Title 21, Food and DrugsRelease 119-73not60
§360fff–6 Non-sunscreen Time and Extent Applications
Title 21 › Chapter 9— FEDERAL FOOD, DRUG, AND COSMETIC ACT › Subchapter V— DRUGS AND DEVICES › Part I— Nonprescription Sunscreen and Other Active Ingredients › § 360fff–6
Summary
Sponsors who filed, before November 26, 2014, an application asking the FDA to find a non-sunscreen drug “generally recognized as safe and effective” (GRASE) can ask the FDA for a written review plan. The sponsor must ask within 180 calendar days of November 26, 2014. Within one year of November 26, 2014, the FDA must give each requesting sponsor a framework that shows the calendar-day timelines for each available review route. Sponsors then have 60 calendar days after getting the framework to pick one of four review paths the FDA offers (two use the FDA’s existing monograph rules, and two use a mix of an initial filing check and those other processes). If a sponsor makes the choice, the FDA will follow that path and timeline and confirm it in writing. If the sponsor does not ask for a framework or does not choose a path in time, the FDA will use the timelines set in the final regulations when those are completed. During review, the FDA can switch to a different path only if it proposes the change in writing and the sponsor agrees in writing. If a sponsor chooses certain paths, the FDA may fold the final decision into a future regulation, and that decision ends when the regulation goes into effect. The FDA must report to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee no later than 18 months after November 26, 2014. The report must list pending applications and the calendar-day timelines for each review. The FDA must also publish proposed rules setting review timelines for applications submitted after November 26, 2014 no later than 18 months after that date, allow at least 60 calendar days for public comment, publish final rules at least 30 calendar days before they take effect, and finish the final rules no later than 27 months after November 26, 2014. All timelines must be reasonable, may vary with the application’s content and complexity, reflect FDA public-health priorities, and take FDA resources into account.
Full Legal Text
Title 21, §360fff–6
Food and Drugs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)(A)If, prior to November 26, 2014, an application was submitted pursuant to section 330.14 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations for a GRASE determination for a drug other than a nonprescription sunscreen active ingredient or combination of nonprescription sunscreen active ingredients and such drug was found to be eligible to be considered for inclusion in the over-the-counter drug monograph system pursuant to section 330.14 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations, the sponsor of such application may request that the Secretary provide a framework under paragraph (2) for the review of such application.
(B)A request for a framework for review of an application made under subparagraph (A) shall be made within 180 calendar days of November 26, 2014, and shall include the preference of such sponsor as to whether such application is reviewed by the Secretary in accordance with—
(i)the processes and procedures set forth for pending requests under section 360fff–3(b) of this title, except that specific timelines shall be determined in accordance with other applicable requirements under this section;
(ii)the processes and procedures set forth under part 330 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations);
(iii)an initial filing determination under the processes and procedures described in section 360fff–2(b) of this title and the processes and procedures set forth for pending requests under section 360fff–3(b) of this title, except that specific timelines shall be determined in accordance with other applicable requirements under this section; or
(iv)an initial filing determination under the processes and procedures described in section 360fff–2(b) of this title and the processes and procedures set forth under part 330 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations).
(C)If a sponsor described in subparagraph (A) does not make such request within 180 calendar days of November 26, 2014, such application shall be reviewed by the Secretary in accordance with the timelines of the applicable regulations when such regulations are finalized under subsection (b).
(2)Not later than 1 year after November 26, 2014, the Secretary shall provide, in writing, a framework to each sponsor that submitted a request under paragraph (1). Such framework shall set forth the various timelines, in calendar days, with respect to the processes and procedures for review under clauses (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) of paragraph (1)(B) and—
(A)such timelines shall account for the considerations under paragraph (5); and
(B)the timelines for the various processes and procedures shall not be shorter than the timelines set forth for pending requests under section 360fff–2(b) and 360fff–3(b) of this title, as applicable.
(3)(A)Not later than 60 calendar days after the Secretary provides a framework to a sponsor under paragraph (2), such sponsor may provide an election to the Secretary regarding the processes and procedures for review under clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of paragraph (1)(B). If such sponsor makes such election, the Secretary shall review the application that is the subject of such election pursuant to the processes and procedures elected by such sponsor and the applicable timelines in calendar days set forth under such framework, which the Secretary shall confirm in writing to the sponsor not later than the date upon which the Secretary provides a report under paragraph (4). If such sponsor does not make such election, such application shall be reviewed by the Secretary in accordance with the timelines of the applicable regulations when such regulations are finalized under subsection (b).
