacturing process. Please note                 sheet and not in the body of your                      that current U.S. intake is excessive,
                                                    that if you include your name, contact                  comments and you must identify this                    that it should be reduced, and that
                                                    information, or other information that                  information as ‘‘confidential.’’ Any                   reduction is expected to have significant
                                                    identifies you in the body of your                      information marked as ‘‘confidential’’                 public health benefit (Ref. 3). Moreover,
                                                    comments, that information will be                      will not be disclosed except in                        the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory
                                                    posted on http://www.regulations.gov.                   accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other                 Committee Sodium Working Group
                                                      • If you want to submit a comment                     applicable disclosure law. For more                    examined the relationship between
                                                    with confidential information that you                  information about FDA’s posting of                     sodium and blood pressure and other
                                                    do not wish to be made available to the                 comments to public dockets, see 80 FR                  cardiovascular outcomes in adults, as
                                                    public, submit the comment as a                         56469, September 18, 2015, or access                   well as sodium and blood pressure in
                                                    written/paper submission and in the                     the information at: http://www.fda.gov/                children. The Committee’s
                                                    manner detailed (see ‘‘Written/Paper                    regulatoryinformation/dockets/                         recommendations concurred with
                                                    Submissions’’ and ‘‘Instructions’’).                    default.htm.                                           previous reports that sodium intake
                                                    Written/Paper Submissions                                  Docket: For access to the docket to                 among the U.S. population remains high
                                                                                                            read background documents or the                       and that higher levels of sodium intake
                                                       Submit written/paper submissions as                  electronic and written/paper comments                  are associated with increased blood
                                                    follows:                                                received, go to http://                                pressure and risk of cardiovascular
                                                       • Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for
                                                                                                            www.regulations.gov and insert the                     disease (Ref. 4).
                                                    written/paper submissions): Division of
                                                                                                            docket number, found in brackets in the                   Multiple researchers have estimated
                                                    Dockets Management (HFA–305), Food
                                                                                                            heading of this document, into the                     the public health benefits associated
                                                    and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers
                                                                                                            ‘‘Search’’ box and follow the prompts                  with broad reduction in sodium intakes
                                                    Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
                                                       • For written/paper comments                         and/or go to the Division of Dockets                   in the United States (Ref. 1). Reasonable
                                                    submitted to the Division of Dockets                    Management, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm.                     reductions in average intake (modeled at
                                                    Management, FDA will post your                          1061, Rockville, MD 20852.                             a variety of intake levels below current
                                                    comment, as well as any attachments,                       Submit written requests for single                  intake, down to an average level of
                                                    except for information submitted,                       copies of the draft guidance to the Office             roughly 2,200 mg/day) have been
                                                    marked and identified, as confidential,                 of Food Additive Safety, Center for Food               estimated to result in tens of thousands
                                                    if submitted as detailed in                             Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS–                     fewer cases of heart disease and stroke
                                                    ‘‘Instructions.’’                                       255), Food and Drug Administration,                    each year, as well as billions of dollars
                                                       Instructions: All submissions received               5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park,                 in health care savings over time. A
                                                    must include the Docket No. FDA–                        MD 20740. Send two self-addressed                      recent study (Ref. 5) used three
                                                    2014–D–0055 for ‘‘Voluntary Sodium                      adhesive labels to assist that office in               epidemiological datasets to forecast the
                                                    Reduction Goals: Target Mean and                        processing your request. See the                       separate public health benefits of
                                                    Upper Bound Concentrations for                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for                  reducing the population’s average
                                                    Sodium in Commercially Processed,                       electronic access to the draft guidance.               sodium intake to 2,200 mg/day over 10
                                                    Packaged, and Prepared Foods; Draft                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                       years. (This 2,200 mg/day final mean
                                                    Guidance for Industry.’’ Received                       Kasey Heintz, Center for Food Safety                   intake level was derived from intake
                                                    comments will be placed in the docket                   and Applied Nutrition (HFS–255), Food                  values embedded in the sources of
                                                    and, except for those submitted as                      and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint                    evidence used for the study.)
