Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 151 / Tuesday, August 5, 2008 / Notices 45465 

or http://www.fda.gov/cber/ 

guidelines.htm. 

Dated: July 28, 2008. 

Jeffrey Shuren, 

Associate Commissioner for Policy and 

Planning. 

[FR Doc. E8–17862 Filed 8–4–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4160–01–S 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Food and Drug Administration 

[Docket No. FDA–2008–D–0398] 

International Conference on 

Harmonisation; Draft Guidance on Q4B 

Evaluation and Recommendation of 

Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the 

International Conference on 

Harmonisation Regions; Annex on 

Microbiological Examination of NonSterile Products: Tests for Specified 

Micro-organisms General Chapter; 

Availability 

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, 

HHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) is announcing the 

availability of a draft guidance entitled 

‘‘Q4B Evaluation and Recommendation 

of Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the 

ICH Regions; Annex 4B: Microbiological 

Examination of Non-Sterile Products: 

Tests for Specified Micro-organisms 

General Chapter.’’ The draft guidance 

was prepared under the auspices of the 

International Conference on 

Harmonisation of Technical 

Requirements for Registration of 

Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). 

The draft guidance provides the results 

of the ICH Q4B evaluation of the 

Microbiological Examination of NonSterile Products: Tests for Specified 

Micro-organisms General Chapter 

harmonized text from each of the three 

pharmacopoeias (United States, 

European, and Japanese) represented by 

the Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group 

(PDG). The draft guidance conveys 

recognition of the three pharmacopoeial 

methods by the three ICH regulatory 

regions and provides specific 

information regarding the recognition. 

The draft guidance is intended to 

recognize the interchangeability 

between the local regional 

pharmacopoeias, thus avoiding 

redundant testing in favor of a common 

testing strategy in each regulatory 

region. This draft guidance is part B of 

the fourth annex to the core Q4B 

guidance, which was made available in 

the Federal Register of February 21, 

2008 (73 FR 9575). 

DATES: Although you can comment on 

any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 

10.115 (g)(5)), to ensure that the agency 

considers your comment on this draft 

guidance before it begins work on the 

final version of the guidance, submit 

written or electronic comments on the 

draft guidance by October 6, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: Submit written requests for 

single copies of the draft guidance to the 

Division of Drug Information (HFD–

240), Center for Drug Evaluation and 

Research, Food and Drug 

Administration, 10903 New Hampshire 

Ave., Bldg. 51, rm. 2201, Silver Spring, 

MD 20993–0002; or the Office of 

Communication, Training and 

Manufacturers Assistance (HFM–40), 

Center for Biologics Evaluation and 

Research (CBER), Food and Drug 

Administration, 1401 Rockville Pike, 

Rockville, MD 20852–1448. The 

guidance may also be obtained by mail 

by calling CBER at 1–800–835–4709 or 

301–827–1800. Send two self-addressed 

adhesive labels to assist the office in 

processing your requests. Submit 

written comments on the draft guidance 

to the Division of Dockets Management 

(HFA–305), Food and Drug 

Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 

1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Submit 

electronic comments to http:// 

www.regulations.gov. See the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for 

electronic access to the draft guidance 

document. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Regarding the guidance: Robert H. 

King, Sr., Center for Drug 

Evaluation and Research (HFD–

003), Food and Drug 

Administration, 10903 New 

Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 51, rm. 4150, 

Silver Spring, MD 20993–0002, 

301–796–1242; or 

Christopher Joneckis, Center for 

Biologics Evaluation and Research 

(HFM–1), Food and Drug 

Administration, 1401 Rockville 

Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, 301–

827–0373. 

Regarding the ICH: Michelle Limoli, 

Office of International Programs 

(HFG–1), Food and Drug 

Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, 

Rockville, MD 20857, 301–827–

4480. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

In recent years, many important 

initiatives have been undertaken by 

regulatory authorities and industry 

associations to promote international 

harmonization of regulatory 

requirements. FDA has participated in 

many meetings designed to enhance 

harmonization and is committed to 

seeking scientifically based harmonized 

technical procedures for pharmaceutical 

development. One of the goals of 

harmonization is to identify and then 

reduce differences in technical 

requirements for drug development 

among regulatory agencies. 

