[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 118 (Tuesday, June 19, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28497-28520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13187]



[[Page 28495]]

Vol. 83

Tuesday,

No. 118

June 19, 2018

Part II





Department of Homeland Security





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6 CFR Part 46





Department of Agriculture





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7 CFR Part 1c





Department of Energy





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10 CFR Part 745





National Aeronautics and Space Administration





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14 CFR Part 1230





Department of Commerce





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15 CFR Part 27





Consumer Product Safety Commission





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16 CFR Part 1028





Social Security Administration





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20 CFR Part 431

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Agency for International Development





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22 CFR Part 225





Department of Housing and Urban Development





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24 CFR Part 60





Department of Labor





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29 CFR Part 21





Department of Defense





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32 CFR Part 219





Department of Education





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34 CFR Part 97





Department of Veterans Affairs





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38 CFR Part 16





Environmental Protection Agency





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40 CFR Part 26





Department of Health and Human Services





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45 CFR Part 46





National Science Foundation





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45 CFR Part 690





Department of Transportation





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49 CFR Part 11





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Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects: Six Month Delay of 
the General Compliance Date of Revisions While Allowing the Use of 
Three Burden-Reducing Provisions during the Delay Period; Final Rule

Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 118 / Tuesday, June 19, 2018 / Rules 
and Regulations

[[Page 28497]]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

6 CFR Part 46

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

7 CFR Part 1c

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

10 CFR Part 745

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

14 CFR Part 1230

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

15 CFR Part 27

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Part 1028

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

20 CFR Part 431

AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

22 CFR Part 225

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

24 CFR Part 60

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

29 CFR Part 21

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

32 CFR Part 219

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

34 CFR Part 97

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

38 CFR Part 16

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 26

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

45 CFR Part 46

RIN 0937-AA05

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

45 CFR Part 690

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

49 CFR Part 11


Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects: Six Month 
Delay of the General Compliance Date of Revisions While Allowing the 
Use of Three Burden-Reducing Provisions During the Delay Period

AGENCY: Department of Homeland Security; Department of Agriculture; 
Department of Energy; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; 
Department of Commerce; Consumer Product Safety Commission; Social 
Security Administration; Agency for International Development; 
Department of Housing and Urban Development; Department of Labor; 
Department of Defense; Department of Education; Department of Veterans 
Affairs; Environmental Protection Agency; Department of Health and 
Human Services; National Science Foundation; and Department of 
Transportation.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In a final rule published on January 19, 2017, a number of 
federal departments and agencies revised to the Federal Policy for the 
Protection of Human Subjects (often referred to as the ``Common 
Rule''), which each department and agency adopted into regulations in 
its part of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The Consumer Product 
Safety Commission (CPSC) adopted the same changes in a final rule 
published on September 18, 2017. The revised Common Rule was scheduled 
to become effective on January 19, 2018, with a general compliance date 
of the same date. By an interim final rule issued on January 17, 2018 
and published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018, federal 
departments and agencies delayed the effective date and the general 
compliance date for the revised Common Rule for a 6-month period, until 
July 19, 2018. The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 
published an interim final rule adopting the same regulatory changes on 
January 26, 2018. The revised Common Rule, including technical 
amendments made by the January 22, 2018 interim final rule, is referred 
to here as the ``2018 Requirements.''
    On April 20, 2018, the federal departments and agencies listed here 
published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing and seeking 
comments as to whether the general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements should be delayed for an additional 6-month period. The 
NPRM also proposed and sought comments on whether to allow regulated 
entities to implement certain burden-reducing provisions of the 2018 
Requirements in specified circumstances during such continued delay 
period.
    Through this final rule, we are adopting the proposals described in 
the April 20, 2018 NPRM. This rule delays the general compliance date 
for the 2018 Requirements for an additional 6-month period, until 
January 21, 2019. As a result of this delay, regulated entities will be 
required, with an exception, to continue to comply with the 
requirements of the pre-2018 version of the Federal Policy for the 
Protection of Human Subjects (the ``pre-2018 Requirements'') until 
January 21, 2019. The one exception to this general rule is that 
institutions will be permitted (but not required) to implement, for 
certain research, three burden-reducing provisions of the 2018 
Requirements during the delay period (July 19, 2018, through January 
20, 2019). Those three provisions are: The revised definition of 
``research,'' which deems certain activities not to be research covered 
by the Common Rule; the elimination of the requirement for annual 
continuing review with respect to certain categories of research; and 
the elimination of the requirement that institutional review boards 
(IRBs) review grant applications or other funding proposals related to 
the research. Institutions taking advantage of the three-burden 
reducing provisions must comply with all other pre-2018 Requirements 
during the delay period. The three burden-reducing provisions of the 
2018 Requirements can only be implemented during the delay period with 
respect to studies initiated prior to January 21, 2019 that will 
transition to compliance with the revised Common Rule. Any study that 
implements these three burden-reducing provisions during the delay 
period must, beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with all of the 2018 
Requirements for the balance of the study's duration.

DATES: Effective date: This rule is effective on July 19, 2018. 
Compliance dates: The general compliance date for the 2018 Requirements 
in the final rule published in the Federal Register (82 FR 7149, Jan. 
19, 2017) and of the final rule published by the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission in the Federal Register (82 FR 43459, Sept. 18, 
2017), which were delayed in the interim final rule published in the 
Federal Register (83 FR 2885, Jan. 22, 2018), and adopted by HUD 
through an interim final rule published in the Federal Register (83 FR 
3589, Jan. 26, 2018), with the exception of Sec.  ___.114(b), is 
further delayed until January 21, 2019. The

[[Page 28498]]

compliance date for Sec.  ___.114(b) (cooperative research) remains 
January 20, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Jerry Menikoff, M.D., J.D., Office for Human Research 
Protections, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerry Menikoff, M.D., J.D., Office for 
Human Research Protections (OHRP), Department of Health and Human 
Services, 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 200, Rockville, MD 20852; 
telephone: 240-453-6900 or 1-866-447-4777; facsimile: 301-402-2071; 
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#276d4255555e096a42494e4c484141674f4f5409404851"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5b113e29292275163e353230343d3d1b333328753c342d">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    On January 19, 2017, the Department of Health and Human Services 
(HHS) and other federal departments and agencies published a final rule 
revising the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects 
(generally referred to as ``the Common Rule''). 82 FR 7149. The CPSC 
adopted the same regulatory changes in a separate final rule published 
on September 18, 2017. 82 FR 43459. The revised Common Rule was 
originally scheduled to become effective on January 19, 2018, with a 
general compliance date of January 19, 2018 (with the exception of the 
revisions to the cooperative research provision at Sec.  ___.114(b), 
which has a compliance date of January 20, 2020).
    Some representatives of the regulated community expressed concern 
regarding their ability to implement all of the 2018 Requirements by 
the scheduled general compliance date.\1\
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    \1\ See, e.g., the June 21, 2017 letter to Jerry Menikoff from 
the Association of American Medical Colleges, Association of 
American Universities, Association of Public & Land-grant 
Universities, and Council on Governmental Relations, available at 
https://www.aamc.org/download/480840/data/aamcissuesjointletteroncommonrule.pdf.
    See the June 9, 2017 letter to Secretary Thomas Price from the 
American Medical Informatics Association at https://www.amia.org/sites/default/files/AMIA%20Letter%20Regarding%20the%20Common%20Rule.pdf.
    See also August 2, 2017 SACHRP Letter to HHS Secretary, 
Attachment A- Recommendations on Compliance Dates and Transition 
Provisions, https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/sachrp-committee/recommendations/attachment/a/august/2/2017/index.html.
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    On January 17, 2018, HHS and other federal departments and agencies 
placed on display at the Office of the Federal Register an interim 
final rule delaying the effective date and general compliance date of 
the 2018 Requirements to July 19, 2018. 83 FR 2885 (published January 
22, 2018). This rule did not impact the compliance date for the 
cooperative research provision at Sec.  ___.114(b), which remained 
January 20, 2020. On January 26, 2018, HUD published an interim final 
rule adopting the interagency interim final rule. 83 FR 3589.
    On April 20, 2018, federal departments and agencies published a 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) soliciting comments on two 
proposals. 83 FR 17595. The first proposed an additional 6-month delay 
for the general compliance date for the 2018 Requirements (from July 
19, 2018 to January 21, 2019). The second proposed a flexibility that 
would allow regulated entities to take advantage of three burden-
reducing provisions of the 2018 Requirements during the delay period. 
Both proposals are described more fully below, together with a 
discussion of the public comments submitted, and our response to public 
comments. For the reasons provided below, this final rule adopts the 
proposals set forth in the NPRM.

II. Public Comments and Response to Comments

A. 2018 Interim Final Rule and 2018 NPRM Public Comment Summary

    Public comment was solicited on the interim final rule between 
January 22, 2018 and March 19, 2018. Public comment was solicited on 
the NPRM to delay the implementation of the 2018 Requirements while 
permitting the use of three burden-reducing provisions of the 2018 
Requirements between April 20, 2018 and May 21, 2018.
    We received 62 public comments on the interim final rule. Of these, 
36 comments were related to the Common Rule. The remaining 26 comments 
were not related to the Common Rule in any way. We received 73 comments 
on the NPRM. Five of these comments were not related to the Common 
Rule.
    Several common themes emerged from the public comments on the 
interim final rule and the NPRM. These included:

--The need for the regulated community to have as much advance notice 
as possible about any delay in implementing the 2018 Requirements.
--The need for guidance to be issued promptly.
--General support for a delay of the general compliance date, with more 
limited support for a delay beyond January, 2019. This support, 
however, was generally tied to concern with whether Common Rule 
departments and agencies will be able to issue guidance in a timely 
fashion prior to the new general compliance date of January 21, 2019.

    Both sets of comments tended to endorse some type of delay beyond 
July 19, 2018 in the general compliance date for the 2018 Requirements. 
Comments on the interim final rule tended to suggest that institutions 
be permitted to voluntarily implement the 2018 Requirements in their 
entirety at any time after July 19, 2018, while comments on the NPRM 
indicated broad support for the narrower approach of permitting the 
voluntary use of three burden-reducing provisions during the delay 
period.