(B)At any time during review of an application, the Secretary may review such application under different processes and procedures under clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of paragraph (1)(B) than the processes and procedures the sponsor elected in accordance with subparagraph (A), so long as the Secretary proposes, in writing, the change and the sponsor agrees, in writing, to such change.
(C)If the sponsor elects to use the processes and procedures for review in accordance with clause (i) or (iii) of paragraph (1)(B), the Secretary may incorporate any resulting final order into a regulation addressing the conditions under which other drugs in the same therapeutic category are GRASE and not misbranded, including through direct final rulemaking, and the final order so incorporated shall cease to be effective on the effective date of the final regulation that addresses such drug.
(4)Not later than 18 months after November 26, 2014, the Secretary shall report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, in writing, regarding all pending applications subject to paragraph (1). In such letter, the Secretary shall provide a report on the review of such applications, including the timelines, in calendar days, for the review and GRASE determination for each application. Such timelines shall account for the considerations under paragraph (5).
(5)The timelines in calendar days established by the Secretary pursuant to this subsection—
(A)may vary based on the content, complexity, and format of the application submitted to the Secretary; and
(B)shall—
(i)reflect the public health priorities of the Food and Drug Administration, including the potential public health benefits posed by the inclusion of additional drugs in the over-the-counter drug monograph system;
(ii)take into consideration the resources available to the Secretary for carrying out such priorities and the processes and procedures described in paragraphs (1)(B) and (2); and
(iii)be reasonable, taking into consideration the requirements described in clauses (i) and (ii).
(b)(1)Not later than 18 months after November 26, 2014, the Secretary shall issue proposed regulations establishing timelines for the review of applications for GRASE determinations for drugs other than nonprescription sunscreen active ingredients or combinations of nonprescription sunscreen active ingredients that are submitted to the Secretary after November 26, 2014, under section 330.14 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations), and that are found to be eligible to be considered for inclusion in the over-the-counter drug monograph system pursuant to section 330.14 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations), or that are subject to this subsection pursuant to paragraph (1) or (3) of subsection (a), as applicable, providing—
(A)timely and efficient completion of evaluations of applications under section 330.14 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations) for drugs other than sunscreens; and
(B)timely and efficient completion of the review of the safety and effectiveness submissions pursuant to such applications, including establishing—
(i)reasonable timelines, in calendar days, for the applicable proposed and final regulations for applications of various content, complexity, and format, and timelines for internal procedures related to such processes; and
(ii)measurable metrics for tracking the extent to which the timelines set forth in the regulations are met.
(2)The timelines in calendar days established in the regulations under paragraph (1)—
(A)may vary based on the content, complexity, and format of the application submitted to the Secretary; and
(B)shall—
(i)reflect the public health priorities of the Food and Drug Administration, including the potential public health benefits posed by the inclusion of additional drugs in the over-the-counter drug monograph system;
(ii)take into consideration the resources available to the Secretary for carrying out such priorities and the processes and procedures described in paragraph (1); and
(iii)be reasonable, taking into consideration the requirements described in clauses (i) and (ii).
(3)In promulgating regulations under this subsection, the Secretary shall issue a notice of proposed rulemaking that includes a copy of the proposed regulation, provide a period of not less than 60 calendar days for comments on the proposed regulation, and publish the final regulation not less than 30 calendar days before the effective date of the regulation.
(4)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations implementing this section only as described in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3).
(5)The Secretary shall finalize the regulations under this section not later than 27 months after November 26, 2014.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Treatment of Non-Sunscreen Time and Extent Applications Pub. L. 116–136, div. A, title III, § 3854(d), Mar. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 457, provided that: “(1) In general.—Any application described in section 586F of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360fff–6) that was submitted to the Secretary pursuant to section 330.14 of title 21, Code of Federal
Regulations
, as such provisions were in effect immediately prior to the date of enactment date of this Act [Mar. 27, 2020], shall be extinguished as of such date of enactment, subject to paragraph (2). “(2) Order request.—Nothing in paragraph (1) precludes the submission of an order request under section 505G(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 355h(b)], as added by section 3851 of this subtitle, with respect to a drug that was the subject of an application extinguished under paragraph (1).”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
21 U.S.C. § 360fff–6
Title 21, Food and Drugs
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60