Title 21Food and DrugsRelease 119-73

§399f Ensuring adequate information regarding pharmaceuticals for all populations, particularly underrepresented subpopulations, including racial subgroups

Title 21 › Chapter CHAPTER 9— - FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER X— - MISCELLANEOUS › § 399f

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Health and Human Services must review and update the FDA’s plan for telling health care providers and patients about the benefits and risks of drugs and other medical products. The update must especially focus on groups that are underrepresented, including racial subgroups. The plan must follow HHS goals on reducing racial and ethnic health disparities, consider the type of product, use information from other HHS agencies, use new ways to communicate, and explain how to share safety alerts, label changes (including black‑box warnings), recommended actions for providers and patients, and how to reach specific subpopulations. Not later than 1 year after July 9, 2012, the Secretary must issue the plan, post it on the FDA Office of Minority Health website (with links to other sites as appropriate), and ask the public to comment.

Full Legal Text

Title 21, §399f

Food and Drugs — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”), acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall review and modify, as necessary, the Food and Drug Administration’s communication plan to inform and educate health care providers and patients on the benefits and risks of medical products, with particular focus on underrepresented subpopulations, including racial subgroups.
(b)The communication plan described under subsection (a)—
(1)shall take into account—
(A)the goals and principles set forth in the Strategic Action Plan to Reduce Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities issued by the Department of Health and Human Services;
(B)the nature of the medical product; and
(C)health and disease information available from other agencies within such Department, as well as any new means of communicating health and safety benefits and risks related to medical products;
(2)taking into account the nature of the medical product, shall address the best strategy for communicating safety alerts, labeled indications for the medical products, changes to the label or labeling of medical products (including black-box warnings, health advisories, health and safety benefits and risks), particular actions to be taken by health care professionals and patients, any information identifying particular subpopulations, and any other relevant information as determined appropriate to enhance communication, including varied means of electronic communication; and
(3)shall include a process for implementation of any improvements or other modifications determined to be necessary.
(c)(1)Not later than 1 year after July 9, 2012, the Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall issue the communication plan described under this section.
(2)The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, shall publicly post the communication plan on the Internet Web site of the Office of Minority Health of the Food and Drug Administration, and provide links to any other appropriate Internet Web site, and seek public comment on the communication plan.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, and not as part of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act which comprises this chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

21 U.S.C. § 399f

Title 21Food and Drugs

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73