Amendments to General Regulations of the Food and Drug Administration

AGENCY:

Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION:

Direct final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending certain of its general regulations to include tobacco products, where appropriate, in light of FDA's authority to regulate these products under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act). With these amendments, tobacco products will be subject to the same general requirements that apply to other FDA-regulated products. Elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register, we are publishing a companion proposed rule under FDA's usual procedures for notice and comment to provide a procedural framework to finalize the rule in the event we receive significant adverse comment and withdraw this direct final rule.

DATES:

This rule is effective April 14, 2011. Submit either electronic or written comments by February 14, 2011. If we receive no significant adverse comments within the specified comment period, we intend to publish a document confirming the effective date of the final rule in the Federal Register within 30 days after the comment period on this direct final rule ends. If we receive any timely significant adverse comment, we will withdraw this final rule in part or in whole by publication of a document in the Federal Register within 30 days after the comment period ends.

ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0560 and/or RIN number 0910-AG55, by any of the following methods:

Electronic Submissions

Submit electronic comments in the following way:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Written Submissions

Submit written submissions in the following ways:

• FAX: 301-827-6870.
• Mail/Hand delivery/Courier (for paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions): Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the Agency name and docket number and Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this rulemaking. All comments received may be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information provided. For additional information on submitting comments, see the “Comments” heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this document, into the “Search” box and follow the prompts and/or go to the Division of Dockets Management, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gerie A. Voss, Center for Tobacco Products, Food and Drug Administration, 9200 Corporate Blvd., rm. 240G, Rockville, MD 20850, 1-877-CTP-1373, gerie.voss@fda.hhs.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. What is the background of the rule?

The Tobacco Control Act was enacted on June 22, 2009, amending the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the FD&C Act) and providing FDA with the authority to regulate tobacco products (Pub. L. 11-31; 123 Stat. 1776). In enacting the Tobacco Control Act, Congress sought to ensure that FDA had authority to provide effective oversight and to impose appropriate regulatory controls on tobacco products. In order to effectuate these purposes, FDA is amending several provisions of its general regulations to reflect the Agency's new authority and mandate regarding tobacco products.

II. What does this direct final rulemaking do?

In this direct final rule, FDA is making the following amendments to its existing general regulations, reflecting the Agency's authority over tobacco products under the Tobacco Control Act:

1. Revising 21 CFR 1.1(b) to ensure the applicability of definitions contained in the Tobacco Control Act;

2. Removing the reference to “package” in 21 CFR 1.1(c), as this definition now also is covered by the Tobacco Control Act and is no longer provided solely by the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act;

3. Revising 21 CFR 1.20 to exclude from this definition of “package” the term “package” as defined in section 900(13) of the Tobacco Control Act (21 U.S.C. 387q(13));

4. Adding paragraph (f) to 21 CFR 14.55 to identify the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee as a permanent statutory advisory committee; and

5. Adding paragraph (j) to 21 CFR 17.1 and revising 21 CFR 17.2 to reflect FDA's authority to impose civil monetary penalties on tobacco-related violations.

III. What are the procedures for issuing a direct final rule?

In the Federal Register of November 21, 1997 (62 FR 62466), FDA announced the availability of the guidance document entitled “Guidance for FDA and Industry: Direct Final Rule Procedures” that described when and how FDA will employ direct final rulemaking. We believe that this rule is appropriate for direct final rulemaking because it is intended to make noncontroversial changes to existing regulations. We anticipate no significant adverse comments.

Consistent with FDA's procedures on direct final rulemaking, we are publishing elsewhere in this issue of the Federal Register a companion proposed rule that is identical to the direct final rule. The companion proposed rule provides a procedural framework within which the rule may be finalized in the event the direct final rule is withdrawn because of any significant adverse comment. The comment period for this direct final rule runs concurrently with the comment period of the companion proposed rule. Any comments received in response to the companion proposed rule will also be considered as comments regarding this direct final rule.

We are providing a comment period on the direct final rule of 75 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register. If we receive any significant adverse comment, we intend to withdraw this final rule before its effective date by publication of a notice in the Federal Register within 30 days after the comment period ends. A significant adverse comment is defined as a comment that explains why the rule would be inappropriate, including challenges to the rule's underlying premise or approach, or would be ineffective or unacceptable without change. In determining whether an adverse comment is significant and warrants terminating a direct final rulemaking, we will consider whether the comment raises an issue serious enough to warrant a substantive response in a notice-and-comment process in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553). Comments that are frivolous, insubstantial, or outside the scope of the rule will not be considered significant or adverse under this procedure. For example, a comment recommending an additional change to the rule will not be considered a significant adverse comment, unless the comment states why the rule would be ineffective without the additional change. In addition, if a significant adverse comment applies to part of a rule and that part can be severed from the remainder of the rule, we may adopt as final those parts of the rule that are not the subject of a significant adverse comment.

If we withdraw the direct final rule, all comments received will be considered under the companion proposed rule in developing a final rule under the usual notice-and-comment procedures under the APA. If we receive no significant adverse comment during the specified comment period, we intend to publish a confirmation document in the Federal Register within 30 days after the comment period ends.

You can find additional information about FDA's direct final rulemaking procedures in the guidance document entitled “Guidance for FDA and Industry: Direct Final Rule Procedures” (62 FR 62466). This guidance document may be accessed at http://www.fda.gov/RegulatoryInformation/Guidances/ucm125166.htm.

IV. What is the legal authority for this rule?

FDA is issuing this direct final rule under provisions of the FD&C Act, as amended by the Tobacco Control Act (21 U.S.C. 321, 331, 333, 387, 387a, and 387q).

V. What is the environmental impact of this rule?

The Agency has determined under 21 CFR 25.30(h) and (i) that this action is of a type that does not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment. Therefore, neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.

VI. What is the economic impact of this rule?

FDA has examined the impacts of the final rule under Executive Order 12866 and the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612), and the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4). Executive Order 12866 directs agencies to assess all costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, when regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public health and safety, and other advantages; distributive impacts; and equity). The Agency believes that this direct final rule is not a significant regulatory action under the Executive order.

The Regulatory Flexibility Act requires agencies to analyze regulatory options that would minimize any significant impact of a rule on small entities. Because this direct final rule does not impose any new requirements on tobacco product manufacturers, retailers, or distributors, the Agency certifies that the final rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

Section 202(a) of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 requires that agencies prepare a written statement, which includes an assessment of anticipated costs and benefits, before proposing “any rule that includes any Federal mandate that may result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100,000,000 or more (adjusted annually for inflation) in any one year.” The current threshold after adjustment for inflation is $135 million, using the most current (2009) Implicit Price Deflator for the Gross Domestic Product. FDA does not expect this final rule to result in any 1-year expenditure that would meet or exceed this amount.

VII. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

FDA concludes that the regulatory revisions and amendments identified in this document are not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget because they do not constitute a “collection of information” under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).

VIII. What are the federalism impacts of this rule?

FDA has analyzed this final rule in accordance with the principles set forth in Executive Order 13132. FDA has determined that the rule does not contain policies that have substantial direct effects on the States, on the relationship between the National Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Accordingly, the Agency has concluded that the rule does not contain policies that have federalism implications as defined in the Executive order and, consequently, a federalism summary impact statement is not required.

IX. How do you submit comments on this rule?

Interested persons may submit to the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES) either electronic or written comments regarding this document. It is only necessary to send one set of comments. It is no longer necessary to send two copies of mailed comments. Identify comments with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

List of Subjects

21 CFR Part 1

• Cosmetics
• Drugs
• Exports
• Food labeling
• Imports
• Labeling
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements

21 CFR Part 14

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Advisory committees
• Color additives
• Drugs
• Radiation protection

21 CFR Part 17

• Administrative practice and procedure
• Penalties

Therefore, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and under authority delegated to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, 21 CFR parts 1, 14, and 17 are amended as follows:

PART 1—GENERAL ENFORCEMENT REGULATIONS

The authority citation for part 1 is revised to read as follows:

Authority: 15 U.S.C. 1453, 1454, 1455; 19 U.S.C. 1490, 1491; 21 U.S.C. 321, 331, 333, 334, 335a, 343, 350c, 350d, 352, 355, 360b, 362, 371, 374, 381, 382, 387, 387a, 393; 42 U.S.C. 216, 241, 243, 262, 264.

2. In § 1.1, revise paragraph (b); and in the first sentence of paragraph (c), remove “ package in § 1.20 and of” to read as follows:

3. Amend § 1.20 by revising the introductory text to read as follows:

PART 14—PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE A PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE

4. The authority citation for part 14 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 5 U.S.C. App. 2; 15 U.S.C. 1451-1461, 21 U.S.C. 41-50, 141-149, 321-394, 467f, 679, 821, 1034; 28 U.S.C. 2112; 42 U.S.C. 201, 262, 263b, 264; Pub. L. 107-109; Pub. L. 108-155.

5. Amend § 14.55 by adding paragraph (f) to read as follows:

PART 17—CIVIL MONEY PENALTIES HEARINGS

6. The authority citation for part 17 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 21 U.S.C. 331, 333, 337, 351, 352, 355, 360, 360c, 360f, 360i, 360j, 371; 42 U.S.C. 262, 263b, 300aa-28; 5 U.S.C. 554, 555, 556, 557.

7. Amend § 17.1 by adding paragraph (j) to read as follows:

8. Revise § 17.2 to read as follows: