[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 21, Volume 1]
[Revised as of April 1, 2003]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 21CFR7.42]

[Page 80-81]
 
                        TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
 
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
                                SERVICES
 
PART 7--ENFORCEMENT POLICY--Table of Contents
 
Subpart C--Recalls (Including Product Corrections)--Guidance on Policy, 
                Procedures, and Industry Responsibilities
 
Sec. 7.42  Recall strategy.

    (a) General. (1) A recall strategy that takes into account the 
following factors will be developed by the agency for a Food and Drug 
Administration-requested recall and by the recalling firm for a firm-
initiated recall to suit the individual circumstances of the particular 
recall:
    (i) Results of health hazard evaluation.
    (ii) Ease in identifying the product.
    (iii) Degree to which the product's deficiency is obvious to the 
consumer or user.
    (iv) Degree to which the product remains unused in the market-place.
    (v) Continued availability of essential products.
    (2) The Food and Drug Administration will review the adequacy of a 
proposed recall strategy developed by a recalling firm and recommend 
changes as appropriate. A recalling firm should conduct the recall in 
accordance with an approved recall strategy but need not delay 
initiation of a recall pending review of its recall strategy.
    (b) Elements of a recall strategy. A recall strategy will address 
the following elements regarding the conduct of the recall:
    (1) Depth of recall. Depending on the product's degree of hazard and 
extent of distribution, the recall strategy will specify the level in 
the distribution chain to which the recall is to extend, as follows:
    (i) Consumer or user level, which may vary with product, including 
any intermediate wholesale or retail level; or
    (ii) Retail level, including any intermediate wholesale level; or
    (iii) Wholesale level.
    (2) Public warning. The purpose of a public warning is to alert the 
public that a product being recalled presents a serious hazard to 
health. It is reserved for urgent situations where other means for 
preventing use of the recalled product appear inadequate. The Food and 
Drug Administration in consultation with the recalling firm will 
ordinarily issue such publicity. The recalling firm that decides to 
issue its own public warning is requested to submit its proposed public 
warning and plan for distribution of the warning for review and comment 
by the Food and Drug Administration. The recall strategy will specify 
whether a public warning is needed and whether it will issue as:
    (i) General public warning through the general news media, either 
national or local as appropriate, or
    (ii) Public warning through specialized news media, e.g., 
professional or trade press, or to specific segments of the population 
such as physicians, hospitals, etc.
    (3) Effectiveness checks. The purpose of effectiveness checks is to 
verify that all consignees at the recall depth specified by the strategy 
have received notification about the recall and have taken appropriate 
action. The method for contacting consignees may be accomplished by 
personal visits, telephone calls, letters, or a combination thereof. A 
guide entitled ``Methods for Conducting Recall Effectiveness Checks'' 
that describes the use of these different methods is available upon 
request from the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Food and Drug 
Administration, rm. 1-23, 12420 Parklawn Dr., Rockville, MD 20857. The 
recalling

[[Page 81]]

firm will ordinarily be responsible for conducting effectiveness checks, 
but the Food and Drug Administration will assist in this task where 
necessary and appropriate. The recall strategy will specify the 
method(s) to be used for and the level of effectiveness checks that will 
be conducted, as follows:
    (i) Level A--100 percent of the total number of consignees to be 
contacted;
    (ii) Level B--Some percentage of the total number of consignees to 
be contacted, which percentage is to be determined on a case-by-case 
basis, but is greater that 10 percent and less than 100 percent of the 
total number of consignees;
    (iii) Level C--10 percent of the total number of consignees to be 
contacted;
    (iv) Level D--2 percent of the total number of consignees to be 
contacted; or
    (v) Level E--No effectiveness checks.

[43 FR 26218, June 16, 1978, as amended at 46 FR 8455, Jan. 27, 1981; 59 
FR 14363, Mar. 28, 1994]