[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 21, Volume 5]
[Revised as of April 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 21CFR330.12]

[Page 215-218]
 
                        TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
 
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
                           SERVICES--Continued
 
PART 330--OVER-THE-COUNTER (OTC) HUMAN DRUGS WHICH ARE GENERALLY RECOGNIZED AS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE AND NOT MISBRANDED--Table of Contents
 
                  Subpart B--Administrative Procedures
 
Sec. 330.12  Status of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs previously reviewed under the Drug Efficacy Study (DESI).

    (a) There were 420 OTC drugs reviewed in the Drug Efficacy Study (a 
review of drugs introduced to the market through new drug procedures 
between 1938 and 1962). A careful review has been made of the reports on 
these drugs to determine those drugs for which implementation may be 
deferred without significant risk to the public health, pending review 
by appropriate OTC drug advisory review panels and promulgation of a 
monograph.
    (b) On and after April 20, 1972, a number of notices were published 
in the Federal Register concerning previously unpublished OTC drugs 
reviewed by the National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council 
Drug Efficacy Study Group. Only the evaluations and comments of the 
panels were published, with no conclusions of the Commissioner of Food 
and Drugs. Those publications were for the

[[Page 216]]

purpose of giving interested persons the benefit of the Academy's 
opinions. For those products, and also for OTC drug products previously 
published with the Commissioner's conclusions (except for the products 
listed in paragraphs (b) (1) and (2) of this section, all requests for 
data, revised labeling, requests for new drug applications, abbreviated 
new drug applications, updating supplements, data to support less than 
effective claims, if any, etc., are deferred, and such OTC drug products 
are instead subject to the OTC drug review in their appropriate classes 
pursuant to the procedures established in this subpart.
    (1) The requirements of the following DESI announcements are not 
deferred (the reference document may also pertain to prescription 
drugs):
    (i) Certain Surgical Sutures (DESI 4725), published in the Federal 
Register of November 11, l971 (36 FR 21612).
    (ii) Absorbable Dusting Powder (DESI 6264), published in the Federal 
Register of May 25, 1971 (36 FR 9475).
    (iii) Certain Insulin Preparations (DESI 4286), published in the 
Federal Register of April 9, 1971 (36 FR 6842).
    (iv) Sulfo-Van Ointment (DESI 2230), published in the Federal 
Register of October 8, 1970 (35 FR 15860).
    (v) Antiperspirants and Deodorants Containing Neomycin Sulfate (DESI 
11048) for which an order revoking provisions for certification or 
release was published in the Federal Register of December 5, 1972 (37 FR 
25820) and has been stayed by the filing of objections.
    (vi) Thorexin Cough Medicine (DESI 11160) for which a notice of 
opportunity for hearing was published in the Federal Register of 
February 2, 1973 (38 FR 3210).
    (vii) Antibiotic susceptibility discs (DESI 90235) for which an 
order providing for certain discs to be certified and removing 
provisions for certification of other discs was published in the Federal 
Register of September 30, 1972 (37 FR 20525) and has been stayed by the 
filing of objections notice of which was published in the Federal 
Register of March 15, 1973 (38 FR 7007).
    (2) Deferral of requirements is not appropriate when an announcement 
has been published and has been followed by a final order classifying a 
drug either as lacking substantial evidence of effectiveness or as not 
shown to be safe. These products will be removed from the market, if 
they have not already been removed. Regulatory action will also be 
undertaken against identical, similar and related products (21 CFR 
310.6). Deferral of requirements is not appropriate for the following 
(the referenced document may also pertain to prescription drugs):
    (i) Certain Sulfonamide-Decongestant Nasal Preparation (DESI 4850), 
for which notice of withdrawal of approval of new drug applications was 
published in the Federal Register of October 24, 1970 (35 FR 16605, 
16606).
    (ii) Eskay's Theranates, containing strychnine, sodium, and calcium 
glycerophosphates, thiamine hydrochloride, alcohol, and phosphoric acid 
(DESI 2220), for which notice of withdrawal of approval of the new drug 
application was published in the Federal Register of February 18, 1971 
(36 FR 3152).
    (iii) The following topical drugs (DESI 1726), for which notice of 
withdrawal of new drug applications was published in the Federal 
Register of August 28, 1971 (36 FR 17368):
    (a) Rhulitol Solution, containing tannic acid, chlorobutanol, 
phenol, camphor, alum, and isopropyl alcohol.
    (b) Zirnox Topical Lotion, containing phenyitoloxamine citrate and 
zirconium oxide.
    (iv) Menacyl Tablets, containing aspirin, menadione, and ascorbic 
acid (DESI 6363), for which notice of withdrawal of approval of the new 
drug application was published in the Federal Register of July 23, 1970 
(35 FR 11827).
    (v) Curad Medicated Adhesive Bandage containing sulfathiazole (DESI 
4964), for which notice of withdrawal of approval of the new drug 
application was published in the Federal Register of December 31, 1969 
(34 FR 20441).
    (vi) Drugs Containing Rutin, Quercetin, Hesperidin, or any 
Bioflavonoids (DESI 5960), for which notice of withdrawal of approval of 
new drug applications was published in the Federal Register of July 3, 
1970 (35 FR 10872, 10873) and October 17, 1970 (35 FR 16332). A further 
notice of opportunity for