                                                    ‘‘Confidential Submissions,’’ publicly                  Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740,                  Researchers found that this pattern of
                                                    viewable at http://www.regulations.gov                  240–402–1376.                                          reduction would save between 280,000
                                                    or at the Division of Dockets                           SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                             and 500,000 premature deaths over 10
                                                    Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.,                                                                          years; sustained sodium reduction
                                                                                                            I. Introduction                                        would prevent additional premature
                                                    Monday through Friday.
                                                       • Confidential Submissions—To                          Many expert advisory panels have                     deaths.
                                                    submit a comment with confidential                      concluded that scientific evidence                        FDA is not conducting rulemaking
                                                    information that you do not wish to be                  supports the value of reducing sodium                  with regard to sodium, and these goals
                                                    made publicly available, submit your                    intake in the general population (Ref. 1).             are voluntary. Given the potentially
                                                    comments only as a written/paper                        Recent analysis, including the findings                significant benefits to public health, as
                                                    submission. You should submit two                       of the 2013 Institute of Medicine (IOM)                well as FDA’s role in safeguarding
                                                    copies total. One copy will include the                 report, ‘‘Sodium Intake in Populations:                America’s food supply and enabling
                                                    information you claim to be confidential                Assessment of Evidence’’ (IOM report),                 consumers to choose healthy diets, we
                                                    with a heading or cover note that states                continue to support this conclusion                    are committed to exploring effective and
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    ‘‘THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS                                (Ref. 2). The 2013 IOM report confirmed                efficient strategies to promote sodium
                                                    CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.’’ The                         a positive relationship between higher                 reduction in the food supply. We
                                                    Agency will review this copy, including                 levels of sodium intake and the risk of                believe that these voluntary goals can be
                                                    the claimed confidential information, in                heart disease, and found substantial                   an effective means to achieve significant
                                                    its consideration of comments. The                      evidence of population benefit and no                  benefits to public health through
                                                    second copy, which will have the                        evidence of negative health effects                    sodium reduction in commercially
                                                    claimed confidential information                        associated with reductions in sodium                   processed, packaged, and prepared
                                                    redacted/blacked out, will be available                 intake down to 2,300 milligrams of                     foods.


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:30 Jun 01, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00072   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\02JNN1.SGM   02JNN1


                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 106 / Thursday, June 2, 2016 / Notices                                           35365

                                                    II. Background                                          continued discussion on sodium                         diet that is consistent with
                                                       We are announcing the availability of                reduction opportunities. The guidance                  recommendations of the 2015–2020
                                                    a draft guidance for industry entitled                  is intended to help achieve public                     Dietary Guidelines for Americans;
                                                    ‘‘Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals:                     health goals and see safe, gradual, and                   • support the 2015–2020 Dietary
                                                    Target Mean and Upper Bound                             broadly distributed change over time                   Guidelines and the Healthy People 2020
                                                    Concentrations for Sodium in                            across the full range of commercially                  recommendations of less than 2,300 mg
                                                    Commercially Processed, Packaged, and                   processed, packaged, and prepared                      per day for many individuals;
                                                    Prepared Foods.’’ (For purposes of this                 foods. To accomplish these goals,                         • provide shared goals as metrics
                                                    draft guidance, ‘‘commercially                          discussion and collaboration among                     (mg/100g) for voluntary reduction
                                                    processed, packaged, and prepared                       FDA, Federal partners, the food                        efforts by various industry stakeholders;
                                                                                                            industry, consumers, and other                            • support successful efforts already
                                                    foods’’ refers to processed, multiple-
                                                                                                            stakeholders will be essential.                        underway in the private sector to reduce
                                                    ingredient foods that have been
                                                                                                               We are issuing the draft guidance                   sodium content;
                                                    packaged by a member of the food                                                                                  • focus on total amount of sodium in
                                                                                                            consistent with our good guidance
                                                    industry for direct sale to consumers or                                                                       a given food as opposed to any
                                                                                                            practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115).
