CPG Sec. 345.100 Condoms; Defects - Criteria for Direct Reference Seizure  
BACKGROUND: 
The FDA has had a long history of seizure actions against condoms because of defects. On June 4, 1968, 
FDA issued a plan for the sampling and examination of condoms which provided the basic criteria for 
direct reference seizures of defective condoms in the Administrative Guideline 7424.03, published 
January 1, 1973. The direct reference seizure authority was rescinded on October 1, 1980, in the 
Compliance Policy Guide 7124.21 (See Sec. 310.100), "Prophylactics - Adulteration; Defects" when the 
Bureau of Medical Devices chose to review the FDA inspection sampling criteria as well as sampling 
criteria set forth in other specifications and standards used to determine the acceptability of lots of 
condoms. 
After completing its review of the inspection sampling criteria, FDA altered its position to bring it more 
in line with the American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) "Standard Specification for Rubber 
Contraceptives (Condoms)," "Designation: D3492-83." This is the voluntary standard that is available to 
domestic latex condom manufacturers to assess the quality of their medical devices. According to this 
voluntary standard, the Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) for leakage is at 0.4%, or not to exceed 4 leaking 
condoms per 1000 condoms. 
For purposes of FDA's sampling inspection plan, the AQL of 0.4% is the value of the maximum percent 
defective for leakage that will be considered satisfactory as a process average. In this regard, the 
sampling inspection plan used by FDA emphasizes protection against the rejection of lots where the 
percent defective is less than or equal to 0.4%. 
The sampling inspection plan used by FDA has been extracted from MIL-STD-105D, (the military 
standard for "Sampling Procedures and Tables for Inspection by Attributes"), based on an AQL of 0.4%, 
inspection level II, and normal inspection. Single sampling will be used for lots less than or equal to 
3200. For lots greater than 3200, multiple sampling will be used. The FDA plan is described in 
Attachment A - Sampling Inspection Plan. 
REGULATORY ACTION GUIDANCE: 
Lots of condoms that are rejected based on the criteria in Attachment A - Sampling Inspection Plan are 
subject to direct reference seizure. Divisions should forward seizure recommendations to the Division of  
*Office of Medical Device and Radiological Health Operation (OMDRHO) in consult with*the Division of 
Enforcement, Office of Enforcement and Import Operations,  Office of Regulatory Affairs, Food and Drug 
Administration. 
SPECIMEN CHARGES: 
Note: Charges for seizure of devices do not include allegations of shipment in interstate commerce 
because allegations of interstate commerce are not required to support seizure of devices [see section 
304(a)(2)] and FDA's jurisdiction to bring enforcement actions involving devices is presumed under 
section 709 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act).  1.  For lots that exceed an AQL of 0.4%, charge:  
"That the article of device is adulterated within the meaning of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 351(c), in that it is not 
subject to 21 U.S.C. 351(b) and its quality falls below that which it purports or is represented to possess 
in that the devices contain defects/holes." 
2.  If the condoms are labeled for the prevention of disease, also charge:  
"That the article of device is misbranded within the meaning of the Act, 21 U.S.C. 352(a), in that its 
labeling 'for the prevention of disease' is false *or* misleading, because the article contains holes." 
3.  If the lot to be seized was repacked by the dealer, and it is believed that holes may have 
occurred during repacking, add a statement to the examination paragraph of the complaint 
similar to the following:  
"(Insert name of firm) repacked the article of device from bulk stock after receipt in interstate 
commerce." 
Attachment A 7124.21 
Sampling Inspection Plan 
1.  Sample Collection  
Sample Size 
Minimum # Maximum # 
*Lot Size of Condoms of Condoms 
0-500 32 36 (1/4 Gross) 
501 - 3,200 125 144 (1 Gross) 
3,201 - 10,000 350 432 (3 Gross) 
10,001 - 35,000 560 576 (4 Gross) 
35,001 - 150,000 875 1008 (7 Gross) 
150,001 - 500,000 1400 1440 (10 Gross) 
500,001 - Over 2205 2304 (16 Gross)* 
Collect the condoms randomly and representatively across the lots. *All sample sizes listed above under 
the column headed "Maximum Number of Condoms/Samples" are included as an accommodation to 
the industry's quantitative packaging practices, and consist of more condoms than will be tested under 
the sample examination plan below.* 
2.  Sample Examination 
*Two single and five multiple sample examination plans are presented below for various lot sizes. 
Examination may cease when a lot is determined to be violative.* 
Single Sample Plan for Lot Size 0 - 500  # Exam Number of Defective Condoms 
Condoms Accept Rejected 
32 0 1 
Single Sample Plan for Lot Size 501 to 3,200 
# Exam Number of Defective Condoms 
Condoms Accept Rejected 
125 1 2 
Multiple Sample Plan for Lot Size 3,201 to 10,000 
# Exam Number of Defective Condoms 
Condoms Cumulative Accept Rejected 
1st 50 50 @ 2 
2nd 50 100 0 3 
3rd 50 150 0 3 
4th 50 200 1 4 
5th 50 250 2 4 
6th 50 300 3 5 
7th 50 350 4 5 
@ Acceptance is not possible at this stage* 
Multiple Sample Plan for Lot Size 10,001 to 35,000 
# Exam Number of Defective Condoms 
Condoms Cumulative Accept Rejected 
1st 80 80 @ 3 
2nd 80 160 0 3 
3rd 80 240 1 45 
4th 80 320 2 5 
5th 80 400 3 6 
6th 80 480 4 6 
7th 80 560 6 7 
@ Acceptance is not possible at this stage* 
Multiple Sample Plan for Lot Size 35,001 to 150,000 
# Exam Number of Defective Condoms 
Condoms Cumulative Accept Rejected  1st 125 125 @ 4 
2nd 125 250 1 5 
3rd 125 375 2 6 
4th 125 500 3 7 
5th 125 625 5 8 
6th 125 750 7 9 
7th 125 875 9 10 
@ Acceptance is not possible at this stage* 
Multiple Sample Plan for Lot Size 150,001 to 500,000 
# Exam Number of Defective Condoms 
Condoms Cumulative Accept Rejected 
1st 200 200 0 4 
2nd 200 400 1 6 
3rd 200 600 3 8 
4th 200 800 5 10 
5th 200 1000 7 11 
6th 200 1200 10 12 
7th 200 1400 13 14 
Multiple Sample Plan for Lot Size 500,001 and Greater 
# Exam Number of Defective Condoms 
Condoms Cumulative Accept Rejected 
1st 315 315 0 5 
2nd 315 630 3 8 
3rd 315 945 6 10 
4th 315 1260 8 13 
5th 315 1575 11 15 
6th 315 1890 14 17 
7th 315 2205 18 19 
Issued: 01/01/73 
Revised: 12/30/87, 3/95