[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 184 (Friday, September 22, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55487-55488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-8026]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. 2006N-0380]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Export of Medical Devices-Foreign Letters of Approval

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing an 
opportunity for public comment on the proposed collection of certain 
information by the agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(the PRA), Federal agencies are required to publish notice in the 
Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, 
including each proposed extension of an existing information 
collection, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the 
notice. This notice solicits comments on reporting requirements for 
firms that intend to export certain unapproved medical devices.

DATES: Submit written or electronic comments on the collection of 
information by November 21, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit electronic comments on the collection of information 
to http://www.fda.gov/dockets/ecomments. Submit written comments on the 
collection of information to the Division of Dockets Management (HFA-
305), Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, 
Rockville, MD 20852. All comments should be identified with the docket 
number found in brackets in the heading of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Denver Presley, Office of Management 
Programs (HFA-250), Food and Drug Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, 
Rockville, MD 20857,301-827-1472.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501-3520), Federal 
agencies must obtain approval from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for each collection of information they conduct or sponsor. 
``Collection of information'' is defined in 44 U.S.C. 3502(3) and 5 CFR 
1320.3(c) and includes agency requests or requirements that members of 
the public submit reports, keep records, or provide information to a 
third party. Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)) 
requires Federal agencies to provide a 60-day notice in the Federal 
Register concerning each proposed collection of information, including 
each proposed extension of an existing collection of information, 
before submitting the collection to OMB for approval. To comply with 
this requirement, FDA is publishing notice of the proposed collection 
of information set forth in this document.
    With respect to the following collection of information, FDA 
invites comments on these topics: (1) Whether the proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of FDA's 
functions, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of FDA's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques, when 
appropriate, and other forms of information technology.

Export of Medical Devices-Foreign Letters of Approval (OMB Control 
Number 0910-0264)--Extension

    Section 801(e)(2) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the 
act) (21 U.S.C. 381(e)(2)) provides for the exportation of an 
unapproved device under certain circumstances if the exportation is not 
contrary to the public health and safety and it has the approval of the 
foreign country to which it is intended for export.
    Requesters communicate (either directly or through a business 
associate in the foreign country) with a representative of the foreign 
government to which they seek exportation, and written authorization 
must be obtained from the appropriate office within the foreign 
government approving the importation of the medical device. An 
alternative to obtaining written authorization from the foreign 
government is to accept a notarized certification from a responsible 
company official in the United States that the product is not in 
conflict with the foreign country's laws. This certification must 
include a statement acknowledging that the responsible company official 
making the certification is subject to the provisions of 18 U.S.C. 
1001. This statutory provision makes it a criminal offense to knowingly 
and willingly make a false or fraudulent statement, or make or use a 
false document, in any manner within the jurisdiction of a department 
or agency of the United States.
    FDA uses the written authorization from the foreign country or the 
certification from a responsible company official in the United States 
to determine whether the foreign country has any objection to the 
importation of the device into their country.
    The respondents to this collection of information are companies 
that seek to export medical devices.
    FDA estimates the reporting burden of this collection of 
information as follows:

[[Page 55488]]



                                                     Table 1.--Estimated Annual Reporting Burden\1\
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                                                              No. of         Annual Frequency       Total Annual        Hours per
                    21 CFR Section                         Respondents         per Response          Responses           Response         Total Hours
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801(e)(2)                                                              25                     1                 25                2.5               62.5
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\1\There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information.

    The burden estimates are based on the experience of FDA's medical 
device program personnel.

    Dated: September 15, 2006.
Jeffrey Shuren,
Assistant Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 06-8026 Filed 9-21-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4160-01-S