                                                    for use in restaurants and similar retail                                                                      individual sodium-containing
                                                                                                            The draft guidance, when finalized, will
                                                    food establishments including, but not                                                                         ingredient; and
                                                                                                            represent the current thinking of the
                                                    limited to, restaurants, or for resale to                                                                         • support and extend industry’s
                                                                                                            FDA on this topic. It does not establish
                                                    other members of the food industry, as                                                                         voluntary efforts to reduce sodium
                                                                                                            any rights for any person and is not
                                                    well as foods that are prepared by food                                                                        across the range of commercially
                                                                                                            binding on FDA or the public. You may
                                                    establishments for direct consumption.)                 use an alternate approach to reducing                  processed, packaged, and prepared
                                                    The draft guidance provides information                 sodium as long as these approaches                     foods.
                                                    to the food industry on sodium                          satisfy the requirements of the                           This guidance does not:
                                                    reduction, expressed as measurable                      applicable statutes and regulations.                      • Recommend specific methods and
                                                    voluntary goals for sodium content                         The draft guidance provides our                     technologies for sodium reduction;
                                                    (from sodium chloride, commonly                         tentative views with respect to                           • prescribe how much of any
                                                    called ‘‘salt,’’ as well as other sodium-               identifying challenging, yet feasible,                 individual sodium-containing
                                                    containing ingredients) in commercially                 target mean and upper bound                            ingredient, such as salt or sodium
                                                    processed, packaged, and prepared                       concentrations of sodium (referred to in               nitrite, should be used in a formulation
                                                    foods. Approximately 75 percent of                      this document as ‘‘sodium                              (in other words, we focus on the total
                                                    sodium consumed by Americans is                         concentration goals’’) across a wide                   amount of sodium in a given food);
                                                    added to foods before they are sold (Ref.               variety of food categories. Our targets                   • focus on foods that contain only
                                                    6). Thus, the goals are intended to                     are based on our analysis of the current               naturally occurring sodium (e.g., milk);
                                                    promote reductions in the amount of                     minimum and upper bound levels of                      or
                                                    sodium added during processing,                         sodium in a variety of identified food                    • address salt that individuals add to
                                                    manufacturing, and preparation,                         categories, available literature on the                their food.
                                                    especially for uses not necessary for                   amount of salt needed for different                       As described in the notice
                                                    microbial safety, stability, and/or                     functions in food, and discussions with                ‘‘Approaches to Reducing Sodium
                                                    physical integrity. We particularly                     experts on different food categories. Our              Consumption; Establishment of Dockets;
                                                    encourage attention by food                             milestone date for the short-term goals                Request for Comments, Data, and
                                                    manufacturers whose products make up                    is the second year after publication of                Information’’ (76 FR 57050, September
                                                    a significant proportion of national sales              the final guidance. Our milestone date                 15, 2011, referred to in this document as
                                                    in one or more categories and restaurant                for the long-term goals is the 10th year               the 2011 request for comment), current
                                                    chains that are national or regional in                 after publication of the final guidance.               sodium intake is substantially higher
                                                    scope.                                                  The short-term targets are intended to be              than what scientific and public health
                                                       Broad adoption of these voluntary                    more easily achievable and as many as                  agencies and organizations have
                                                    recommendations by the industry                         half of all products may already have                  recommended in recent years. There
                                                    members would create a meaningful                       achieved these interim targets. We                     have been a number of public and
                                                    reduction in population intake over                     recognize that the longer term targets are             industry initiatives to reduce sodium
                                                    time and support adjustment of                          more difficult to achieve. We are aware                intake, as well as initiatives in other
                                                    consumer taste preferences. We                          that new ingredients capable of                        countries (76 FR 57050 at 75051). In
                                                    recognize that many companies have                      replacing some salt as well as other                   April 2010, IOM released a report titled
                                                    initiated sodium reduction efforts and                  innovative strategies are being explored               ‘‘Strategies to Reduce Sodium Intake in
                                                    have made commitments on their own.                     and more research and development                      the United States’’ which concluded
                                                    The voluntary goals are intended to                     may be needed. We also want to make                    that sodium intake, with the greatest
                                                    support ongoing efforts, including                      clear that broader public health goals                 contribution from salt, remains well
                                                    progress that has already been made by                  and maintenance of nutritional quality                 above recommended levels (Ref. 1).