ICH was organized to provide an 

opportunity for tripartite harmonization 

initiatives to be developed with input 

from both regulatory and industry 

representatives. FDA also seeks input 

from consumer representatives and 

others. ICH is concerned with 

harmonization of technical 

requirements for the registration of 

pharmaceutical products among three 

regions: The European Union, Japan, 

and the United States. The six ICH 

sponsors are the European Commission; 

the European Federation of 

Pharmaceutical Industries Associations; 

the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, 

and Welfare; the Japanese 

Pharmaceutical Manufacturers 

Association; the Centers for Drug 

Evaluation and Research and Biologics 

Evaluation and Research, FDA; and the 

Pharmaceutical Research and 

Manufacturers of America. The ICH 

Secretariat, which coordinates the 

preparation of documentation, is 

provided by the International 

Federation of Pharmaceutical 

Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA). 

The ICH Steering Committee includes 

representatives from each of the ICH 

sponsors and the IFPMA, as well as 

observers from the World Health 

Organization, Health Canada, and the 

European Free Trade Area. 

In June 2008, the ICH Steering 

Committee agreed that a draft guidance 

entitled ‘‘Q4B Evaluation and 

Recommendation of Pharmacopoeial 

Texts for Use in the ICH Regions; Annex 

4B: Microbiological Examination of 

Non-Sterile Products: Tests for 

Specified Micro-organisms General 

Chapter’’ should be made available for 

public comment. The draft guidance is 

the product of the Q4B Expert Working 

Group of the ICH. Comments about this 

draft will be considered by FDA and the 

Q4B Expert Working Group. 

The draft guidance provides the 

specific evaluation results from the ICH 

Q4B process for the Microbiological 

Examination of Non-Sterile Products: 

Tests for Specified Micro-organisms 

General Chapter harmonization 

proposal originating from the threeparty PDG. This draft guidance is in the 

form of an annex to the core ICH Q4B 

guidance. Once finalized, the annex will 

provide guidance to assist industry and 


dwashington3 on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
45466 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 151 / Tuesday, August 5, 2008 / Notices 

regulators in the implementation of the 

specific topic evaluated by the ICH Q4B 

process. 

This draft guidance is being issued 

consistent with FDA’s good guidance 

practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). 

The draft guidance, when finalized, will 

represent the agency’s current thinking 

on this topic. It does not create or confer 

any rights for or on any person and does 

not operate to bind FDA or the public. 

An alternative approach may be used if 

such approach satisfies the 

requirements of the applicable statutes 

and regulations. 

II. Comments 

Interested persons may submit to the 

Division of Dockets Management (see 

ADDRESSES) written or electronic 

comments on the draft guidance. Submit 

a single copy of electronic comments or 

two paper copies of any mailed 

comments, except that individuals may 

submit one paper copy. Comments are 

to be identified with the docket number 

found in brackets in the heading of this 

document. Received comments may be 

seen in the Division of Dockets 

Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., 

Monday through Friday. 

Please note that on January 15, 2008, 

the FDA Division of Dockets 

Management Web site transitioned to 

the Federal Dockets Management 

System (FDMS). FDMS is a 

Government-wide, electronic docket 

management system. Electronic 

comments or submissions will be 

accepted by FDA only through FDMS at 

http://www.regulations.gov. 

III. Electronic Access 

Persons with access to the Internet 

may obtain the document at http:// 

www.regulations.gov, http:// 

www.fda.gov/cder/guidance/index.htm, 

or http://www.fda.gov/cber/ 

guidelines.htm. 

Dated: July 28, 2008. 

Jeffery Shuren, 

Associate Commissioner for Policy and 

Planning. 

[FR Doc. E8–17863 Filed 8–4–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4160–01–S 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES 

Food and Drug Administration 

[Docket No. FDA 2008–D–0399] 

International Conference on 

Harmonisation; Draft Guidance on Q4B 

Evaluation and Recommendation of 

Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the 

International Conference on 

Harmonisation Regions; Annex on 

Disintegration Test General Chapter; 

Availability 

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, 

HHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: The Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA) is announcing the 

availability of a draft guidance entitled 

‘‘Q4B Evaluation and Recommendation 

of Pharmacopoeial Texts for Use in the 

ICH Regions; Annex 5: Disintegration 

Test General Chapter.’’ The draft 

guidance was prepared under the 

auspices of the International Conference 

on Harmonisation of Technical 

Requirements for Registration of 

Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). 

The draft guidance provides the results 

of the ICH Q4B evaluation of the 

Disintegration Test General Chapter 

harmonized text from each of the three 

pharmacopoeias (United States, 

European, and Japanese) represented by 

the Pharmacopoeial Discussion Group 

(PDG). The draft guidance conveys 

recognition of the three pharmacopoeial 

methods by the three ICH regulatory 

regions and provides specific 

information regarding the recognition. 

The draft guidance is intended to 

recognize the interchangeability 

between the local regional 

pharmacopoeias, thus avoiding 

redundant testing in favor of a common 

testing strategy in each regulatory 

region. This draft guidance is the fifth 

annex to the core Q4B guidance, which 

was made available in the Federal 

Register of February 21, 2008 (73 FR 

9575). 

DATES: Although you can comment on 

any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 

10.115 (g)(5)), to ensure that the agency 

considers your comment on this draft 

guidance before it begins work on the 

final version of the guidance, submit 

written or electronic comments on the 

draft guidance by October 6, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: Submit written requests for 

single copies of the draft guidance to the 

Division of Drug Information, Center for 

Drug Evaluation and Research, Food 

and Drug Administration, 10903 New 

Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 51, rm. 2201, 

Silver Spring, MD 20993–0002; or the 

Office of Communication, Training, and 

Manufacturers Assistance (HFM–40), 

Center for Biologics Evaluation and 

Research (CBER), Food and Drug 

Administration, 1401 Rockville Pike, 

suite 400N, Rockville, MD 20852–1448. 

The draft guidance may also be obtained 

by mail by calling CBER at 1–800–835–

4709 or 301–827–1800. Send two selfaddressed adhesive labels to assist the 

office in processing your requests. 

Submit written comments on the draft 

guidance to the Division of Dockets 

Management (HFA–305), Food and Drug 

Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 

1061, Rockville, MD 20852. Submit 

electronic comments to http:// 

www.regulations.gov. See the 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for 

electronic access to the draft guidance 

document. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Regarding the draft guidance: Robert 

H. King, Sr., Center for Drug 

Evaluation and Research (HFD–

003), Food and Drug 

Administration, 10903 New 

Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 51, rm. 4150, 

Silver Spring, MD 20993–0002, 

301–796–1242; or 

Christopher Joneckis, Center for 

Biologics Evaluation and Research 

(HFM–1), Food and Drug 

Administration, 1401 Rockville 

Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, 301–

827–0373. 

Regarding the ICH: Michelle Limoli, 

Office of International Programs 

(HFG–1), Food and Drug 

Administration, 5600 Fishers Lane, 

Rockville, MD 20857, 301–827–

4480. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background 

In recent years, many important 

initiatives have been undertaken by 

regulatory authorities and industry 

associations to promote international 

harmonization of regulatory 

requirements. FDA has participated in 

many meetings designed to enhance 

harmonization and is committed to 

seeking scientifically based harmonized 

technical procedures for pharmaceutical 

development. One of the goals of 

harmonization is to identify and then 

reduce differences in technical 

requirements for drug development 

among regulatory agencies. 

ICH was organized to provide an 

opportunity for tripartite harmonization 

initiatives to be developed with input 

from both regulatory and industry 

representatives. FDA also seeks input 

from consumer representatives and 

others. ICH is concerned with 


dwashington3 on PRODPC61 with NOTICES