Document ID: FDA-2018-D-0338-0019
Agency: fda
Document Type: Notice
Title: Definitions of Suspect Product and Illegitimate Product for Verification
Obligations Under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act; Guidance for
Industry; Availability
Posted Date: 2023-03-16T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 51 (Thursday, March 16, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16270-16271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-05359]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Food and Drug Administration

[Docket No. FDA-2018-D-0338]

Definitions of Suspect Product and Illegitimate Product for 
Verification Obligations Under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act; 
Guidance for Industry; Availability

AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is announcing 
the availability of a final guidance for industry entitled 
``Definitions of Suspect Product and Illegitimate Product for 
Verification Obligations Under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act.'' 
The guidance is intended to help industry better understand the 
definitions of ``suspect'' and ``illegitimate'' product as defined in 
the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA). The guidance lays out FDA's 
current understanding of the following key terms used to define 
``suspect'' and ``illegitimate'' product: ``counterfeit,'' 
``diverted,'' ``stolen,'' ``fraudulent transaction,'' and ``unfit for 
distribution.'' The guidance finalizes the draft guidance entitled 
``Definitions of Suspect Product and Illegitimate Product for 
Verification Obligations Under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act'' 
issued on June 4, 2021.

DATES: The announcement of the guidance is published in the Federal 
Register on March 16, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit either electronic or written comments on 
Agency guidances at any time as follows:

Electronic Submissions

    Submit electronic comments in the following way:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Comments submitted 
electronically, including attachments, to https://www.regulations.gov 
will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because your comment will be 
made public, you are solely responsible for ensuring that your comment 
does not include any confidential information that you or a third party 
may not wish to be posted, such as medical information, your or anyone 
else's Social Security number, or confidential business information, 
such as a manufacturing process. Please note that if you include your 
name, contact information, or other information that identifies you in 
the body of your comments, that information will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov.
     If you want to submit a comment with confidential 
information that you do not wish to be made available to the public, 
submit the comment as a written/paper submission and in the manner 
detailed (see ``Written/Paper Submissions'' and ``Instructions'').

Written/Paper Submissions

    Submit written/paper submissions as follows:
     Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier (for written/paper 
submissions): Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
     For written/paper comments submitted to the Dockets 
Management Staff, FDA will post your comment, as well as any 
attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified, 
as confidential, if submitted as detailed in ``Instructions.''
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket No. 
FDA-2018-D-0338 for ``Definitions of Suspect Product and Illegitimate 
Product for Verification Obligations Under the Drug Supply Chain 
Security Act; Guidance for Industry; Availability.'' Received comments 
will be placed in the docket and, except for

[[Page 16271]]

those submitted as ``Confidential Submissions,'' publicly viewable at 
https://www.regulations.gov or at the Dockets Management Staff between 
9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 240-402-7500.
     Confidential Submissions--To submit a comment with 
confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly 
available, submit your comments only as a written/paper submission. You 
should submit two copies total. One copy will include the information 
you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note that states 
``THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.'' The Agency will 
review this copy, including the claimed confidential information, in 
its consideration of comments. The second copy, which will have the 
claimed confidential information redacted/blacked out, will be 
available for public viewing and posted on https://www.regulations.gov. 
Submit both copies to the Dockets Management Staff. If you do not wish 
your name and contact information to be made publicly available, you 
can provide this information on the cover sheet and not in the body of 
your comments and you must identify this information as 
``confidential.'' Any information marked as ``confidential'' will not 
be disclosed except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other 
applicable disclosure law. For more information about FDA's posting of 
comments to public dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or 
access the information at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
the electronic and written/paper comments received, go to https://www.regulations.gov and insert the docket number, found in brackets in 
the heading of this document, into the ``Search'' box and follow the 
prompts and/or go to the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, 
Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852, 240-402-7500.
    You may submit comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 
10.115(g)(5)).
    Submit written requests for single copies of this guidance to the 
Division of Drug Information, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, 
Food and Drug Administration, 10001 New Hampshire Ave., Hillandale 
Building, 4th Floor, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002; or to Office of 
Communication, Outreach and Development, Center for Biologics 
Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New 
Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 71, Rm. 3128, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Send 
one self-addressed adhesive label to assist that office in processing 
your requests. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for electronic 
access to the guidance document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sarah Venti, Office of Compliance, 
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 
10903 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 301-796-3130, 
[email protected]; or Diane Maloney, Center for Biologics 
Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 10903 New 
Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 71, Rm. 7301, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, 240-
402-7911.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    FDA is announcing the availability of a guidance for industry 
entitled ``Definitions of Suspect Product and Illegitimate Product for 
Verification Obligations Under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act.'' 
This guidance interprets the terms used in the definition of ``suspect 
product'' set forth in section 581(21) of the Federal Food, Drug, and 
Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. 360eee(21)) and the definition of 
``illegitimate product'' set forth in section 581(8) of the FD&C Act to 
assist trading partners in meeting verification obligations (including 
notification) under section 582(b)(4), (c)(4), (d)(4), and (e)(4) (21 
U.S.C. 360eee-1(b)(4), (c)(4), (d)(4), and (e)(4)), respectively.
    This guidance is intended to help industry better understand the 
definitions of ``suspect'' and ``illegitimate'' product as defined in 
section 581 of the FD&C Act. The guidance lays out FDA's current 
understanding of the following key terms used to define ``suspect'' and 
``illegitimate'' product in section 581 of FD&C Act: ``counterfeit,'' 
``diverted,'' ``stolen,'' ``fraudulent transaction,'' and ``unfit for 
distribution.''
    This guidance finalizes the draft guidance entitled ``Definitions 
of Suspect Product and Illegitimate Product for Verification 
Obligations Under the Drug Supply Chain Security Act'' issued on June 
4, 2021 (86 FR 30056). FDA considered comments received on the draft 
guidance as the guidance was finalized. Changes from the draft to the 
final guidance include: (1) clarifying the definition of ``diverted'' 
by revising the examples clarifying that there are other scenarios 
besides product dispensed to a patient that could result in diverted 
product; (2) clarifying FDA's expectations for how trading partners 
should handle unaccounted for product that is not immediately 
identified as stolen product; (3) expanding on the definition of 
``fraudulent transaction'' to clarify how clerical errors or 
discrepancies in the product tracing information should be addressed; 
and (4) clarifying that the definition of ``unfit for distribution'' in 
this guidance applies only to the verification provisions of the DSCSA 
and to identifying suspect and illegitimate product. In addition, 
editorial changes were made to improve clarity.
    This guidance is being issued consistent with FDA's good guidance 
practices regulation (21 CFR 10.115). The guidance represents the 
current thinking of FDA on ``Definitions of Suspect Product and 
Illegitimate Product for Verification Obligations Under the Drug Supply 
Chain Security Act.'' It does not establish any rights for any person 
and is not binding on FDA or the public. You can use an alternative 
approach if it satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes 
and regulations.

II. Paperwork Reduction Act

    FDA concludes that this guidance contains no collection of 
information. Therefore, clearance by the Office of Management and 
Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 is not required.

III. Electronic Access

    Persons with access to the internet may obtain the guidance at 
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/guidance-compliance-regulatory-information/guidances-drugs, https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/guidance-compliance-regulatory-information-biologics/biologics-guidances, 
https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents, or https://www.regulations.gov.

    Dated: March 13, 2023.
Lauren K. Roth,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2023-05359 Filed 3-15-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164-01-P