                                                    industry. This approach also builds on                  are important considerations in                           We recognize that a successful effort
                                                    other efforts such as an initiative by                  developing sodium reduction or                         to reduce sodium intake requires
                                                    New York City in partnership with local                 reformulation strategies. For example,                 information on a wide variety of topics,
                                                    and State health departments and health                                                                        resulting from a genuine dialogue with
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                            sodium reduction that relies on
                                                    organizations and international                         increases in added sugars would not be                 all interested persons. To begin this
                                                    approaches from foreign governments                     consistent with the public health goals                dialogue, in 2011, FDA and the U.S.
                                                    such as Canada and the United                           of this guidance.                                      Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s)
                                                    Kingdom. The voluntary goals are                           The sodium concentration goals in                   Food Safety and Inspection Service
                                                    intended to provide a shared framework                  this voluntary draft guidance are                      (FSIS) opened parallel dockets for
                                                    for describing and analyzing the success                intended to:                                           public comment and described the
                                                    of voluntary reduction efforts by various                  • Support increased food choice for                 rationale for sodium intake reduction
                                                    industry stakeholders and to promote                    consumers seeking to consume a diverse                 and identified 15 specific issues for


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:30 Jun 01, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00073   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\02JNN1.SGM   02JNN1


                                                    35366                          Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 106 / Thursday, June 2, 2016 / Notices

                                                    comment by all interested persons (76                   been approved under OMB control                        timeframes would be challenging, but
                                                    FR 57050). These issues concerned                       number 0910–0381. The collections of                   still achievable?
                                                    multiple aspects of sodium reduction,                   information in 21 CFR 101.11 have been                    5. Are there categories for which the
                                                    including technical challenges and                      approved under OMB control number                      10-year target concentration goals are
                                                    opportunities, implementation of                        0910–0783.                                             infeasible? If so, why are these targets
                                                    reduction targets, and potential                        IV. Issues for Consideration                           not feasible, e.g., for technical reasons?
                                                    unintended consequences of reduction.                                                                          What goals would be feasible in the
                                                       In November 2011, FDA and FSIS, in                      We developed the sodium targets                     long-term (10-year), and why? For
                                                    conjunction with other Federal agencies                 using the best available representation                reference, a supplementary
                                                    interested in sodium reduction efforts,                 of sodium in the food supply, based on                 memorandum to the docket is provided
                                                    including the Centers for Disease                       product nutrition data from                            to further describe the type of
                                                    Control and Prevention and USDA’s                       manufacturers and widely used sales                    information needed, ‘‘Target
                                                    Agricultural Research Service and                       data. We welcome comment on any                        Development Example: Supplementary
                                                    Center for Nutrition Policy and                         issues related to the methods for                      Memorandum to the Draft Guidance’’
                                                    Promotion, sponsored a public meeting                   developing the sodium targets and for                  (Ref. 7).
                                                    to provide a forum for discussion of the                implementation of this guidance. In
                                                                                                                                                                      6. Are the long-term (10-year)
                                                    issues raised in the 2011 request for                   particular, we are interested in
                                                                                                                                                                   timeframes for these goals achievable? If
                                                    comment. FDA and FSIS together                          comments on collecting and organizing
                                                                                                                                                                   the timeframes are not achievable, what
                                                    received approximately 1,500                            these data into food categories, our
                                                                                                                                                                   timeframes would be challenging, but
                                                    comments, which addressed the                           methods for quantifying sodium
                                                                                                                                                                   still achievable?
                                                    following key themes:                                   content, refinements to the specific
                                                                                                            mean and upper bound targets based on                     7. What specific research needs or
                                                       • The need for slow and gradual                                                                             technological advances (if any) could
                                                    change;                                                 adjustments of our category structures
                                                                                                                                                                   enhance the food industry’s ability to
                                                       • the importance of acknowledging                    and data, and any challenges of
                                                                                                            implementing the voluntary goals.                      meet these goals? What are possible
                                                    technical and regulatory constraints;
                                                                                                                                                                   innovations in the area of sodium
                                                       • the need for consumer acceptance                   Please provide the reasoning behind
                                                                                                            your comments, including, where                        reduction and are there any unintended
                                                    and market viability of new or
                                                                                                            available, any data you may have.                      consequences associated with their use?
