Source: https://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/PartnershipsCollaborations/MemorandaofUnderstandingMOUs/DomesticMOUs/ucm402130.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 22:11:55+00:00

Document:
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a framework for coordination and collaborative efforts between these two agencies, which are both components of the Department of Health and Human Services. This MOU also provides the principles and procedures by which information exchanges between FDA and CDC shall take place.
This memorandum supersedes MOU 225-09-0002 between the Centers for Disease Control and the Food and Drug Administration, dated June 25, 2009, regarding the exchange of Information and coordination of actions.
FDA and CDC are sister agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services. Both FDA and CDC exist and work to protect the public health but have different statuary mandates and responsibilities.
FDA is a regulatory agency responsible for protecting the public health through the regulation of food, cosmetics, tobacco, and medical products, including drugs, biological products, animal drugs, and medical devices. FDA administers the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and relevant sections of the Public Health Service Act, among other statutes. Among its duties, FDA approves pre-market applications, conducts inspections of manufacturing facilities, and monitors post-marketing adverse events. FDA also initiates civil and criminal litigation to enforce applicable Laws and regulations.
CDC's mission is collaborating to create the expertise, information,and tools that people and communities need to protect their health through health promotion, prevention of disease, injury and disability, and preparedness for new health threats. CDC seeks to accomplish its mission by working with partners throughout the nation and the world to monitor health, detect and investigate health problems, conduct research to enhance prevention, develop and advocate sound public health policies, implement prevention strategies, promote healthy behaviors, foster safe and healthful environments, and provide leadership and training. CDC conducts its activities under the authority of the Public Health Service Act and several other federal statutes.
FDA is therefore critical to protecting the public health.
1. Each agency will coordinateand collaborate with the other agency to protectand improve the public health. To achieve this, each agencywill utilize the expertise, resources,and relationshipsof the other agency in order to increase its own capability and readiness to respond to emergency situations. In addition, each agency will designate central contact points where communications from the other agency,dealing with matters covered by this agreement, should be referred.
2. Each agency will participatein periodic joint meetings to promote better communication and understanding of regulations, policies, and statutory responsibilities,and to serveas a forum for questionsand problems that may arise.
3. Each agencywill notify the other agencyas soon as possible whenissues of mutual concern become evident.
4. Each agency will collaborate with the other agencyin all investigations of mutual concern. Such collaboration may include providing alerts to theother agency when issues are identified; providing technical advice in areas of recognized expertise; providing results of analysis; coordinating health protection information and recommendations provided to the public; making available expert witnesses; and exchanging information as described in section III. B.
5. Each agency will consultnwith the other before issuing press or scientific releases or publications that may have a significant impact on the other agency.
6. Each agency will refer its proposed regulations, guidances, or recommendations that may have a significant impact on the other agency for review and comment by that agency before publication.
7. This agreement does not preclude CDC or FDA from entering into other agreements which may set forth procedures for special programs which can be handled more efficiently and expertly by other agreements.
18 U.S.C. section 1905; 21 C.P.R. Parts 20 and 21; 45 C.F.R. Parts 5and 5b, and 42 U.S.C. section 241(d). Safeguards are important to protect the interests of, among others, owners and submitters of trade secrets and confidential commercial information; patient identities and other personal privacy information; privileged and/or pre-decisional agency records; and information protected for national security reasons. Such safeguards also help ensure FDA's and CDC's compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
To facilitate the sharing of information with each other, it is necessary that FDA and CDC implement procedures to ensure, at a minimum, that such sharing of information is indeed appropriate and that the recipient agency appropriately guards the confidentiality of all non­public information received. There are separate procedures, as described below, for routine requests for information and for emergency requests. It is incumbent upon both agencies to respond to requests for information in a timely manner. Any unauthorized disclosure of shared confidential information by the agency receiving the information shall be the responsibility of that agency, so long as the agency providing such information conveys the confidential nature of the information to the receiving agency, in accordance with the terms of this MOU, or the receiving agency otherwise has knowledge that such information is confidential.
a. The requesting agency must demonstrate, in writing, why it is necessary for it to obtain the requested information. The demonstration should consist of a summary that describes in detail the information requested (to facilitate identification of relevant records) and a brief statement of the purpose for which the information is needed. This request shall state which internal agency offices and/or individuals requested the information. A model request letter is attached.
b. The agency receiving the request for information shall, based upon the sufficiency of the need-to-know demonstration described in section III. B. 1. a. above, determine whether it is appropriate to share the requested information with the requesting agency. The need-to-know threshold is a low one. As stated above, there is a presumption in favor of information exchange between FDA and CDC. An agency should only decide not to share recommendations. It is assumed that each agency has implemented or will implement all data and information security requirements and has implemented or will implement, to the extent necessary and practicable all data and information security informationin response to a request if it has credible information and a reasonable belief that the requesting agency may not be able to comply with applicable laws or regulations governing the protection of non-public information or with principles or procedures set forth in the MOU. If an agency decides that it is not appropriate to share information with the requesting agency, it shall describe to the requesting agency the reasons for such decision.
The requesting agency shall limit the disseminationof shared information it receivesto internal agency offices and/or individuals that have been identified in its written request and/or have a need-to-know. The agency official who signs the request letter will be responsible for ensuring that thereare no other recipientsof the information.
The requesting agency shall agree in writingnot to publicly disclose any shared infomation in any manner including publications and public meetings. If the requesting agency wishes to disclose shared information, including information that it believesis publicly releasable,it shall first requestand obtain the written permission of the agency that has shared the information. If the requesting agency receives a Freedom of Intormation Act (FOlA) request for the shared information, it will refer the request to the information-sharing agency for itto respond directly to the requestor regarding the releaseability of the information. In such cases, the agency making the referral will notify the requestor that a referral has been made and that a response will issue directly from the other agency.
The agency that shares information with the requesting agency shall include a transmittal letter, along with any agency records exchanged. The transmittal letter shall indicate the typeof information being shared (e.g. confidential commercial information, personal privacy, or pre­-decisional). A model transmittal letter is attached.
The requesting agency shall promptly notify the appropriate office of the information-sharing agency when there is any attempt to obtain shared information by compulsory process, including but not limited to, a FOIA request, subpoena, discovery request, or litigation complaint or motion.
The requesting agency shall notify the information-sharing agency before complying with any judicial order that compels the release of such information so that the agencies may determine the appropriate measures to take, including where appropriate the filing of a motion or an appeal with the court.
In cases in which the requesting agency has a need to obtain certain informationas soon as possible due to emergency circumstances, such as an outbreak of illness, FDA and CDC may utilize the following procedures. These procedures are intended for use only in the case of an actual emergency situation and are not appropriate for routine requests for information.
a. The requesting agency shall indicate orally or in writing to the agency in possession of the relevant information that it has the need to obtain certain identifiable information as soon as possible due to the existence of emergency circumstances. The requesting agency shall also describe what the emergency circumstances are.
b. The requesting agency shall verbally agree to protect from unauthorized public disclosure any and all information that is shared, according to all applicable laws and regulations.
c. The existence of an actual emergency situation shall warrant, as determined by the agency in possessionof the requested records, the waiver of the need-to-know demonstration and determination described above in section Ill.
B. I. a. and B. I.
b. However, once the requesting agency has obtained the information it seeks,it shall comply with those proceduresset forth in section III. B. I. c. above.
This agreement becomeseffective upon signatureof both parties and will continue for 5 years. It may be modified by mutual consent or terminatedby either party upon 120 days written notice.
CDC will limit dissemination of any shared information to the following CDC offices and/or employees: [Identify office(s) and/or employee(s)].
FDA agrees that itwill not publicly disclose any such information that CDC shares with it without prior written permission from CDC and that it will comply with the principles and procedures set forth in the Memorandum of Understanding on information sharing between FDA and CDC. Applicable laws and regulations may prohibit the disclosure of such information. See e.g., 21 U.S.C. §331(j); 18 U.S.C. §1905, 21 C.P.R. Parts 20 and 21, 45 C.P.R. Parts 5 and 5b and 42 U.S.C. §241(d).
FDA will limit dissemination of any shared information to the following FDA offices and/or employees: [Identify office(s) and/or employee(s)].
FDA shall notify the appropriate office of the information-sharing agency if there are any attempts to obtain shared information by compulsory process, including but not limited to, Freedom of Information Act requests, subpoenas, discovery requests, and litigation complaints or motions.
FDA shall notify the information-sharing agency before complying with any judicial order that compels the release of such information so that FDA and/or CDC may take appropriate measures, including filing a motion with the court or an appeal.
FDA has agreed, by this letter or e-mail and by a signed request letter dated not to publicly disclose the above-described information without prior written permission of CDC. FDA acknowledges that applicable laws and regulations may prohibit the disclosure of such information. See, e.g., 21 U.S.C. §331(j); 18 U.S.C. §1905, 21 C.F.R. Parts 20 and 21, 45 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 5b and 42 U.S.C. §241(d). FDA also agrees to comply with the principles and procedures set forth in the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding between FDA and CDC.
CDC shall notify the appropriate office of the information-sharing agency if there are any attempts to obtain shared information by compulsory process, including but not limited to, Freedom of Information Act requests, subpoenas, discovery requests, and litigation complaints or motions.
CDC shall notify the information-sharing agency before complying with any judicial order that compels the release of such information so that FDA and/or CDC may take appropriate measures, including filing a motion with the court or an appeal.
CDC has agreed, by this letter or e-mail and by a signed request letter dated _________, not to publicly disclose the above-described information without prior written permission of FDA. CDC acknowledges that applicable laws and regulations may prohibit the disclosure of such information. See e.g., 21 U.S.C. §33l(j); 18 U.S.C. §1905, 21 C.F.R. Parts 20 and 21, 45C.F.R. Parts 5 and 5b and 42 U.S.C. §241(d). CDC also agrees to comply with the principles and procedures set forth in the 2014 Memorandum of Understanding between FDA and CDC.

References: §331
 §1905
 §241
 §331
 §1905
 §241
 §33
 §1905
 §241