[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56158-56159]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8242]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 2006N-0107]


Food and Drug Administration-Regulated Products Containing 
Nanotechnology Materials; Public Meeting

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: This is an update to previous notice that the Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA) will hold a public meeting October 10, 2006, on 
nanotechnology as it relates to FDA-regulated products. The primary 
purpose of this update is to notify the public that preregistration to 
attend or speak at the public meeting will close on September 29, 2006. 
The purpose of the meeting is to help FDA further its understanding of 
developments in

[[Page 56159]]

nanotechnology materials that pertain to FDA-regulated products. FDA is 
interested in learning about the kinds of new nanotechnology material 
products under development in the areas of foods (including dietary 
supplements), food and color additives, animal feeds, cosmetics, drugs 
and biologics, and medical devices, whether there are new or emerging 
scientific issues that should be brought to FDA's attention, and any 
other scientific issues about which the regulated industry, academia, 
and the interested public may wish to inform FDA concerning the use of 
nanotechnology materials in FDA-regulated products.

DATES AND TIMES: The public meeting will be held October 10, 2006, from 
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

REGISTRATION: You may preregister to attend or make a presentation at 
http://www.fda.gov/nanotechnology/. Preregistration to make a 
presentation will close on September 29, 2006; however, there will be 
onsite registration to attend on a first-come, first-served basis until 
the room capacity is reached. Onsite registration will be open at the 
meeting site at 8:30 a.m. on October 10. Once room capacity is reached, 
individuals will be offered the opportunity to observe the meeting from 
an overflow room located at the meeting site.
    If time permits, there will be an open public session. Individuals 
who have not preregistered to make a presentation can register onsite 
if they wish to present public comments. While every effort will be 
made to provide an open public session after all preregistered speakers 
have made presentations, it is recommended that you preregister if you 
would like to make a presentation. Onsite registration to make a 
presentation will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. 
Individuals who register at the meeting to speak may be allotted less 
time to speak than preregistered speakers, depending on the number of 
registrants.
    We will post the agenda at http://www.fda.gov/nanotechnology/ prior 
to the meeting.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the Natcher Auditorium, 
National Institutes of Health Campus (NIH), 9000 Rockville Pike, bldg. 
45, Bethesda, MD. We will also post the address for the meeting at 
http://www.fda.gov/nanotechnology/. Note that parking is limited on the 
NIH Campus and that security procedures are in effect. For further 
information on parking and security see http://www.nih.gov/about/visitorsecurity.htm.
    Written or electronic comments may be submitted by November 10, 
2006. Submit written comments 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. All comments should be identified with the docket 
number found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Poppy Kendall, Food and Drug 
Administration (HF-11), 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, 301-
827-3360, FAX: 301-594-6777, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Why Are We Holding a Public Meeting?

    Previous Federal Register Notices (71 FR 19523, April 14, 2006; 71 
FR 46232, August 11, 2006) contain detailed supplemental information 
regarding the rationale and background for the meeting.
    For more information about FDA's role regarding nanotechnology 
products, see our Web page at http://www.fda.gov/nanotechnology/.

II. How Can You Participate?

    You can participate through oral presentation at the meeting or 
through written or electronic material submitted to the docket. The 
length of the presentations will be determined by the number of 
speakers who preregister and the time available. Based on the requests 
received so far, the presentations are likely to be less than 8 minutes 
long. In order to maximize the number of people who have the 
opportunity to present their views at this public meeting, each 
individual or organization will be limited to one opportunity to 
present views at the meeting. However, written material of any length 
can be submitted to the docket.
    Individuals and organizations with common interests are encouraged 
to consolidate or coordinate their presentations. FDA will give the 
registered speakers an estimated timeframe for their presentations by 
October 4 through email to the address provided during preregistration. 
Persons should arrive early to make sure that they are present to make 
their presentation in case we are ahead of schedule.
    In a previous notice we indicated the possibility of holding 
concurrent sessions. However, based on the number of requests for 
presentation received so far it appears that all can be accommodated by 
one general session. A final decision on whether there will be 
concurrent sessions will be made following the cutoff date for 
registration and will be communicated through the posted agenda at 
http://www.fda.gov/nanotechnology/ and e-mail to registered speakers.
    We ask that you preregister by September 29 (see REGISTRATION) if 
you intend to provide an oral presentation. If time permits, there will 
be an open public session at the meeting. However, individuals who 
register at the meeting to speak may be allotted less time to speak 
than preregistered speakers, depending on the number of registrants. 
The information provided during preregistration will help us determine 
further how to organize the day.

III. Will Meeting Transcripts Be Available?

    Following the meeting, transcripts will be available for review at 
the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES).

IV. How Should You Send Comments on the Issues?

    An open public docket has been established. Individuals may submit 
their comments either in writing or electronically to the docket. All 
comments should include the docket number found in brackets in the 
heading of this document (see ADDRESSES). Submit a single copy of 
electronic comments or two paper copies of any mailed comments, except 
that individuals have the option of submitting one paper copy. Comments 
are to be identified 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.

    Dated: September 20, 2006.
Jeffrey Shuren,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 06-8242 Filed 9-21-06; 1:22 pm]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S