                                                    reformulated products;
                                                       • the critical importance of                            1. Are there categories where foods                    8. What amendments to FDA’s
                                                    maintaining a safe food supply;                         have been grouped together that should                 standard of identity regulations in 21
                                                       • the potential health consequences                  be separated on the basis of different                 CFR parts 130–169 are needed to
                                                    of broad sodium reduction;                              manufacturing methods or technical                     facilitate sodium reduction by
                                                       • the costs associated with broad                    effects relating to the potential for                  permitting alternative ingredients to be
                                                    reductions in sodium;                                   sodium reduction? Conversely, are there                used in standardized foods? For
                                                       • the potential for positive incentives              categories which could be merged due                   example, amendments could include
                                                    to promote reformulation; and                           to similar sodium functionality and                    revisions to specific standards (e.g.,
                                                       • reports of successful reduction                    potential for reduction? Are there foods               cheese or cheese products) and to the
                                                    efforts.                                                that contribute to sodium intake that we               general requirements for foods named
                                                       We reviewed the comments submitted                   have not effectively captured? Are the                 by use of a nutrient content claim (e.g.,
                                                    to the 2011 request for comments as                     categories amenable for use by                         ‘‘reduced sodium’’) and a standardized
                                                    well as other available information. In                 restaurant chains and if not, how should               term under 21 CFR 130.10.
                                                    particular, we have considered the 2013                 they be modified to make them                          V. Electronic Access
                                                    IOM report, ‘‘Sodium Intake in                          amenable for use by restaurant chains?
                                                    Populations: Assessment of Evidence.’’                     2. Are the baseline sodium                            Persons with access to the Internet
                                                    The IOM report concluded that                           concentration values reasonably                        may obtain the draft guidance at either
                                                    evidence from studies on direct health                  representative of the state of the food                http://www.fda.gov/FoodGuidances, or
                                                    outcomes associated with sodium intake                  supply in 2010? For categories that do                 http://www.regulations.gov. Use the
                                                    was sufficient to support reducing                      not appear representative, what food                   FDA Web site listed in the previous
                                                    excessive sodium intake, noting a                       products are not adequately                            sentence to find the most current
                                                    benefit for cardiovascular disease                      represented? Are there situations in                   version of the guidance.
                                                    outcomes if population sodium intake                    which our method of quantification
                                                                                                                                                                   VI. References
                                                    came down to a level of 2,300 mg/day.                   could lead to unrepresentative baseline
                                                    Ultimately, this report reaffirmed the                  values?                                                  The following references are on
                                                    association between sodium intake and                      3. Are there categories for which the               display in FDA’s Division of Dockets
                                                    health outcomes, which supports the                     2-year target concentration goals are                  Management (see ADDRESSES) and are
                                                    need to engage in population-based                      infeasible? If so, why are these targets               available for viewing by interested
                                                    efforts to lower excessive dietary                      not feasible, e.g., for technical reasons?             persons between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.,
                                                    sodium intakes (Ref. 2).                                What goals would be feasible in the                    Monday through Friday; they are also
                                                                                                            short-term (2-year), and why? For                      available electronically at http://
                                                    III. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                    reference, a supplementary                             www.regulations.gov. FDA has verified
                                                       This draft guidance refers to                        memorandum to the docket is provided
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                   the Web site addresses, but FDA is not
                                                    previously approved collections of                      to further describe the type of                        responsible for any subsequent changes
                                                    information found in FDA regulations.                   information needed, ‘‘Target                           to Web sites after this document
                                                    These collections of information are                    Development Example: Supplementary                     publishes in the Federal Register.
                                                    subject to review by the Office of                      Memorandum to the Draft Guidance’’                       1. IOM. ‘‘Strategies to Reduce Sodium
                                                    Management and Budget (OMB) under                       (Ref. 7).                                              Intake in the United States,’’ Washington DC:
                                                    the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995                        4. Are the short-term (2-year)                      The National Academies Press (2010).
