[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 44 (Friday, March 5, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10458-10459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-4982]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 2003D-0137]


Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff; 
Surgical Masks--Premarket Notification Submissions; Availability

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the 
availability of the guidance entitled ``Surgical Masks--Premarket 
Notification [510(k)] Submissions.'' This guidance is intended to 
assist industry in preparing premarket notification submissions for 
surgical masks.

DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on this guidance at any 
time. General comments on agency guidance documents are welcome at any 
time.

ADDRESSES: Submit written requests for single copies on a 3.5'' 
diskette of the guidance document entitled ``Surgical Masks--Premarket 
Notification Submissions'' to the Division of Small Manufacturers, 
International, and Consumer Assistance (HFZ-220), Center for Devices 
and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, 1350 Piccard 
Dr., Rockville, MD 20850. Send one self-addressed adhesive labels to 
assist that office in processing your request, or fax your request to 
301-443-8818. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for information 
on electronic access to the guidance.
    Submit written comments concerning this guidance to the Division of 
Dockets Management (HFA-305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 
Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Submit electronic comments 
to http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments. Identify comments with the 
docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Chiu S. Lin, Center for Devices and 
Radiological Health (HFZ-480), Food and Drug Administration, 9200 
Corporate Blvd., Rockville, MD 20850, 301-443-8913.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In the Federal Register of May 15, 2003 (68 FR 26308), FDA 
announced the availability of a draft of this guidance document and 
invited interested persons to comment by June 16, 2003. FDA received 
four comments. The comments suggested various clarifications to the 
scope of the devices addressed by the guidance and to testing methods 
cited in the guidance, and other minor points. FDA revised the guidance 
to clarify these points.

II. Significance of Guidance

    This guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance 
practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The guidance represents the 
agency's current thinking on premarket notification submissions for 
surgical masks. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any 
person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. An alternative 
approach may be used if such approach satisfies the requirements of the 
applicable statute and regulations.

III. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

    This guidance contains information collection provisions that are 
subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520). 
The collections of information addressed in the guidance document have 
been approved by OMB in accordance with the PRA under the regulations 
governing premarket notification submissions (21 CFR part 807, subpart 
E, OMB control number 0910-0120). The labeling provisions addressed in 
the guidance have been approved by OMB under OMB control number 0910-
0485.

IV. Electronic Access

    To receive ``Surgical Masks--Premarket Notification Submissions'' 
by fax machine, call the Center for Devices and Radiological Health 
(CDRH) Facts-On-Demand system at 800-899-0381, or 301-827-0111 from a 
touch-tone telephone. Press 1 to enter the system. At the second voice 
prompt, press 1 to order a document. Enter the document number (094) 
followed by the pound sign ([numsign]). Follow the remaining voice 
prompts to complete your request.
    Persons interested in obtaining a copy of the guidance may also do 
so by using the Internet. CDRH maintains an entry on the Internet for 
easy access to information including text, graphics, and files that may 
be downloaded to a personal computer with Internet access. Updated on a 
regular basis, the CDRH home page includes device safety alerts, 
Federal Register reprints, information on premarket submissions 
(including lists of approved applications and manufacturers' 
addresses), small manufacturer's assistance, information on video 
conferencing and electronic submissions, Mammography Matters,

[[Page 10459]]

and other device-oriented information. The CDRH Web site may be 
accessed at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh. A search capability for all CDRH 
guidance documents is available at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/guidance.html. Guidance documents are also available on the Division of 
Dockets Management Internet site at http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets.

V. Comments

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

    Dated: February 25, 2004.
Beverly Chernaik Rothstein,
Acting Deputy Director for Policy and Regulations, Center for Devices 
and Radiological Health.
[FR Doc. 04-4982 Filed 3-4-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S