B. Public Comments on the January 22, 2018 Interim Final Rule and 
Response to Comments

    As well as soliciting comments on the delay of the implementation 
of the 2018 Requirements, the interim final rule solicited comments on 
the following:

--Whether or not the interim final rule should be considered regulatory 
or de-regulatory.
--Whether or not our assumption that 50 percent of regulated entities 
would have gone forward using the new or expanded exemption categories, 
had the implementation date of the 2018 Requirements remained January 
19, 2018, was correct.

    We received no comments on our assumption that 50 percent of 
regulated entities would have gone forward using the new or expanded 
exemption categories had the implementation date of the 2018 
Requirements remained January 19, 2018. We received one comment 
addressing whether or not the interim final rule should be considered 
regulatory or de-regulatory. This comment indicated that the 2018 
Requirements should be considered de-regulatory, without commenting on 
the regulatory or de-regulatory status of the interim final rule.
    Of the 36 comments received on the interim final rule related to 
the Common Rule (and more specifically on delaying the effective and 
general compliance dates of the 2018 Requirements to July 19, 2018), 
several themes were present. Many of these comments discussed issues 
with the timing and issuance of the interim final rule, claiming that 
the fact that it was put on public display in the Federal Register 48 
hours before the original implementation date caused chaos and 
confusion in the regulated community. Several commenters described what 
they categorized as chaos that ensued when the interim final rule was 
put on public display 48 hours before the original effective date and 
general compliance date for the 2018 Requirements. This rollout created 
administrative burdens for institutions,

[[Page 28499]]

as many had changed IT systems, training programs, and other 
operational tasks and then had to hastily undo these changes. Another 
commenter described the issuance of the interim final rule and the 
relative silence from Common Rule departments and agencies in the 
period since publication of the 2018 Requirements (in the January 19, 
2017 final rule) as a betrayal of IRBs.
    Additionally, commenters expressed concern that given the short 
timeline between the closing of the comment period and the new general 
implementation date of July 19, 2018, any further delay of the 2018 
Requirements would similarly create chaos and confusion in the 
regulated community. Commenters also generally expressed that the 6-
month delay granted by the interim final rule created a situation in 
which regulated entities that were ready to implement the 2018 
Requirements in January 2018 had to spend the personnel hours to 
``undo'' these changes, which seemed contradictory to the overall goal 
of the revisions to the Common Rule of reducing administrative burden. 
A few commenters focused entirely on how the relative silence by Common 
Rule departments and agencies since publication of the 2018 
Requirements has created a confusing environment for this regulated 
community and requested more transparency from the regulating 
departments and agencies in the future.
    [Response: We acknowledge that the timing of the interim final rule 
was not ideal and led to frustration within the regulated community. We 
believe that the 2018 NPRM and this final rule to delay the general 
compliance date for the 2018 Requirements while permitting the use of 
three burden-reducing provisions of the 2018 Requirements provides the 
regulated community with sufficient notice about when the 2018 
Requirements will go into effect, and when regulated entities will be 
required to comply with the 2018 Requirements.]
    Almost half of the comments related to the Common Rule advocated 
for the Common Rule departments and agencies to retain the July 19, 
2018 effective date for the 2018 Requirements, and to delay the general 
compliance date. These commenters argued that during the period between 
the effective date and delayed general compliance date, institutions 
should be permitted to voluntarily comply (on a study-by-study basis) 
with the 2018 Requirements. A couple of these comments advocated for 
institutions to be able to implement select 2018 Requirements during 
this voluntary compliance period, as opposed to choosing to comply with 
the entirety of the 2018 Requirements, in order to provide institutions 
with the most flexibility. A majority of the comments described in this 
paragraph advocated for delaying the general compliance date to January 
21, 2019, as these commenters did not believe that full compliance with 
the 2018 Requirements would be possible by July 19, 2018. A few 
commenters advocated delaying the general compliance date beyond 
January 21, 2019 to permit institutions as much time as possible to 
comply with the 2018 Requirements
    One commenter suggested that both the effective and general 
compliance dates be delayed by 6 months to one year after Common Rule 
departments and agencies issue critical guidance documents. Other 
commenters suggested that Common Rule departments and agencies should 
be given a date by which they must publish key guidance documents. 
Several comments included a description of guidance documents that they 
would like for Common Rule departments and agencies to focus on 
initially. Suggestions included: OHRP's decision charts, key 
information in informed consent, broad consent, and continuing review 
(Sec.  ___.109(f)).
    Some of the comments relevant to the Common Rule advocated for no 
additional delay in the implementation of the 2018 Requirements beyond 
July 19, 2018. These comments argued that institutions and Common Rule 
departments and agencies have had sufficient time to prepare for the 
implementation of the Rule. One comment suggested that while guidance 
would certainly be helpful, it is possible to implement the Rule 
without such guidance, as evidenced by the fact that many institutions 
were ready to implement the 2018 Requirements before the publication of 
the interim final rule.
    Several commenters also addressed whether certain aspects of the 
2018 Requirements would be difficult to implement in the absence of 
agency guidance. These commenters acknowledged the importance of 
guidance to implement many areas of the 2018 Requirements but noted 
that the confusion and chaos created by late-breaking announcements of 
delays in the implementation of the 2018 Requirements ultimately caused 
more administrative burden within institutions. One large public 
university system in the United States indicated that if guidance is 
issued after institutions have revised their policies, procedures, and 
IT systems, it likely will create a burdensome situation where 
policies, procedures, and IT systems will need to be revised again to 
comport with department and agency guidance.
    [Response: We agree with interim final rule comments suggesting 
that we keep the effective date of the 2018 Requirements as July 19, 
2018, while delaying the general compliance date. While we considered 
the alternative of amending the transition provision to permit 
institutions to voluntarily comply with the revised rule beginning on 
July 19, 2018, and not requiring compliance with the new rule until 
January 21, 2019 or later, we believe this approach could result in 
confusion regarding implementation of the revised Common Rule that 
could be minimized with the issuance of guidance from the Common Rule 
departments and agencies. By adopting the changes proposed in the NPRM, 
we believe the Common Rule departments and agencies will be able to 
issue relevant guidance documents that will better enable the regulated 
community to comply with the 2018 Requirements. As described in the 
NPRM, we also considered a delay to the effective and general 
compliance dates without proposing this additional option in the 
interim period. Such an approach would be simple to implement. We 
decided against finalizing this alternative to be responsive to public 
comments received and in an effort to minimize burdens with respect to 
new provisions that will not be difficult to implement prior to the 
general compliance date of the 2018 Requirements.
    We recognize the difficulty in implementing the 2018 Requirements 
in the absence of guidance and will strive to issue guidance on key 
aspects of the 2018 Requirements as quickly as possible, while also 
engaging stakeholders.]
    A small subset of comments suggested additional revisions to the 
Common Rule. For example, one commenter discussed the inclusion of a 
provision that would permit parents to decline certain procedures on 
behalf of their children.
    [Response: This comment listed several clinical procedures done in 
the routine course of medical care. Such activities are outside of the 
scope of the Common Rule, and thus are outside of the scope of this 
rulemaking.]
    Others discussed concerns with the waiver provision at Sec.  
___.101(i) and suggested that this provision be strengthened such that 
departments and agencies are only permitted to waive the Common Rule 
with regard to certain research activities when such a waiver

[[Page 28500]]

is consistent with the Belmont Report.\2\ One commenter also suggested 
that the Clinton Memorandum\3\ concerning requirements pertaining to 
classified research be fully implemented. These comments also 
referenced concerns with the carve-out form the definition of research 
pertaining to authorized operational activities in support of national 
security missions.
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    \2\ National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of 
Biomedical and Behavioral Research. Ethical Principles and 
Guidelines for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research. April 
18, 1979. https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/.
    \3\ Clinton, WJ. Strengthened Protections for Human Subjects of 
Classified Research. 62 FR 26367-26372. May 13, 1997. https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-1997-05-13/pdf/97-12699.pdf.
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    [Response: The January 19, 2017 final rule preamble stated 
``[t]hese authorized operational activities, as determined by each 
agency, do not include research activities as defined by the Common 
Rule, nor have they ever in the past been considered regulated by the 
Common Rule. This category of activity is removed from the definition 
of research to make explicit that the requirements of the final rule do 
not apply to authorized operational activities in support of national 
security missions. This clarification is not intended to narrow the 
scope of the Common Rule. We do not believe that this category 
contradicts President Clinton's Memorandum of 1997 regarding classified 
research, because this category is merely clarifying what activities 
are not considered to meet the definition of research. The Clinton 
Memorandum calls for a number of requirements to be added to 
protections for classified research activities, but it does not address 
activities that are not considered research.'']
    Some commenters expressed concerns with how the transition 
provision essentially creates a dual regulatory system for human 
subjects protections. One commenter explicitly advocated for the Common 
Rule to require all research subject to the Common Rule to comply with 
the 2018 Requirements by a certain date given the additional 
protections to subjects that the revised Common Rule affords research 
participants.
    [Response: We agree that the transition provision at Sec.  
___.101(l) creates a system in which many institutions will need to be 
familiar with both versions of the Common Rule (if they elect to keep 
at least some previously initiated studies subject to the pre-2018 
Requirements while their newly initiated studies are subject to the 
2018 Requirements). However, we believe that the flexibility afforded 
by the transition provision is important for institutions to manage 
their operations while implementing the 2018 Requirements. We do not 
believe that this compromises the protection of human subjects.]
    A few comments suggested that the general compliance date of the 
2018 Requirements should coincide with FDA's revision of its human 
subjects protection regulations in order for there not to be a time 
period where FDA regulations are not harmonized with the other Common 
Rule departments and agencies.
    [Response: With respect to the comments suggesting that the general 
compliance date of the 2018 Requirements should be tied to the FDA 
harmonization efforts with the Common Rule, we do not believe that this 
is necessary. FDA is currently working to harmonize its human subjects 
regulations with the 2018 Requirements, to the extent permitted by 
FDA's statutory authority and mandate. We do not believe it is 
necessary to further delay the 2018 Requirements' general compliance 
date as a result of a separate rulemaking effort.]
    One commenter argued that the 2018 Requirements should not be 
implemented at all, as in their view, the pre-2018 Requirements 
adequately protect human subjects.
    [Response: We disagree. We believe that the 2018 Requirements will 
provide a meaningful improvement in human subjects protection, while 
reducing administrative burden on institutions.]
    A couple of commenters argued that the general compliance date for 
the cooperative research provision (Sec.  ___.114) should be delayed to 
2022.
    [Response: We disagree with the comments suggesting that the 
compliance date for the cooperative research provision (Sec.  
___.114(b)) needs to be delayed beyond January 2020. Public comments 
requesting this change have not provided specific evidence for why such 
a delay is necessary, nor for the assertion that implementing the 
single IRB of record in cooperative research requirement will not 
result in a reduction in burden.]