                                                    (44 U.S.C. 3501–3520). The collections                  timeframes for these goals achievable? If                2. IOM. ‘‘Sodium Intake in Populations:
                                                    of information in 21 CFR part 101 have                  the timeframes are not achievable, what                Assessment of Evidence Institutes of



                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:30 Jun 01, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00074   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\02JNN1.SGM   02JNN1


                                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 106 / Thursday, June 2, 2016 / Notices                                           35367

                                                    Medicine (IOM) Report,’’ Washington DC:                 Biological Products.’’ Also include the                submitted under section 351(k) of the
                                                    The National Academies Press (2013).                    FDA docket number found in brackets                    PHS Act. The average burden per
                                                      3. Strom, B. L., C. A. M. Anderson, and J.            in the heading of this document.                       response (hours) is based on our
                                                    H. Ix. ‘‘Sodium Reduction in Populations:                                                                      experience with similar information
                                                    Insights From the Institute of Medicine                 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: FDA
                                                    Committee.’’ Journal of the American                    PRA Staff, Office of Operations, Food                  collection requirements for applicants to
                                                    Medical Association. July 3, 2013; 310(1): 31–          and Drug Administration, 8455                          create and submit suffix proposals to
                                                    32.                                                     Colesville Rd., COLE–14526, Silver                     FDA and in consideration of comments
                                                      4. ‘‘Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary            Spring, MD 20993–0002, PRAStaff@                       received in response to our 60-day
                                                    Guidelines Advisory Committee,’’ Part B,                fda.hhs.gov.                                           notice.
                                                    Chapter 6. http://www.health.gov/                                                                                 In the Federal Register of August 28,
                                                    dietaryguidelines/2015-scientific-report/.              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In                          2015 (80 FR 52296), we published a 60-
                                                    Accessed March 9, 2015.                                 compliance with 44 U.S.C. 3507, FDA                    day notice requesting public comment
                                                      5. Coxson, P. G., N. R. Cook, M. Joffres, Y.          has submitted the following proposed                   on the proposed collection of
                                                    Hong, et al. ‘‘Mortality Benefits From U.S.             collection of information to OMB for                   information. Most comments supported
                                                    Population-Wide Reduction in Sodium                     review and clearance.                                  our proposal to designate a suffix. Many
                                                    Consumption.’’ Hypertension. March 2013;
                                                    61:564–570.                                             Guidance for Industry on                               comments suggested that a meaningful,
                                                      6. Mattes, R. D. and D. Donnelly. ‘‘Relative          Nonproprietary Naming of Biological                    distinguishable suffix may help to
                                                    Constitutions of Dietary Sodium Sources.’’              Products OMB Control Number 0910–                      improve pharmacovigilance, enhance
                                                    Journal of the American College of Nutrition.           NEW                                                    safety, and facilitate identification
                                                    August 1991;10(4):383–93.                                                                                      between biological products. Some
                                                      7. FDA. ‘‘Memo: Target Development                       The guidance entitled ‘‘Guidance for                comments supported use of a random
                                                    Example: Supplementary Memorandum to                    Industry on Nonproprietary Naming of                   suffix to avoid creating an unfair
                                                    the Draft Guidance (2016).’’                            Biological Products’’ describes FDA’s                  advantage for specific manufacturers.
                                                                                                            current thinking on the need for                       Several comments stated that the
                                                      Dated: May 27, 2016.
                                                                                                            biological products licensed under the                 current practices of FDA and non-FDA
                                                    Leslie Kux,
                                                                                                            Public Health Service Act (PHS Act) to                 entities for identifying biosimilar and
                                                    Associate Commissioner for Policy.                      bear a nonproprietary name that
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–12950 Filed 6–1–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                                                                                   interchangeable products is sufficient
                                                                                                            includes an FDA-designated suffix.                     for the purpose of pharmacovigilance,
                                                    BILLING CODE 4164–01–P                                  There is a need to clearly identify                    and designation of a suffix is not
                                                                                                            biological products to facilitate                      needed. One comment stated that FDA’s
                                                                                                            pharmacovigilance and, for the                         estimate of 6 hours to submit proposed
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND                                purposes of safe use, to minimize
                                                    HUMAN SERVICES                                                                                                 suffixes is based only on the time
                                                                                                            inadvertent substitution. Accordingly,                 needed to prepare the submission itself
                                                                                                            for biological products licensed under                 after the multiple suffixes have been
                                                    Food and Drug Administration
                                                                                                            the PHS Act, FDA intends to designate                  selected. The comment further stated
                                                    [Docket No. FDA–2013–D–1543]                            a nonproprietary name that includes a                  that because FDA suggests that each
                                                                                                            core name and a distinguishing suffix.                 respondent submit three suggested
                                                    Agency Information Collection                           This naming convention is applicable to                suffixes for consideration, the time
                                                    Activities; Submission for Office of                    biological products previously licensed                needed to do an analysis of each suffix
                                                    Management and Budget Review;                           and newly licensed under section 351(a)                would exceed 720 hours per suffix
                                                    Comment Request; Guidance for                           or 351(k) of the PHS Act (42 U.S.C.                    (based on their own company
                                                    Industry on Nonproprietary Naming of                    262(a) or 262(k)).                                     experience) or 2,160 hours total for the
                                                    Biological Products                                        The guidance includes information                   three suffixes.
                                                    AGENCY:    Food and Drug Administration,                collection by requesting that applicants                  In response to the comments we note
                                                    HHS.                                                    propose a suffix composed of four                      that our estimated annual reporting
                                                                                                            lowercase letters for use as the                       burden results from information that
                                                    ACTION:   Notice.                                       distinguishing identifier included in the              would be submitted to us by applicants
                                                    SUMMARY:   The Food and Drug                            proper name designated by FDA at the                   in order to facilitate Agency designation
                                                    Administration (FDA) is announcing                      time of licensure for biological products              of a suffix as part of the proper name of
                                                    that a proposed collection of                           licensed under the PHS Act. The suffix                 a biological product. We estimated that
                                                    information has been submitted to the                   will be incorporated in the                            sponsors would spend 2 hours
                                                    Office of Management and Budget                         nonproprietary name of the product.                    completing the submission for each of
                                                    (OMB) for review and clearance under                    The guidance recommends that                           the three suffixes, resulting in 6 hours
                                                    the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.                    applicants should submit up to 10                      as the average burden. This estimate is
                                                                                                            proposed suffixes, in the order of the                 an annualized figure based on the
                                                    DATES: Fax written comments on the
                                                                                                            applicant’s preference. We also                        average number of responses per
                                                    collection of information by July 5,
                                                                                                            recommend including supporting                         respondent and the average burden per
                                                    2016.
                                                                                                            analyses demonstrating that the                        response over a 3-year period. We
                                                    ADDRESSES:   To ensure that comments on                 proposed suffixes meet the factors                     understand that there is a certain
                                                    the information collection are received,                described in the guidance for FDA’s                    amount of research and other costs that
                                                    OMB recommends that written                             consideration.                                         an applicant might encounter in
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    comments be faxed to the Office of                         As indicated in table 1, we estimate                analyzing any proposed name for a
                                                    Information and Regulatory Affairs,                     that we will receive a total of 40                     biological product. We also recognize
                                                    OMB, Attn: FDA Desk Officer, FAX:                       requests annually for the proposed                     that the burden may be higher for some
                                                    202–395–7285, or emailed to oira_                       proper name for biological products                    applicants and lower for other
                                                    submission@omb.eop.gov. All                             submitted under section 351(a) of the                  applicants based on a variety of factors
                                                    comments should be identified with the                  PHS Act, and 6 requests annually for the               specific to the applicant.
                                                    OMB control number 0910–NEW and                         proposed proper name for biosimilar                       The comment suggesting that it will
                                                    title ‘‘Nonproprietary Naming of                        products and interchangeable products                  take 720 hours to complete an analysis


                                               VerDate Sep<11>2014   18:30 Jun 01, 2016   Jkt 238001   PO 00000   Frm 00075   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\02JNN1.SGM   02JNN1



Document Created: 2016-06-02 01:23:15
Document Modified: 2016-06-02 01:23:15
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of availability.
DatesAlthough 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 the draft guidance before it begins work on the final version of the guidance, submit either electronic or written comments on Issues 1 through 4 listed in section IV of this document by August 31, 2016. Submit either electronic or written comments on Issues 5 through 8 listed in section IV of this document by October 31, 2016.
ContactKasey Heintz, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS-255), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 20740, 240-402-1376.
FR Citation81 FR 35363 

2025 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR