[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 105 (Thursday, May 30, 2024)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 46802]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11811]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

21 CFR Part 14

[Docket No. FDA-2024-N-2357]


Advisory Committee; Science Advisory Board to the National Center 
for Toxicological Research; Termination; Removal From List of Standing 
Committees

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing 
the termination of the Science Advisory Board to the National Center 
for Toxicological Research (NCTR). This document announces the reasons 
for termination and removes the Science Advisory Board to the NCTR from 
the Agency's list of standing advisory committees.

DATES: This rule is effective May 30, 2024.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ashley Groves, Designated Federal 
Officer, National Center for Toxicological Research, Food and Drug 
Administration, 3900 NCTR Rd., 50-719, Jefferson, AR 72079, 870-543-
7956, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Science Advisory Board to the National 
Center for Toxicological Research (the Committee) was established on 
June 2, 1973 (38 FR 18478). The Committee advises the Commissioner of 
Food and Drugs or designee in discharging responsibilities as they 
relate to helping to ensure safe and effective drugs for human use and 
as required, any other product for which FDA has regulatory 
responsibility.
    The Committee is no longer needed and will be terminated on June 2, 
2024. Over the past several years, the Committee has met very 
infrequently, and the effort and expense of maintaining the Committee 
are no longer justified. The Science Board to FDA (Science Board) 
provides advice to the Commissioner and other appropriate officials on 
specific complex scientific and technical issues important to FDA and 
its mission, including emerging issues within the scientific community. 
Additionally, the Committee provides advice that supports the Agency in 
keeping pace with technical and scientific developments, including in 
regulatory science; and input into the Agency's research agenda; and on 
upgrading its scientific and research facilities and training 
opportunities. It also provides, where requested, expert review of 
Agency-sponsored intramural and extramural scientific research 
programs. In the future, any issues on which NCTR requires expert 
advice will be addressed by utilizing the Science Board with additional 
augmentation of expertise by appropriate subject matter experts serving 
as temporary members on that committee.
    Under 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and (d) and 21 CFR 10.40(d) and (e), 
the Agency finds good cause to dispense with notice and public comment 
procedures and to proceed to an immediate effective date on this rule.
    Notice and public comment and a delayed effective date are 
unnecessary because the Committee is not being adequately used, and 
termination of the committee is effective on June 2, 2024, in 
accordance with 21 CFR 14.55. This final rule merely removes the name 
of the Science Advisory Board to the National Center for Toxicological 
Research from the list of standing advisory committees in Sec.  14.100 
(21 CFR 14.100).
    Therefore, the Agency is amending Sec.  14.100(e) as set forth in 
the regulatory text of the document.

List of Subjects in 21 CFR Part 14

    Administrative practice and procedure, Advisory committee, Color 
additives, Drugs, Radiation protection.
    Therefore, under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and under 
authority delegated to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, 21 CFR part 
14 is amended as follows:

PART 14--PUBLIC HEARING BEFORE A PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE

0
1. The authority citation for part 14 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.; 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, 284m, 284m-1; Pub. L. 107-109, 115 Stat. 
1419.


Sec.  14.100  [Amended]


0
2. Amend Sec.  14.100 by removing paragraph (e).

    Dated: May 23, 2024.
Lauren K. Roth,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2024-11811 Filed 5-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164-01-P