C. Public Comments on the April 20, 2018 NPRM and Response to Comments

    The April 20, 2018 NPRM sought comment on two primary proposals: 
(1) The proposal to delay the general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements to January 21, 2019; and (2) whether institutions should 
be allowed to implement three burden-reducing provisions in the 2018 
Requirements during the delay period from July 19, 2018 to January 21, 
2019. The NPRM also solicited comment on the advisability of two 
alternative approaches to delaying the 2018 Requirements: (1) The 
alternative of delaying the effective date and general compliance date 
until January 21, 2019, but without the option to implement certain 
2018 Requirements during that delay period; and (2) the alternative of 
delaying the effective date and general compliance date beyond January 
21, 2019. The NPRM also solicited comment on whether the general 
compliance date for the 2018 Requirements should remain July 19, 2018.
    The NPRM proposed to modify the transition provision at Sec.  
___.101(l) to permit an institution or IRB (and not just an IRB) to 
document the institution's decision to transition a study to comply 
with the 2018 Requirements. (We received no public comments on this 
proposal.)
    A majority of comments that discussed the NPRM proposals supported 
some kind of delay to the implementation of the 2018 Requirements. A 
majority supported the NPRM proposals as drafted but indicated that 
their support was contingent upon the Common Rule departments and 
agencies issuing the relevant guidance prior to July 19, 2018 for the 
three burden-reducing provisions, and all other key guidance documents 
before the January 2019 general compliance date. In particular, 
commenters noted that critical guidance documents would need to be 
available to the regulated community at least four months prior to the 
proposed general compliance date of January 21, 2019. These commenters 
specifically stated that if critical guidance documents were not 
available by September 19, 2019, they would support an additional delay 
of the general compliance date.
    Comments in response to the NPRM generally supported the position 
that many institutions need additional time to prepare to implement the 
2018 Requirements, and that the Common Rule departments and agencies 
need more time to develop and issue guidance. Several commenters 
specifically noted that the Department of Veterans Affairs is not yet 
ready to implement the 2018 Requirements and needs more time.
    Commenters suggested guidance documents that should be provided as 
quickly as possible to the regulated community. These suggestions 
included revising existing guidance, or issuing new guidance, as 
follows:

--Revised OHRP decision charts

[[Page 28501]]

--Information on the Sec.  ___.116 clinical trial consent form posting 
location
--Limited IRB review
--Broad consent
--The new requirement that the informed consent give the prospective 
subject the information that a reasonable person would want to know in 
order to make an informed decision about research participation
--The new requirement that the informed consent begin with a concise 
and focused presentation of the key information that is most likely to 
assist a prospective subject or legally authorized representative in 
understanding the reasons why one might or might not want to 
participate in the research.
--Identifiability
--Privacy and confidentiality
--Benign behavioral interventions
--Continuing review

    [Response: This final rule adopts the April 20, 2018 NPRM 
proposals, with minor changes made to the regulatory text for 
clarification and accuracy. As stated above, we agree with the comments 
that the issuance of guidance will be useful for institutions to be 
able to implement the 2018 Requirements, and are working to issue such 
guidance promptly. We appreciate the commenter input on topics for 
guidance to be issued by the departments and agencies.]
    One commenter noted that if Common Rule departments and agencies 
envisioned a specific way that institutions or IRBs should document the 
use of the three burden-reducing provisions in the 2018 Requirements or 
document the fact that an ongoing study has transitioned to comply with 
the 2018 Requirements, that information must be communicated to the 
regulated community as soon as possible.
    [Response: We do not believe that there is a need to prescribe how 
institutions document the decision to use the three burden-reducing 
provisions of the 2018 Requirements or the decision to transition a 
study to comply with the 2018 Requirements (on or after January 21, 
2019), beyond the requirement that the institution or an IRB must 
document and date such determination. For example, this institutional 
determination could be documented in IRB meeting minutes, or in an IRB 
reviewer checklist (if an institution uses a checklist system). This 
institutional determination could also be documented in an 
institution's existing electronic system, if one exists, or in a 
spreadsheet created and maintained by the institution to keep track of 
which studies have been transitioned to the 2018 Requirements.]
    Several alternatives were suggested for how a delay might be 
structured. These included:

--Permitting voluntary compliance with the entirety of the 2018 
Requirements between July 19, 2018 and January 21, 2019
--Keeping the NPRM proposals related to decoupling the effective and 
general compliance dates and the early implementation of the three 
burden-reducing provisions of the 2018 Requirements, but delaying the 
effective date of the 2018 Requirements until at least one year after 
Common Rule departments and agencies have issued key guidance documents
--Delaying both the effective and general compliance dates until 
January 21, 2019
--Delaying both the effective and general compliance dates beyond 
January 21, 2019
--Permitting the use of the three burden-reducing provisions of the 
2018 Requirements, but not requiring that studies taking advantage of 
this flexibility comply with the entirety of the 2018 Requirements on 
and after January 21, 2019.

    A minority of comments indicated concern that the NPRM proposals 
would be confusing for the regulated community to implement accurately. 
However, several of these comments indicated that if the Common Rule 
departments and agencies determined that moving forward with a delay 
was still appropriate, the structure proposed in the NPRM would be 
acceptable.
    Regardless of the delay structure endorsed, commenters noted that 
no matter the delay option chosen by Common Rule departments and 
agencies, guidance needed to be issued in order for the regulated 
community to make use of the delay period and prepare their 
institutions.
    [Response: We acknowledge that there were multiple ways that an 
implementation delay of the 2018 Requirements could be structured. We 
believe that the approach proposed in the NPRM and adopted in this 
final rule is the best balance of permitting institutions to implement 
several of the more straightforward provisions of the 2018 Requirements 
before the general compliance date, while granting Common Rule 
departments and agencies additional time to develop and issue key 
guidance documents, and granting institutions additional time to ensure 
that their operations are ready to implement the 2018 Requirements.
    We do not believe a delay of the general compliance date beyond 
January 21, 2019 is necessary. As discussed in the NPRM, we continue to 
believe that the regulated community will not need additional time 
beyond January 2019 to comply with the 2018 Requirements. Most NPRM 
comments supported the idea that January 2019 would be sufficient to 
allow for implementation of the 2018 Requirements, provided that the 
Common Rule departments and agencies issued key guidance.
    We recognize that the implementation structure in this final rule 
might be confusing to some in the regulated community. We intend to 
engage in educational outreach to help the regulated community better 
understand what is permitted and what is not under the revised 
transition provision at Sec.  __.101(l).]
    Several commenters indicated that understanding OHRP's plan for 
modifying the Federalwide Assurance (``FWA'') process to comport with 
the 2018 Requirements would also be helpful. Specific concerns were 
raised about the deletion of the option to ``check the box'' on the FWA 
and how the removal of this option will, in certain states with 
separate human subjects requirements, present administrative challenges 
for institutions. Another commenter expressed concern about whether, 
after January 21, 2019, FWAs would still be valid given that they would 
include statements and elections no longer required under the 2018 
Requirements.
    [Response: We intend to provide the regulated community with 
information about how the FWA process will change well in advance of 
any modifications that are implemented. The 2018 Requirements at Sec.  
___.103(b) state that the ``[assurance] shall be filed in such form and 
manner as the department or agency head prescribes.'' To that end, 
Common Rule departments and agencies have significant flexibility in 
what information is requested in the assurance process. Questions about 
non-OHRP assurances will be addressed by the relevant Common Rule 
departments and agencies. With respect to OHRP issued FWAs, OHRP wishes 
to make clear that assurances on file with the office will still be 
valid on and after January 21, 2019 for their effective period. 
Additionally, any changes made to the assurance process will take 
account of the fact that some institutions might oversee protocols that 
comply with the pre-2018 and 2018 Requirements.]
    One commenter expressed concern with how auditors would handle IRBs 
reviewing protocols governed by both

[[Page 28502]]

the pre-2018 Requirements and the 2018 Requirements, given that the 
2018 Requirements do not require that every nondiscriminatory effort 
will be made to ensure that no IRB consists entirely of men or entirely 
of women (pre-2018 Requirements at Sec.  ___.107(b)).
    [Response: We believe that the Sec.  __.107(a) requirements for 
diversity on IRBs serves the same purpose, and thus do not see a 
conflict between the diversity requirements for IRBs under the pre-2018 
Requirements and the 2018 Requirements.]
    While the NPRM did not solicit comments on the requirement for 
cooperative research to be reviewed by a single IRB (see Sec.  
___.114), we received several comments discussing this provision. 
Several asked for an additional 2-year delay before the changes at 
Sec.  ___.114(b) become effective. Others said that this provision 
should be amended such that use of a single IRB is voluntary in 
cooperative research. These comments argued that the 2018 Requirements' 
preamble (published in the January 19, 2017 final rule) underestimated 
the costs of the single IRB mandate and the confusion that implementing 
this policy would create for investigators. Several of these comments 
acknowledged that over time, as institutions become accustomed to 
developing reliance agreements and managing the single IRB process, the 
costs currently being experienced would decrease.
    [Response: We appreciate the comments received on the single IRB of 
record requirement in cooperative research (Sec.  ___.114(b)). We 
continue to believe that a compliance date of January 20, 2020 for this 
provision gives institutions sufficient time to prepare and implement 
this requirement. While these commenters anecdotally indicated that 
implementing this requirement has been more costly to institutions than 
the January 19, 2017 final rule preamble estimated, no comment provided 
data about the actual costs to implement this provision. In the absence 
of specific data, we retain our cost and benefit assumptions related to 
this provision.]
    One comment suggested adding the exemption category for secondary 
use where consent is not required (Sec.  ___.104(d)(4)) to the burden-
reducing provisions. This commenter noted that because the inability to 
implement the revised exemptions during the delay period (i.e., July 
19, 2018 through January 20, 2018) accounted for the majority of the 
costs estimated in the NPRM for this delay, it would be preferable for 
the final rule to permit the early implementation of this exemption 
category.
    [Response: As explained in the April 20, 2018 NPRM, we did not 
propose adding the revised exemption categories to Sec.  
___.101(l)(4)(i)(A) because implementation of these categories would 
involve significantly greater complications. For example, we noted in 
the NPRM that these categories use terms that are newly defined, or for 
which revised definitions have been included in the 2018 Requirements, 
and permitting compliance with these categories without also 
selectively adopting revised definitions could be problematic. 
Specifically in regard to Sec.  ___.104(d)(4), this exemption involves 
several regulations and statutes outside of the scope of the Common 
Rule. As a result, it is a much more complicated provision to 
implement, and thus was not included as one of the burden-reducing 
provisions of the 2018 Requirements that institutions could voluntarily 
implement during the delay period. After consideration of the public 
comments received, we continue to believe that the approach proposed in 
the NPRM makes the most sense.]
    One commenter argued that the 2018 Requirements should be 
withdrawn, and that Common Rule departments and agencies should issue 
several smaller NPRMs to revise specific aspects of the Common Rule.
    [Response: We disagree with this comment. We believe that the 2018 
Requirements will provide a meaningful improvement in human subjects 
protection, while reducing administrative burden on institutions.]
    One commenter proposed that institutions or other Common Rule 
departments and agencies be required to file interim reports with HHS 
about their status with regard to full implementation and compliance 
with the 2018 Requirements. This commenter suggested that HHS could 
issue waivers for full implementation of the rule based on these 
interim reports. Additionally, such a reporting requirement would give 
HHS and other Common Rule departments and agencies the data necessary 
to determine if another adjustment to the 2018 Requirements might be 
needed.
    [Response: We believe that this approach is impractical and 
unnecessary. We believe that this final rule will give institutions 
sufficient time to implement the 2018 Requirements, which also 
precludes the need for such a phased approach.]
    One commenter indicated a desire to see a final rule containing the 
flexibility included in the original publication of the 2018 
Requirements, on January 19, 2017, that institutions be permitted to 
implement provisions of the 2018 Requirements at any time before the 
effective date.
    [Response: This commenter misunderstood the transition provision as 
written in the first publication of the 2018 Requirements; the 
transition provision published in the January 19, 2017 final rule 
revising the Common Rule did not include the ability for institutions 
to implement all provisions of the 2018 Requirements before the 
effective date and general compliance date.]
    As with the comments on the interim final rule, a few comments 
expressed concern with the waiver provision at Sec.  ___.101(i) 
allowing federal departments and agencies to waive some or all 
provisions of the Common Rule (which could allow research to be 
conducted on people without their informed consent). These comments 
additionally expressed concern with institutions being permitted to 
implement the exclusion of certain operational activities conducted by 
intelligence agencies during the delay period and suggested that this 
carve-out from the definition of research be removed from the 2018 
Requirements.
    [Response: We are not contemplating modifying the carve-outs from 
the definition of research. Regarding the carve-out from the definition 
of research pertaining to authorized operational activities in support 
of national security missions, the January 19, 2017 final rule preamble 
noted that ``[t]hese authorized operational activities, as determined 
by each agency, do not include research activities as defined by the 
Common Rule, nor have they ever in the past been considered regulated 
by the Common Rule. This category of activity is removed from the 
definition of research to make explicit that the requirements of the 
final rule do not apply to authorized operational activities in support 
of national security missions. This clarification is not intended to 
narrow the scope of the Common Rule.'']

III. Delay of the General Compliance Date Until January 21, 2019

    Through this final rule, the general compliance date for the 2018 
Requirements is delayed for a 6-month period until January 21, 2019. 
Section __.101(l)(2) is revised to make this delay explicit. The dates 
included in the transition provision, set forth at Sec.  ___.101(l)(3), 
(4), and (5), are also modified to reflect this revised general 
compliance date.
    As a result of this rule, regulated entities will be required to 
comply with the pre-2018 Requirements prior to January 21, 2019 
(putting aside the

[[Page 28503]]

burden-reducing provisions discussed in section III below). Regulated 
entities may not, prior to January 21, 2019, comply with all provisions 
of the 2018 Requirements, with the exception of the three burden-
reducing provisions, in lieu of all provisions of the pre-2018 
Requirements. Of course, regulated entities are permitted to adopt 
provisions that do not conflict with the pre-2018 Requirements, prior 
to January 21, 2019. For example, institutions may choose to 
incorporate additional elements of informed consent that happen to be 
found in the 2018 Requirements, or elsewhere, so long as such 
implementation does not conflict with the pre-2018 Requirements. In 
other words, institutions have the same flexibility they have always 
had (i.e., to exceed the minimum requirements set by the regulations).
    The compliance date for the cooperative research provision of the 
2018 Requirements (Sec.  ___.114(b)) remains January 20, 2020.

IV. Optional Flexibility: Implementation of Certain Burden-Reducing 
Provisions During the Delay Period

    As detailed in revised Sec.  ___.101(l)(4) and as set forth below 
in more detail, during the additional 6-month period that the general 
compliance date for the 2018 Requirements is delayed (July 19, 2018 
through January 20, 2019), institutions may transition a research study 
to the 2018 Requirements in order to take advantage of three burden-
reducing provisions of the 2018 Requirements. This final rule also 
restructures Sec.  ___.101(l)(3) and (4) (now numbered (5)) to aid 
readability. A new section (now Sec.  ___.101(1)(4)) describes how the 
requirements apply to research transitioning to take advantage of the 
burden-reducing provisions during different time periods. Below, we 
provide an overview of the revised transition provision to clarify its 
application to different types of studies, including studies taking 
early advantage of the three burden-reducing provisions of the 2018 
Requirements.

A. Research Subject to the pre-2018 Requirements (Sec.  ___.101(l)(3))

    As a default, studies initiated (i.e., initially approved by an 
IRB, or for which IRB review was waived by the government pursuant to 
Sec.  ___.101(i) or determined to be exempt) before January 21, 2019 
(the new general compliance date for the 2018 Requirements) will 
continue to be subject to the pre-2018 Requirements. This approach will 
maintain the ability of institutions to hold such studies to the same 
set of standards throughout their duration and will avoid a 
circumstance in which such research is subject to two sets of rules. 
However, as described below, institutions may elect to transition such 
studies to comply with the 2018 Requirements.

B. Research Subject to the 2018 Requirements (Sec.  ___.101(l)(5))

    Research initiated (i.e., initially approved by an IRB, or for 
which IRB review was waived by the government pursuant to Sec.  
___.101(i), or determined to be exempt) on or after January 21, 2019 
(the new general compliance date for the 2018 Requirements) must be 
conducted in compliance with the 2018 Requirements.

C. Research That Transitions To Comply With the 2018 Requirements on or 
After January 21, 2019 (Sec.  ___.101(l)(4)(ii))

    Section __.101(l)(4)(ii) applies to studies following the pre-2018 
Requirements that transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements on or 
after January 21, 2019. In such circumstances, the study must be 
conducted in compliance with the 2018 Requirements beginning on the 
transition date (i.e., the date the transition determination is 
documented, on or after January 21, 2019) for its duration.

D. Research That Transitions To Comply With the 2018 Requirements 
During the 6-Month Delay Period (Sec.  __.101(l)(4)(i))

    As described in Sec.  ___.101(l)(4)(i)(A), the option of applying 
the three burden-reducing provisions of the 2018 Requirements during 
the 6-month delay period is only available with respect to studies that 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements between July 19, 2018 
through January 20, 2019.
    Beginning on the date that the transition determination is 
documented, through January 20, 2019, such studies must comply with the 
pre-2018 Requirements, except that the studies will comply with the 
three burden-reducing provisions instead of or in addition to the 
comparable pre-2018 Requirements (specified in Sec.  
___.101(l)(4)(i)(A)(1)-(3)).
    <bullet> Pursuant to Sec.  ___.101(l)(4)(i)(A)(1), Sec.  ___.102(l) 
of the 2018 Requirements (definition of research) will apply instead of 
Sec.  ___.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements).
    <bullet> Pursuant to Sec.  ___.101(l)(4)(i)(A)(2), Sec.  ___.103(d) 
of the 2018 Requirements (revised certification requirement that 
eliminates IRB review of application or proposal) will apply instead of 
Sec.  ___.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements.
    <bullet> Pursuant to Sec.  __.101(l)(4)(i)(A)(3), Sec.  
___.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements (exceptions to 
mandated continuing review) will apply instead of Sec.  ___.103(b) of 
the pre-2018 Requirements (as related to the requirement for continuing 
review) and in addition to Sec.  ___.109 of the pre-2018 Requirements.
    This approach is designed to afford institutions additional time 
before they are required to comply with all provisions of the 2018 
Requirements, while enabling them to take advantage of the three 
burden-reducing provisions during the delay period.
    In addition, beginning on January 21, 2019, such studies must, for 
the balance of their duration, comply with the 2018 Requirements in 
their entirety.
    We believe this rule strikes an appropriate balance of permitting 
voluntary early adoption of provisions that reduce burdens without 
creating significant complexities. An institution's decision about 
whether to transition a study to the 2018 Requirements to take 
advantage of the three burden-reducing provisions might vary depending 
on the nature and progress of the study, including any elements of the 
study to be conducted on or after January 21, 2019. For example, 
studies planning to recruit some subjects on or after January 21, 2019 
would have to meet the new requirements for obtaining the informed 
consent of those subjects. In contrast, for studies in which the 
remaining activities consist only of completing data analyses, the new 
requirements for informed consent generally would not be applicable.
    While the three burden-reducing provisions are a regulatory 
package, an institution that takes advantage of this flexibility may, 
as a matter of institutional policy, adopt a more stringent standard 
(such as that of the pre-2018 Requirements) for any or all of the 
circumstances addressed by these three provisions. For example, if an 
institution chooses to adopt a policy that studies that qualify for 
expedited review under a certain category should continue to be subject 
to annual continuing review, this rule does not prevent the institution 
from adopting and implementing that policy.
    Given that studies taking advantage of this flexibility will be 
complying with provisions from both the pre-2018 Requirements and the 
2018 Requirements during the delay period, we explain how some 
provisions interact and clarify our intended