[[Page 217]]

hearing with respect to the drugs covered by the October 17, 1970 
Federal Register notice will be published at a later date.
    (vii) Antibiotics in Combination with Other Drugs for Nasal Use 
(DESI 7561), for which an order revoking provision for certification was 
published in the Federal Register of August 6, 1971 (36 FR 14469) and 
confirmed in the Federal Register of October 28, 1971 (36 FR 20686).
    (viii) Antibiotic Troches (DESI 8328), for which an order revoking 
provision for certification was published in the Federal Register of 
July 14, 1971 (36 FR 13089) and confirmed in the Federal Register of 
October 9, 1971 (36 FR 19695).
    (ix) Certain Drugs Containing Oxyphenisatin or Oxyphenisatin Acetate 
(DESI 10732), for which notices of withdrawal of approval of new drug 
applications were published in the Federal Register of February 1, 1972 
(37 FR 2460), and March 9, 1973 (38 FR 6419).
    (x) Curad Medicated Adhesive Bandage containing tyrothricin-
nitrofurazone (DESI 6898), for which an order revoking provision for 
certification was published March 14, 1972 (37 FR 5294), and confirmed 
in the Federal Register of July 6, 1972 (37 FR 13254).
    (xi) Candette Cough Gel (DESI 11562), for which notice of withdrawal 
of approval of the new drug application was published in the Federal 
Register of November 19, 1972 (37 FR 25249).
    (xii) Certain OTC Multiple-Vitamin Preparations for Oral Use 
containing excessive amounts of vitamin D and/or vitamin A (DESI 97), 
for which notice of withdrawal of approval of the new drug applications 
was published in the Federal Register of November 29, 1972 (37 FR 
25249).
    (xiii) Certain Sulfonamide-Containing Preparations for Topical 
Ophthalmic or Otic Use (DESI 368, for which a notice of withdrawal of 
approval was published in the Federal Register of February 2, 1973 (38 
FR 3208).
    (xiv) Those parts of the publication entitled ``Certain Mouthwash 
and Gargle Preparations'' (DESI 2855) pertaining to Tyrolaris Mouthwash, 
containing tyrothricin, panthenol, and alcohol, for which an order 
revoking provision for certification was published in the Federal 
Register of February 2, 1967 (32 FR 1172) prior to the drug efficacy 
study implementation.
    (c) Manufacturers and distributors should take notice that the 
information on OTC drugs provided by the Drug Efficacy Study review is 
valuable information as to the deficiencies in the data available to 
support indications for use. They are encouraged to perform studies to 
obtain adequate evidence of effectiveness for the review of OTC drugs 
which is already in progress. In the interim it is in the public 
interest that manufacturers and distributors of all OTC drugs effect 
changes in their formulations and/or labeling to bring the products into 
conformity with current medical knowledge and experience.
    (d) Manufacturers and distributors of OTC drugs may be reluctant to 
make appropriate formulation and/or labeling changes for fear of losing 
the protection of the so-called ``grandfather'' provisions of the 1938 
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (sec. 201(p)(1)) and the 1962 
amendments to the act (sec. 107(c) of those amendments). To encourage 
and facilitate prompt changes, the Food and Drug Administration will not 
take legal action against any OTC drug, other than those not deferred, 
based on a charge that the product is a new drug and not grandfathered 
under the act as a result of the changes if the changes in formulation 
and/or labeling are of the following kind:
    (1) The addition to the labeling of warning, contraindications, side 
effects, and/or precaution information.
    (2) The deletion from the labeling of false, misleading, or 
unsupported indications for use or claims of effectiveness.
    (3) Changes in the components or composition of the drug that will 
give increased assurance that the drug will have its intended effect, 
yet not raise or contribute any added safety questions.
    (4) Changes in the components or composition of the drug which may 
reasonably be concluded to improve the safety of the drug, without 
diminishing its effectiveness.

[[Page 218]]

    (e) The forbearance from legal action for lack of grandfather 
protection is an interim procedure designed to encourage appropriate 
change in formulation and/or labeling during the time period required to 
review the various classes of OTC drugs. At such time as an applicable 
OTC drug monograph becomes effective, the interim procedure will 
automatically be terminated and any appropriate regulatory action will 
be initiated.