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Assignment of Combination Products/ Product Jurisdiction Program

Please note the Office of Combination Products telephone number change

June 23, 2003 Final Rule

The Office of Combination Products (OCP) assigns review responsibility for combination products. In accordance with section 503(g)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) (21 U.S.C. 353(g)(l)), the agency is required to assign premarket review responsibility for combination products based on the product's "primary mode of action." The existing intercenter agreements provide guidance on some combination product assignments. The Office is also responsible for designating the component of FDA with primary jurisdiction for the premarket review and regulation of any product requiring a jurisdictional designation under 21 CFR Part 3. Such decisions may involve determinations of the regulatory identity of a product as a drug, device, biologic, or combination product; and the agency component that will have jurisdiction for any drug, device, or biological product where such jurisdiction is unclear or in dispute.

By submitting a "Request for Designation" (RFD), a company may obtain a formal agency determination of a combination product’s primary mode of action and of assignment of the lead agency center for the product’s premarket review and regulation, or of the agency component that will have jurisdiction for any drug, device, or biological product where such jurisdiction is unclear or in dispute. The agency will make its jurisdictional determination within 60 days of filing the RFD. The RFD process is outlined in 21 CFR Part 3 , and 21 CFR 3.7 outlines the information required in an RFD submission. Companies and FDA centers may also informally request assistance from OCP in working out difficult jurisdictional issues.

To facilitate our processing of your RFD, please send an electronic version to combination@fda.gov in addition to the official request, which should be mailed to:

Office of Combination Products
Food and Drug Administration
15800 Crabbs Branch Way (HFG-3)
Suite 200
Rockville, MD 20855
(301) 427-1934 NEW!
(301) 427-1935 fax NEW!
email: combination@fda.gov

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