[[Page 28504]]

interpretations of particular regulatory provisions that will apply 
during the 6-month delay period. For studies electing to transition to 
comply with the 2018 Requirements during the 6-month delay period (July 
19, 2018 through January 20, 2019), once the decision to transition the 
study is documented:
    1. In applying the definition of research under the 2018 
Requirements (Sec.  ___.102(l)(3)), the reference to a ``public health 
authority'' will be given the meaning provided in the definition of 
``public health authority'' in the 2018 Requirements (Sec.  
___.102(k)). This interpretation arises because ``public health 
authority'' is defined in the 2018 Requirements, but not in the pre-
2018 Requirements.
    2. In applying Sec.  ___.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements, the 
reference to research ``exempted under Sec.  __.104'' will be 
interpreted to refer to research exempted under Sec.  ___.101(b) of the 
pre-2018 Requirements. This interpretation arises given that only the 
exemptions set forth in the pre-2018 Requirements will be in effect 
during the 6-month delay period.
    3. The reference to ``[r]esearch eligible for expedited review in 
accordance with Sec.  ___.110'' in Sec.  ___.109(f)(1)(i) of the 2018 
Requirements will be interpreted to refer to Sec.  ___.110 of the pre-
2018 Requirements.
    4. The documentation requirements described in Sec.  ___.115(a)(3) 
of the 2018 Requirements (documenting an IRB's rationale for conducting 
continuing review not otherwise required) are not applicable during 
this period.
    5. Section__.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements will be substituted 
for Sec.  ___.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements. Both sections 
address the requirement for certification of research supported by a 
federal department or agency. In addition to removing the requirement 
that IRBs review grant applications or proposals, Sec.  ___.103(d) of 
the 2018 Requirements reflects other minor wording changes necessary to 
accommodate the removal of the grant application or proposal review 
requirement or to provide additional clarifications.

E. General Transition Issues

    The regulatory provisions are not prescriptive regarding how an 
institution chooses to make its transition decisions. An institution 
may elect to transition research protocols to the 2018 Requirements on 
a protocol-by-protocol basis, or for a class of protocols (e.g., all 
minimal risk research), or for the institution's entire research 
portfolio.
    Section __.101(l)(4)(ii) applies to studies following the pre-2018 
Requirements that, at some point on or after January 21, 2019, 
transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements. If the determination 
to transition a study to the 2018 Requirements is documented on or 
after January 21, 2019, as of the date of documentation the study must 
be conducted in compliance with the 2018 Requirements for its duration.
    We clarify that the transition provision at Sec.  ___.101(l)(4) of 
the 2018 Requirements extends to research newly initiated during the 
delay period. Research newly initiated between July 19, 2018 and 
January 20, 2019 may be either conducted under the pre-2018 
Requirements, in accordance with Sec.  __.101(l)(3); or, an institution 
may transition research newly initiated during the delay period to the 
2018 Requirements, in accordance with Sec.  __.101(l)(4), in which 
event the research would be conducted under the pre-2018 Requirements, 
with substitution of the three burden-reducing provisions of the 2018 
Requirements for the comparable provisions of the pre-2018 
Requirements. In addition, on or after January 21, 2019, an institution 
may choose to transition research initiated during the delay period 
that was initially conducted under the pre-2018 Requirements, to 
compliance with the 2018 Requirements. In the NPRM, proposed Sec.  
___.101(l)(4) referenced application by an institution ``engaged in 
research'' to ``ongoing'' research. In order to clarify the Common Rule 
departments' and agencies' intention that research newly initiated 
during the delay period may transition to the 2018 Requirements, this 
final rule no longer includes the qualifier of ``ongoing'' to describe 
research that transitions to the 2018 Requirements in accordance with 
Sec.  ___.101(l)(4). The final rule at Sec.  ___.101(l)(4) also 
includes the additional wording ``planning or'' before ``engaged in 
research'' to clarify that institutions are allowed to take advantage 
of the 2018 Requirements' carve-outs from the definition of research 
for studies newly initiated during the delay period (which would allow 
a study that qualifies for one of the carve-outs to be conducted 
without prior IRB review and approval or application of the other 
regulatory requirements).
    This final rule revises the requirement, now set forth at Sec.  
___.101(l)(4), regarding which entity may document an institution's 
decision to transition research. This change will offer institutions 
greater flexibility regarding who documents the transition 
determination. Under the January 19, 2017 final rule, an institutional 
determination that research would transition to comply with the 2018 
Requirements had to be documented by an IRB. Under this rule, such a 
determination may be documented either by an IRB or an institution 
(through officials who have the authority to make such determinations 
on behalf of the institution). Such documentation must include the date 
of the transition determination, and records documenting the transition 
decision must be retained in accordance with Sec.  ___.115(b).
    As a general matter, once an institution decides to transition a 
study to the 2018 Requirements and that determination is documented, 
the date of documentation will serve as the de facto compliance date 
for either the three-burden reducing provisions for transition 
determinations documented between July 19, 2018 and January 20, 2019, 
or the 2018 Requirements as applied to the study for transition 
determinations documented on or after January 21, 2019.
    This final rule has an effective date of July 19, 2018, to enable 
regulated entities to take advantage of the three burden-reducing 
provisions during the delay period. However, as explained in this rule, 
the requirements a study must comply with beginning on July 19, 2018 
are detailed in the transition provision codified at Sec.  
___.101(l)(1)-(5). Finally, for consistency, headings were added to 
Sec.  ___.101(l)(1) and (2).

V. Legal Authorities

    The legal authorities for the departments and agencies that are 
signatories to this action are as follows:
    Department of Homeland Security, 5 U.S.C. 301; Public Law 107-296, 
sec. 102, 306(c); Public Law 108-458, sec. 8306. Department of 
Agriculture, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). Department of Energy, 5 
U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 7254; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). Department 
of Commerce, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). Social Security 
Administration, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 289(a). Agency for 
International Development, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b), unless 
otherwise noted. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 5 U.S.C. 
301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b); 3535(d). Department of Labor, 5 U.S.C. 301; 
29 U.S.C. 551. Department of Defense, 5 U.S.C. 301. Department of 
Education, 5 U.S.C. 301; 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 3474.

[[Page 28505]]

Department of Veterans Affairs, 5 U.S.C. 301; 38 U.S.C. 501, 7331, 
7334; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). Environmental Protection Agency, 5 U.S.C. 
301; 7 U.S.C. 136a(a) and 136w(a)(1); 21 U.S.C. 346a(e)(1)(C); sec. 
201, Public Law 109-54, 119 Stat. 531; and 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). 
Department of Health and Human Services, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 
289(a); 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). National Science Foundation, 5 U.S.C. 301; 
42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b). Department of Transportation, 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 
U.S.C. 300v-1(b).

VI. Regulatory Impact Analyses

    We have examined the effects of this final rule under Executive 
Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review (September 30, 1993), 
Executive Order 13563 on Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review 
(January 18, 2011), Executive Order 13771 on Reducing Regulation and 
Controlling Regulatory Costs (January 30, 2017), the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(Pub. L. 96-354, September 19, 1980), the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 
of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-4), and Executive Order 13132 on Federalism 
(August 4, 1999).

A. Executive Orders 12866, 13563, and 13771

    Executive Orders 12866 and 13563 direct agencies to assess all 
costs and benefits of available regulatory alternatives and, if 
regulation is necessary, to select regulatory approaches that maximize 
net benefits (including potential economic, environmental, public 
health and safety effects; distributive impacts; and equity). Executive 
Order 13563 is supplemental to and reaffirms the principles, 
structures, and definitions governing regulatory review as established 
in Executive Order 12866, emphasizing the importance of quantifying 
both costs and benefits, of reducing costs, of harmonizing rules, and 
of promoting flexibility. In accordance with the provisions of 
Executive Order 12866, this rule was submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and has been determined to be a 
``significant'' regulatory action. This regulation has been designated 
as ``regulatory'' under Executive Order 13771 (Reducing Regulation and 
Controlling Regulatory Costs, issued on January 30, 2017). We estimate 
that this rule generates $2.02 million in annualized costs at a 7% 
discount rate, discounted relative to year 2016, over a perpetual time 
horizon. Details on the estimated costs of this final rule can be found 
in the economic analysis below.
1. Need for This Final Rule and Summary
    On January 19, 2017, HHS and 15 other federal departments and 
agencies published the 2018 Requirements designed to more thoroughly 
address the broader types of research conducted or otherwise supported 
by all of the Common Rule departments and agencies. In addition, the 
CPSC adopted the same regulatory changes on September 18, 2017. This 
rule was amended in a final rule published in the Federal Register on 
January 22, 2018 and adopted by HUD through a final rule published on 
January 26, 2018.
    This final rule allows regulated entities to continue to comply 
with the pre-2018 requirements until January 21, 2019. As discussed 
above, this final rule also permits institutions, during the period 
between July 19, 2018 and January 21, 2019, to take advantage of three 
provisions in the 2018 Requirements intended to minimize burdens on 
regulated entities. Those three burden-reducing 2018 Requirements are 
(1) the 2018 Requirements' definition of ``research,'' which deems 
certain activities not to be research, (2) the elimination of the 
requirement for annual continuing review of certain categories of 
research, and (3) the elimination of the requirement that IRBs review 
grant applications or proposals related to the research. As described 
in section III above, this flexibility is permitted for studies for 
which an institution makes a choice to have those studies be subject to 
the 2018 Requirements.
2. Public Comments on the April 20, 2018 NPRM RIA and Response to 
Comments
    The April 20, 2018 NPRM RIA solicited comment on the following 
assumptions:

--That in almost all categories described in the RIA for the 2018 
Requirements, the foregone benefits (costs) of delaying the 2018 
Requirements by six months are what would have been the benefits of 
implementing the 2018 Requirements during the period of July 2018 
through January of 2019. Similarly, the assumption that, in almost all 
categories described in the RIA for the 2018 Requirements, the benefits 
(cost-savings) associated with delaying the 2018 Requirements by six 
months are what would have been the costs of implementing the 2018 
Requirements during the period of July 2018 through January of 2019.
--That some entities will experience cost savings as a result of this 
rule, and some entities would experience costs as a result of this 
rule.
--That 50 percent of regulated entities will take advantage of the 
option to implement three burden-reducing provisions of the 2018 
Requirements early. Additionally, the NPRM sought comment that would 
provide insight into entities' views regarding the interconnectedness 
of the 2018 Requirements' provisions and thus allow for refinement of 
the 50 percent estimate.
    --That this rulemaking will not have a significant economic impact 
on a substantial number of small entities.
    We received several comments on the costs and benefits associated 
with the April 20, 2018 NPRM to delay the 2018 Requirements. None of 
these comments provided specific feedback on the cost and benefit 
assumptions included in the NPRM.
    These comments indicated that the timing and implementation of the 
interim final rule created additional administrative burden on 
institutions that were prepared to implement the 2018 Requirements on 
January 19, 2018.
    As discussed above, one comment noted that if we permitted the 
exemption at Sec.  ___.104(d)(4) for secondary research where consent 
is not required to be implemented prior to the general compliance date, 
this delay would essentially be cost neutral. While we appreciate that 
there might be economic benefits to permitting the early implementation 
of one or more of the new or revised exemption categories, we did not 
include the exemptions as one of the provisions of the 2018 
Requirements institutions can utilize during the delay period finalized 
in this rule because of the added complexity of implementing the 
exemptions in the absence of guidance.
    Finally, we received several comments indicating that the January 
19, 2017 final rule preamble underestimated the costs of implementing 
the cooperative research provision at Sec.  ___.114. These comments 
argued that, at best, this provision would represent a shifting of 
administrative costs and burdens, but would not represent an overall 
cost savings. We continue to believe that the original compliance date 
of this provision in January 2020 gives institutions sufficient time to 
prepare and implement this requirement. While these commenters 
anecdotally indicated that implementing this requirement has been more 
costly to institutions than the January 19, 2017 final rule preamble 
estimated, no commenter provided data about the actual costs to 
implement this provision. In the absence of specific

[[Page 28506]]

data, we continue with our cost and benefit assumptions related to this 
provision.
3. Analysis of Benefits (Cost-Savings) and Costs (Foregone Benefits) 
\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ Note, that the terms ``benefits'' and ``cost-savings'' are 
used interchangeably in this RIA. Similarly, the terms ``costs'' and 
``foregone benefits'' are also used interchangeably.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The RIA for the 2018 Requirements described the benefits and costs 
of 16 broad categories of changes finalized. The RIA for this final 
rule uses the information and calculations described in the preamble to 
the 2018 Requirements as a base for estimating benefits and costs of 
delaying the general implementation of the 2018 Requirements by six 
months. The time period for the analysis in this RIA is the 6-month 
period from July 2018 to January 2019.
    Table 1 summarizes the quantified benefits and costs of delaying 
the general implementation of 2018 Requirements. Over the period of 
July 2018 to January 2019, annualized benefits of $6.4 million are 
estimated using a 3 percent discount rate; annualized benefits of $5.9 
million are estimated using a 7 percent discount rate. Annualized costs 
of $37.2 million are estimated using a 3 percent discount rate; 
annualized costs of $34.4 million are estimated using a 7 percent 
discount rate. Note that all values are represented in millions of 2016 
dollars, and 2016 is used as the frame of reference for discounting.

 Table 1--All Benefits and Costs of Delaying the General Compliance Date
                  for the 2018 Requirements by 6 Months
                [From July 19, 2018 to January 21, 2019]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Annualized value by discount
                                              rate (millions of 2016
                                                     dollars)
                                         -------------------------------
                                             3 Percent       7 Percent
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benefits (Cost-Savings):
    Quantified Benefits.................             6.4             5.9
Costs (Foregone Benefits):
    Quantified Costs....................            37.4            34.7
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The estimated benefits and costs of delaying the general 
implementation date of the 2018 Requirements by 6 months are shown in 
Table 2 below. Note that the categorization shown below includes the 
same 16 categories used in the RIA of the 2018 Requirements.

    Table 2--Accounting Table of Quantified Benefits (Cost-savings) and Costs (Foregone Benefits) of Delaying
                              Compliance With the 2018 Requirements by 6 Months \5\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    Annualized value over 1 year by discount rate (millions of
                                                                           2016 dollars)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
          2018 Requirement RIA Category               Benefits (cost-savings)        Costs (foregone benefits)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        3%              7%              3%              7%
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regulated Community Learning New Requirements     ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
 and Developing Training Materials; OHRP
 Developing Training and Guidance Materials, and
 Implementing the 2018 Requirements.............
Extending Oversight to IRBs Unaffiliated with an            4.47            4.14  ..............  ..............
 Institution Holding an FWA (impact to IRBs not
 operated by an FWA-holding institution)........
Excluding Activities from the Requirements of     ..............  ..............            0.95            0.88
 the Common Rule Because They Are Not Research..
Clarifying and Harmonizing Regulatory             ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
 Requirements and Agency Guidance...............
Modifying the Assurance Requirements............  ..............  ..............            0.31            0.29
Requirement for Written Procedures and            ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
 Agreements for Reliance on IRBs Not Operated by
 the Engaged Institution (impact to FWA-holding
 institutions)..................................
Eliminating the Requirement that the Grant        ..............  ..............             8.5             7.9
 Application or Proposal Undergo IRB Review and
 Approval.......................................
Expansion of Research Activities Exempt from                0.01            0.01            20.8            19.3
 Full IRB Review................................
Elimination of Continuing Review of Research                1.04            0.96            4.10            3.80
 Under Specific Conditions......................
Amending the Expedited Review Procedures........  ..............  ..............            2.66            2.47
Cooperative Research (single IRB mandate in       ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
 multi-institutional research) \6\..............
Changes in the Basic Elements of Consent,         ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
 Including Documentation........................
Obtaining Consent to Secondary Use of             ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
 Identifiable Biospecimens and Identifiable
 Private Information............................
Elimination of Pre-2018 Rule Requirement to       ..............  ..............            0.07            0.06
 Waive Consent in Certain Subject Recruitment
 Activities.....................................
Requirement for Posting of Consent Forms for                0.85            0.79  ..............  ..............
 Clinical Trials Conducted or supported by
 Common Rule Departments or Agencies............
Alteration in Waiver for Documentation of         ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............
 Informed Consent in Certain Circumstances......
-------------------------------------------------

[[Page 28507]]

 
Cost Savings, as indicated by public comments                                     ..............  ..............
 (unable to attribute to particular provisions).           Unquantified
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    We assume that in almost all categories described in the RIA for 
the 2018 Requirements the foregone benefits (costs) of delaying the 
2018 Requirements by 6 months are what would have been the benefits of 
implementing the 2018 Requirements during the period of July 2018 
through January 2019. Similarly, we assume that, in almost all 
categories described in the RIA for the 2018 Requirements, the benefits 
(cost-savings) associated with delaying the 2018 Requirements by 6 
months are what would have been the costs of implementing the 2018 
Requirements during the period of July 2018 through January 2019. We 
assume this because regulated entities likely would not have difficulty 
implementing these provisions in the absence of guidance from Common 
Rule departments or agencies, and thus could have been implemented as 
assumed in the economic analysis contained in the RIA for the 2018 
Requirements.\5\ \6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ Zeroes in Table 2 (represented by --) signify that the 
category has been unaffected by the 6-month delay of the 2018 
Requirements. The category could be unaffected for one of two 
reasons: (1) No costs or benefits were associated with the category 
in the RIA for the 2018 Requirements; or (2) the costs and benefits 
of the provision during the 6-month delay are the same as those 
estimated in the RIA for the 2018 Requirements.
    \6\ Because compliance with this provision is not required until 
2020, benefits and costs here are not included.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Categories with different assumptions are described below.
    a. Regulated Community Learning New Requirements and Developing 
Training Materials; OHRP Developing Training and Guidance Materials, 
and Implementing the 2018 Requirements
    We assume that even with the proposed 6-month delay, regulated 
entities and OHRP will still assume costs related to learning the new 
requirements and developing training materials. Thus, there are no 
effects estimated here.
    We expect that some entities would experience cost savings as a 
result of this final rule, and some entities will experience costs as a 
result of this rule, but we lack data to quantify these effects.
b. Early Implementation of the Three Burden-Reducing Provisions of the 
2018 Requirements (Explicit Carve-Outs of Activities From the 
Definition of Research [Sec.  ___.102(l)]; Eliminating the Requirement 
That the Grant Application or Other Funding Proposal Undergo IRB Review 
and Approval [Pre-2018 Rule at Sec.  ___.103(f)]; Elimination of 
Continuing Review of Research Under Specific Conditions [Sec. Sec.  
___.109(f) and ___.115(a)(3)]
    We assume that 50 percent of regulated entities will take advantage 
of the option included in this final rule to implement three burden-
reducing provisions of the 2018 Requirements prior to the general 
compliance date. We assume this because an institution's decision about 
whether to transition a study to the 2018 Requirements to take 
advantage of the three burden-reducing provisions might vary depending 
on the nature and progress of the study, including any elements of the 
study to be conducted on or after January 21, 2019. For example, 
studies planning to recruit some subjects on or after January 21, 2019 
would have to meet the new requirements for obtaining the informed 
consent of those subjects. In contrast, for studies whose remaining 
activities consist only of completing data analyses, the new 
requirements for informed consent would generally not be applicable. 
Therefore, we assume that there are situations in which an institution 
would want to take advantage of the three burden-reducing provisions, 
and situations in which an institution would not want to take advantage 
of this flexibility. We note that we intend to publish guidance on the 
carve-outs from the definition of research prior to July 19, 2018, 
which may also impact an institution's decision to elect to implement 
the three burden-reducing provisions or not.
    Thus, these entities will still obtain the benefits and costs 
described in the RIA for the 2018 Requirements, implying no effects of 
this rule for 50 percent of regulated entities. For the regulated 
entities that do not take advantage of these flexibilities, we assume 
that the foregone benefits (costs) of delaying implementation of these 
provisions are what would have been the benefits of implementing these 
provisions in January 2018. Similarly, we assume that the benefits 
(cost-savings) associated with delaying the implementation of these 
provisions are what would have been the costs of implementing these 
provisions in July 2018. We assume that these regulated entities 
account for 50 percent of the costs and benefits that would have been 
experienced in 2018 absent this delay.
    We also assume that institutional or IRB staff at the IRB 
Administrative staff level \7\ will spend 5 minutes per protocol 
documenting the voluntary election to use the three burden-reducing 
2018 provisions during the time period of July 19, 2018 to January 21, 
2019.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \7\ See the RIA to the 2018 Requirements (82 FR 7149) for more 
information about the labor categories used in this analysis.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Some members of the regulated community have indicated that even 
though the 2018 Requirements yield cost savings, these institutions are 
still hesitant to transition ongoing research to the 2018 Requirements, 
largely because of the burden of making studies already in compliance 
with the pre-2018 requirements comply with the 2018 requirements. Also, 
some institutions seem inclined to make all of the transitions at once. 
This interconnectedness is key to some of the assumptions noted 
elsewhere in this analysis. For example, if the three burden-reducing 
provisions are considered on their own, a reasonable assumption would 
be that 100 percent of affected entities would realize the associated 
cost savings as soon as possible. The use, instead, of a 50 percent 
estimate reflects entities' possible inclinations to make all 
transitions at once.
c. Expansion of Research Activities Exempt From Full IRB Review (Sec.  
___.104(d))
    The 2018 Requirements include five new exemption categories and 
modify

[[Page 28508]]

all but one exemption that exist in the pre-2018 Requirements. We have 
received feedback from SACHRP that guidance will be useful for 
regulated entities to implement many of the exemption categories.\8\ 
Areas where significant guidance will be helpful include: Applying the 
categories of the new exemptions themselves, conducting limited IRB 
review (as required in four exemptions), developing and using broad 
consent (as required in two exemptions), utilizing the exemption for 
certain HIPAA covered activities, and understanding which federally 
supported or conducted nonresearch information collections qualify for 
exemption.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \8\ See for example, SACHRP Recommendations of August 2, 2017: 
https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/sachrp-committee/recommendations/sachrp-recommendations/index.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Because the guidance documents that would be helpful to assist 
regulated entities in implementing these provisions of the 2018 
Requirements have not yet been issued, we assume that 50 percent of the 
regulated entities would not have taken advantage of the expansion in 
exemptions during this six month-delay. For these entities, we assume 
that there are no benefits and costs of the proposed delay, because 
they would not have changed their operations. We assume that 50 percent 
of the regulated entities would have gone forward with using the new or 
expanded exemption categories under the 2018 Requirements; for these 
entities, there are costs of delaying the implementation of this 
provision during the six-month delay proposed in this NPRM.
    We do not have data to support our assumption of what percent of 
regulated entities would have gone forward with the implementation of 
these provisions in the absence of additional guidance, and what 
percent would not have gone forward.
4. Analysis of Final Rule Alternative
    An alternative to the proposal finalized in this rule was to delay 
the effective date and general compliance date to January 21, 2019.
    Table 3 summarizes the quantified benefits and costs of the 
alternative proposal of delaying the general implementation of 2018 
Requirements without the option to implement certain provisions of the 
2018 Requirements. Over the period of July 2018 to January 2019, 
annualized benefits of $7.4 million are estimated using a 3 percent 
discount rate; annualized benefits of $6.9 million are estimated using 
a 7 percent discount rate. Annualized costs of $50.8 million are 
estimated using a 3 percent discount rate; annualized costs of $47.0 
million are estimated using a 7 percent discount rate. Note that all 
values are represented in millions of 2016 dollars, and 2016 is used as 
the frame of reference for discounting.

  Table 3--All Benefits and Costs of Delaying Compliance With the 2018
               Requirements Under the Alternative Proposal
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Annualized value by discount
                                              rate (millions of 2016
                                                     dollars)
                                         -------------------------------
                                             3 Percent       7 Percent
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benefits (Cost-Savings):
    Quantified Benefits:................             7.4             6.9
Costs (Foregone Benefits):
    Quantified Costs....................            50.8            47.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

B. Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

    This final rule contains collections of information that are 
subject to review and approval by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), as amended (44 U.S.C. 
3501-3520). A description of these provisions is given in this document 
with an estimate of the annual reporting and recordkeeping burden.
    Title: Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects.
    Description: In this document is a discussion of the regulatory 
provisions we believe are subject to the PRA and the probable 
information collection burden associated with these provisions. In 
general, the following actions trigger the PRA: (i) Reporting; (ii) 
Recordkeeping.
    Description of Respondents: The reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements in this document are imposed on institutions, 
institutional review boards, and investigators involved in human 
subjects research conducted or supported or otherwise subject to 
regulation by any federal department or agency that takes 
administrative action that makes the policy applicable to such 
research.
Sec.  ___.101(l)(4) Compliance Date and Transition Provision (OMB 
Control No 0990-0260)
    Section 101(l)(4)(i) permits studies to transition to the 2018 
Requirements between July 19, 2018 and January 21, 2019 (which would be 
the new general compliance date for the 2018 Requirements). Between 
July 19, 2018 and January 21, 2019, institutions that elect to 
transition studies to the 2018 Requirements would, after the decision 
to transition has been documented, be able to take advantage of the 
three burden-reducing 2018 Requirements.
    This option is described in a revision to Sec.  ___.101(l)(4)(i). 
As described, studies taking advantage of this option would be subject 
to the three burden-reducing 2018 Requirements instead of, or in 
addition to, the comparable provisions of the pre-2018 Requirements. As 
discussed above, the three burden-reducing 2018 Requirements are (1) 
the 2018 Requirements' definition of ``research'' at Sec.  ___.102(l) 
(instead of Sec.  ___.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements), which deems 
certain activities not to be research, (2) the elimination of the 
requirement that an IRB review the grant application or proposal 
related to the research at Sec.  ___.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements 
(instead of Sec.  ___.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements), and (3) the 
elimination of the requirement for annual continuing review of certain 
categories of research at Sec.  ___.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 
Requirements (instead of Sec.  ___.103(b), as related to the 
requirement for continuing review, and in addition to Sec.  ___.109 of 
the pre-2018 Requirements).

[[Page 28509]]

    We estimate that approximately 92,084 protocols would take 
advantage of the voluntary election described in Sec.  
___.101(l)(4)(i). We estimate that institutional staff would spend 5 
minutes per protocol documenting that the study will be subject to the 
three burden-reducing provisions of the 2018 Requirements during the 
time period of July 19, 2018 through January 21, 2019. We estimate that 
this provision includes 7,674 burden hours.

C. Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA)

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) (RFA) and the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act of 1996, which 
amended the RFA, require agencies that issue a regulation to analyze 
options for regulatory relief for small businesses. If a rule has a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities, 
agencies must specifically consider the economic effect of the rule on 
small entities and analyze regulatory options that could lessen the 
impact of the rule. The RFA generally defines a ``small entity'' as (1) 
a proprietary firm meeting the size standards of the Small Business 
Administration (SBA); (2) a nonprofit organization that is not dominant 
in its field; or (3) a small government jurisdiction with a population 
of less than 50,000 (states and individuals are not included in the 
definition of ``small entity''). HHS considers a rule to have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
if at least 5 percent of small entities experience an impact of more 
than 3 percent of revenue.
    We have determined that this final rule will not have a significant 
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities under the 
RFA. In making this determination, the impact of concern is any 
significant adverse economic impact on small entities. An agency may 
certify that a rule will not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities if the rule relieves regulatory 
burden, has no net burden or otherwise has a positive economic effect 
on the small entities subject to the rule. This final rule would not 
impose a regulatory burden for regulated small entities because it 
would delay the general compliance date for the 2018 Requirements, 
allowing the status quo to be retained for the period of delay. 
Additionally, regulated small entities are permitted to comply 
voluntarily with those aspects of the 2018 Requirements that do not 
conflict with the pre-2018 Requirements, prior to January 21, 2019. We 
have therefore concluded that this action will have no net regulatory 
burden for all directly regulated small entities.

D. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)

    Federal mandate that may result in the expenditure by State, local, 
and tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of 
$100,000,000 or more (adjusted annually for inflation) in any one 
year.'' In 2018, that threshold is approximately $150 million. We do 
not expect this rule to result in expenditures that will exceed this 
amount. This action does not contain any unfunded mandate as described 
in UMRA, 2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not significantly or uniquely 
affect small governments.2 U.S.C. 1531-1538, and does not significantly 
or uniquely affect small governments.

E. Executive Order 13132: Federalism

    Executive Order 13132 establishes certain requirements that an 
agency must meet when it promulgates a rule that imposes substantial 
direct requirement costs on state and local governments or has 
federalism implications. We have determined that this rule would not 
contain policies that would have substantial direct effects on the 
States, on the relationship between the Federal Government and the 
States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. The changes in this rule represent the 
Federal Government regulating its own program. Accordingly, we conclude 
that the rule does not propose policies that have federalism 
implications as defined in Executive Order 13132 and, consequently, a 
federalism summary impact statement is not required.
    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the Federal Policy for 
the Protection of Human Subjects, as published in the Federal Register 
on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149) and as adopted in a final rule 
published by the CPSC on September 18, 2017 (82 FR 43459), and as 
amended in a final rule published in the Federal Register on January 
22, 2018 (83 FR 2885) and adopted by HUD through a final rule published 
on January 26, 2018 (83 FR 3589), is further amended as follows:

Text of the Amended Common Rule

PART__--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

    1. Amend Sec.  ___.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:

Sec.  ___.101 To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this [part/subpart]. The general 
compliance date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The 
compliance date for Sec.  ___.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 
Requirements is January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
___.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  .101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section ___.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  ___.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section ___.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  ___.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section ___.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
___.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and

[[Page 28510]]

in addition to Sec.  ___.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

List of Subjects in 6 CFR Part 46

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Homeland 
Security further amends 6 CFR part 46 as published in the Federal 
Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an interim 
final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 46--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 46 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; Pub. L. 107-296, sec. 102, 306(c); 
Pub. L. 108-458, sec. 8306.


0
2. Amend Sec.  46.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  46.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  46.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
46.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements) before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  46.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 46.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  46.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 46.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  46.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 46.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  46.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  46.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Claire M. Grady,
Deputy Secretary (Acting), Department of Homeland Security.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

List of Subjects in 7 CFR Part 1c

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Agriculture 
further amends 7 CFR part 1c as published in the Federal Register on 
January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an interim final rule 
published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 2885), as 
follows:

PART 1c--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

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

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).


0
2. Amend Sec.  1c.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  1c.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  1c.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
1c.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  1c.101(b)

[[Page 28511]]

of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 1c.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  1c.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 1c.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  1c.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 1c.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  1c.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  1c.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Chavonda Jacobs-Young,
Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, 
USDA.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

List of Subjects in 10 CFR Part 745

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Energy 
further amends 10 CFR part 745 as published in the Federal Register on 
January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an interim final rule 
published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 2885), as 
follows:

PART 745--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 745 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 7254; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).


0
2. Amend Sec.  745.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  745.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  745.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
745.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  745.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 745.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  745.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 745.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  745.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 745.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
745.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in 
addition to Sec.  745.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Dan Brouillette,
Deputy Secretary of Energy.

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 1230

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration further amends 14 CFR part 1230 as published in 
the Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended 
in an interim final rule published in the Federal Register on January 
22, 2018 (83 FR 2885), as follows:

PART 1230--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 1230 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).


0
2. Amend Sec.  1230.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:

[[Page 28512]]

Sec.  1230.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  1230.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements 
is January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
1230.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  1230.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 1230.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  1230.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 1230.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  1230.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 1230.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
1230.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and 
in addition to Sec.  1230.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

James D. Polk,
Chief Health & Medical Officer, National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration.

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 27

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Commerce 
further amends 15 CFR part 27 as published in the Federal Register on 
January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an interim final rule 
published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 2885), as 
follows:

PART 27--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 27 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).


0
2. Amend Sec.  27.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  27.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  27.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
27.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  27.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 27.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  27.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 27.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  27.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 27.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  27.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  27.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and

[[Page 28513]]

    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Wilbur L. Ross,
Secretary of Commerce.

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

List of Subjects in 16 CFR Part 1028

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission further amends 16 CFR part 1028 as published in the Federal 
Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149) and as adopted in a final 
rule published by the CPSC on September 18, 2017 (82 FR 43459), and as 
amended in an interim final rule published in the Federal Register on 
January 22, 2018 (83 FR 2885), as follows:

PART 1028--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 1028 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).


0
2. Amend Sec.  1028.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  1028.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  1028.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements 
is January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
1028.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  1028.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 1028.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  1028.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 1028.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  1028.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 1028.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
1028.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and 
in addition to Sec.  1028.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Alberta E. Mills,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION

List of Subjects in 20 CFR Part 431

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Social Security 
Administration further amends 20 CFR part 431 as published in the 
Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an 
interim final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 
2018 (83 FR 2885), as follows:

PART 431--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 431 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 289(a).


0
2. Amend Sec.  431.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  431.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  431.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
431.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  431.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018

[[Page 28514]]

Requirements, except that the research shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 431.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  431.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 431.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  431.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 431.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
431.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in 
addition to Sec.  431.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Nancy Berryhill,
Acting Commissioner of Social Security.

AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 225

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Agency for International 
Development further amends 22 CFR part 225 as published in the Federal 
Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an interim 
final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 225--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 225 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b), unless otherwise 
noted.


0
2. Amend Sec.  225.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  225.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  225.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
225.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  225.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 225.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  225.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 225.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  225.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 225.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
225.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in 
addition to Sec.  225.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Irene Koek,
Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Global Health, U.S. Agency 
for International Development.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

List of Subjects in 24 CFR Part 60

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Housing and 
Urban Development further amends 24 CFR part 60 as published in the 
Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an 
interim final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 
2018 (83 FR 2885), and adopted by HUD through an interim final rule 
published on January 26, 2018 (83 FR 3589), as follows:

PART 60--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 60 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b) and 3535(d).


0
2. Amend Sec.  60.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  60.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  60.114(b)

[[Page 28515]]

(cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
60.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  60.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 60.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  60.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 60.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  60.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 60.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  60.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  60.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Todd M. Richardson,
Acting General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and 
Research, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

List of Subjects in 29 CFR Part 21

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Labor further 
amends 29 CFR part 21 as published in the Federal Register on January 
19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an interim final rule 
published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 2885), as 
follows:

PART 21--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 21 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 29 U.S.C. 551.


0
2. Amend Sec.  21.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  21.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  21.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
21.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  21.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 21.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  21.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 21.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  21.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 21.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  21.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  21.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

R. Alexander Acosta,
Secretary of Labor.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

List of Subjects in 32 CFR Part 219

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Defense

[[Page 28516]]

further amends 32 CFR part 219 as published in the Federal Register on 
January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an interim final rule 
published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 2885), as 
follows:

PART 219--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 219 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).


0
2. Amend Sec.  219.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  219.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  219.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
219.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  219.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 219.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  219.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 219.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  219.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 219.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
219.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in 
addition to Sec.  219.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Mary J. Miller,
Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and 
Engineering, U.S. Department of Defense.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

List of Subjects in 34 CFR Part 97

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Education 
further amends 34 CFR part 97 as published in the Federal Register on 
January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an interim final rule 
published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 2885), as 
follows:

PART 97--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 97 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 20 U.S.C. 1221e-3, 3474; 42 U.S.C. 
300v-1(b).


0
2. Amend Sec.  97.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  97.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this subpart. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  97.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
97.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  97.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 97.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  97.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 97.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  97.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 97.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  97.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and

[[Page 28517]]

in addition to Sec.  97.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Betsy DeVos,
Secretary of Education.

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 16

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Veterans 
Affairs further amends 38 CFR part 16 as published in the Federal 
Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an interim 
final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 16--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 16 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 38 U.S.C. 501, 7331, 7334; 42 U.S.C. 
300v-1(b).


0
2. Amend Sec.  16.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  16.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  16.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
16.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  16.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 16.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  16.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 16.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  16.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 16.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  16.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  16.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Jacquelyn Hayes-Byrd,
Acting Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans Affairs.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 26

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Environmental Protection 
Agency further amends 40 CFR part 26 as published in the Federal 
Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an interim 
final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 
2885), as follows:

PART 26--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 26 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 7 U.S.C. 136a(a) and 136w(a)(1); 21 
U.S.C. 346a(e)(1)(C); sec. 201, Pub. L. 109-54, 119 Stat. 531; and 
42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).


0
2. Amend Sec.  26.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  26.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this subpart. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  26.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
26.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and

[[Page 28518]]

    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  26.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 26.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  26.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 26.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  26.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 26.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  26.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  26.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

E. Scott Pruitt,
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 46

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of Health and 
Human Services further amends 45 CFR part 46 as published in the 
Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an 
interim final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 
2018 (83 FR 2885), as follows:

PART 46--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 46 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 289(a); 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).


0
2. Amend Sec.  46.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  46.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this subpart. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  46.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
46.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  46.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 46.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  46.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 46.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  46.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 46.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  46.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  46.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Alex M. Azar II,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 690

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, National Science Foundation 
further amends 45 CFR part 690 as published in the Federal Register on 
January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an interim final rule 
published in the Federal Register on January 22, 2018 (83 FR 2885), as 
follows:

PART 690--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 690 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).


[[Page 28519]]



0
2. Amend Sec.  690.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  690.101  To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  690.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
690.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  690.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 690.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  690.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 690.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  690.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 690.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  
690.103(b), as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in 
addition to Sec.  690.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Lawrence Rudolph,
General Counsel, National Science Foundation.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

List of Subjects in 49 CFR Part 11

    Human research subjects, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, 
Research.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, Department of 
Transportation further amends 49 CFR part 11 as published in the 
Federal Register on January 19, 2017 (82 FR 7149), and as amended in an 
interim final rule published in the Federal Register on January 22, 
2018 (83 FR 2885), as follows:

PART 11--PROTECTION OF HUMAN SUBJECTS

0
1. The authority citation for part 11 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 42 U.S.C. 300v-1(b).


0
2. Amend Sec.  11.101 by adding a heading for paragraph (l)(1), 
revising paragraphs (l)(2), (3), and (4), and adding paragraph (l)(5) 
to read as follows:


Sec.  11.101   To what does this policy apply?

* * * * *
    (l) * * *
    (1) Pre-2018 Requirements. * * *
    (2) 2018 Requirements. For purposes of this section, the 2018 
Requirements means the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human 
Subjects requirements contained in this part. The general compliance 
date for the 2018 Requirements is January 21, 2019. The compliance date 
for Sec.  11.114(b) (cooperative research) of the 2018 Requirements is 
January 20, 2020.
    (3) Research subject to pre-2018 requirements. The pre-2018 
Requirements shall apply to the following research, unless the research 
is transitioning to comply with the 2018 Requirements in accordance 
with paragraph (l)(4) of this section:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB under the pre-2018 
Requirements before January 21, 2019;
    (ii) Research for which IRB review was waived pursuant to Sec.  
11.101(i) of the pre-2018 Requirements before January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination was made that the research 
was exempt under Sec.  11.101(b) of the pre-2018 Requirements before 
January 21, 2019.
    (4) Transitioning research. If, on or after July 19, 2018, an 
institution planning or engaged in research otherwise covered by 
paragraph (l)(3) of this section determines that such research instead 
will transition to comply with the 2018 Requirements, the institution 
or an IRB must document and date such determination.
    (i) If the determination to transition is documented between July 
19, 2018, and January 20, 2019, the research shall:
    (A) Beginning on the date of such documentation through January 20, 
2019, comply with the pre-2018 Requirements, except that the research 
shall comply with the following:
    (1) Section 11.102(l) of the 2018 Requirements (definition of 
research) (instead of Sec.  11.102(d) of the pre-2018 Requirements);
    (2) Section 11.103(d) of the 2018 Requirements (revised 
certification requirement that eliminates IRB review of application or 
proposal) (instead of Sec.  11.103(f) of the pre-2018 Requirements); 
and
    (3) Section 11.109(f)(1)(i) and (iii) of the 2018 Requirements 
(exceptions to mandated continuing review) (instead of Sec.  11.103(b), 
as related to the requirement for continuing review, and in addition to 
Sec.  11.109, of the pre-2018 Requirements); and
    (B) Beginning on January 21, 2019, comply with the 2018 
Requirements.
    (ii) If the determination to transition is documented on or after 
January 21, 2019, the research shall, beginning on the date of such 
documentation, comply with the 2018 Requirements.
    (5) Research subject to 2018 Requirements. The 2018 Requirements 
shall apply to the following research:
    (i) Research initially approved by an IRB on or after January 21, 
2019;

[[Page 28520]]

    (ii) Research for which IRB review is waived pursuant to paragraph 
(i) of this section on or after January 21, 2019; and
    (iii) Research for which a determination is made that the research 
is exempt on or after January 21, 2019.
* * * * *

Elaine L. Chao,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2018-13187 Filed 6-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4150-36-P


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