Part C—Fees

subpart 1—freedom of information fees

§379f. Recovery and retention of fees for freedom of information requests

(a) In general

The Secretary, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, may—

(1) set and charge fees, in accordance with section 552(a)(4)(A) of title 5, to recover all reasonable costs incurred in processing requests made under section 552 of title 5 for records obtained or created under this chapter or any other Federal law for which responsibility for administration has been delegated to the Commissioner by the Secretary;

(2) retain all fees charged for such requests; and

(3) establish an accounting system and procedures to control receipts and expenditures of fees received under this section.

(b) Use of fees

The Secretary and the Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall not use fees received under this section for any purpose other than funding the processing of requests described in subsection (a)(1) of this section. Such fees shall not be used to reduce the amount of funds made to carry out other provisions of this chapter.

(c) Waiver of fees

Nothing in this section shall supersede the right of a requester to obtain a waiver of fees pursuant to section 552(a)(4)(A) of title 5.

(June 25, 1938, ch. 675, §731, formerly §711, as added Pub. L. 101–635, title II, §201, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4584; renumbered §731, Pub. L. 102–571, title I, §106(6), Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4499.)

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 379c of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 102–571.

subpart 2—fees relating to drugs

§379g. Definitions

For purposes of this part:

(1) The term "human drug application" means an application for—

(A) approval of a new drug submitted under section 355(b)(1) of this title,

(B) approval of a new drug submitted under section 355(b)(2) of this title after September 30, 1992, which requests approval of—

(i) a molecular entity which is an active ingredient (including any salt or ester of an active ingredient), or

(ii) an indication for a use,

that had not been approved under an application submitted under section 355(b) of this title, or

(C) licensure of a biological product under section 262 of title 42.

Such term does not include a supplement to such an application, does not include an application with respect to whole blood or a blood component for transfusion, does not include an application with respect to a bovine blood product for topical application licensed before September 1, 1992, an allergenic extract product, or an in vitro diagnostic biologic product licensed under section 262 of title 42, does not include an application with respect to a large volume parenteral drug product approved before September 1, 1992, does not include an application for a licensure of a biological product for further manufacturing use only, and does not include an application or supplement submitted by a State or Federal Government entity for a drug that is not distributed commercially. Such term does include an application for licensure, as described in subparagraph (D), of a large volume biological product intended for single dose injection for intravenous use or infusion.

(2) The term "supplement" means a request to the Secretary to approve a change in a human drug application which has been approved.

(3) The term "prescription drug product" means a specific strength or potency of a drug in final dosage form—

(A) for which a human drug application has been approved, and

(B) which may be dispensed only under prescription pursuant to section 353(b) of this title.

Such term does not include whole blood or a blood component for transfusion, does not include a bovine blood product for topical application licensed before September 1, 1992, an allergenic extract product, or an in vitro diagnostic biologic product licensed under section 262 of title 42, does not include a large volume parenteral drug product approved before September 1, 1992, does not include a biological product that is licensed for further manufacturing use only, and does not include a drug that is not distributed commercially and is the subject of an application or supplement submitted by a State or Federal Government entity. Such term does include a large volume biological product intended for single dose injection for intravenous use or infusion.

(4) The term "final dosage form" means, with respect to a prescription drug product, a finished dosage form which is approved for administration to a patient without substantial further manufacturing.

(5) The term "prescription drug establishment" means a foreign or domestic place of business which is at one general physical location consisting of one or more buildings all of which are within five miles of each other and at which one or more prescription drug products are manufactured in final dosage form. For purposes of this paragraph, the term "manufactured" does not include packaging.

(6) The term "process for the review of human drug applications" means the following activities of the Secretary with respect to the review of human drug applications and supplements:

(A) The activities necessary for the review of human drug applications and supplements.

(B) The issuance of action letters which approve human drug applications or which set forth in detail the specific deficiencies in such applications and, where appropriate, the actions necessary to place such applications in condition for approval.

(C) The inspection of prescription drug establishments and other facilities undertaken as part of the Secretary's review of pending human drug applications and supplements.

(D) Activities necessary for the review of applications for licensure of establishments subject to section 262 of title 42 and for the release of lots of biologics under such section.

(E) Monitoring of research conducted in connection with the review of human drug applications.

(7) The term "costs of resources allocated for the process for the review of human drug applications" means the expenses incurred in connection with the process for the review of human drug applications for—

(A) officers and employees of the Food and Drug Administration, contractors of the Food and Drug Administration, advisory committees, and costs related to such officers, employees, and committees and to contracts with such contractors,

(B) management of information, and the acquisition, maintenance, and repair of computer resources,

(C) leasing, maintenance, renovation, and repair of facilities and acquisition, maintenance, and repair of fixtures, furniture, scientific equipment, and other necessary materials and supplies, and

(D) collecting fees under section 379h of this title and accounting for resources allocated for the review of human drug applications and supplements.

(8) The term "adjustment factor" applicable to a fiscal year is the lower of—

(A) the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (all items; United States city average) for April of the preceding fiscal year divided by such Index for April 1997, or

(B) the total of discretionary budget authority provided for programs in the domestic category for the immediately preceding fiscal year (as reported in the Office of Management and Budget sequestration preview report, if available, required under section 254(c) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 [2 U.S.C. 904(c)]) divided by such budget authority for fiscal year 1997 (as reported in the Office of Management and Budget final sequestration report submitted after the end of the 105th Congress, 1st Session).

The terms "budget authority" and "category" in subparagraph (B) are as defined in the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 [2 U.S.C. 900 et seq.], as in effect as of September 1, 1992.

(9) The term "affiliate" means a business entity that has a relationship with a second business entity if, directly or indirectly—

(A) one business entity controls, or has the power to control, the other business entity; or

(B) a third party controls, or has power to control, both of the business entities.

(June 25, 1938, ch. 675, §735, as added Pub. L. 102–571, title I, §103, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4491; amended Pub. L. 105–115, title I, §§102, 125(b)(2)(M), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2298, 2326.)

Amendment of Section

For termination of amendment by section 107 of Pub. L. 105–115, see Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Termination of Section

For termination of section by section 105 of Pub. L. 102–571, see Termination Date note below.

References in Text

The Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, referred to in par. (8), is title II of Pub. L. 99–177, Dec. 12, 1985, 99 Stat. 1038, as amended, which enacted chapter 20 (§900 et seq.) and sections 654 to 656 of Title 2, The Congress, amended sections 602, 622, 631 to 642, and 651 to 653 of Title 2, sections 1104 to 1106, and 1109 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and section 911 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, repealed section 661 of Title 2, enacted provisions set out as notes under section 900 of Title 2 and section 911 of Title 42, and amended provisions set out as a note under section 621 of Title 2. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 900 of Title 2 and Tables.

Amendments

1997—Par. (1). Pub. L. 105–115, §§102(1), 107, in closing provisions, temporarily struck out "and" before "does not include an application" and substituted "September 1, 1992, does not include an application for a licensure of a biological product for further manufacturing use only, and does not include an application or supplement submitted by a State or Federal Government entity for a drug that is not distributed commercially. Such term does include an application for licensure, as described in subparagraph (D), of a large volume biological product intended for single dose injection for intravenous use or infusion" for "September 1, 1992" before period at end. See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Par. (1)(B) to (D). Pub. L. 105–115, §125(b)(2)(M), inserted "or" at end of subpar. (B), redesignated subpar. (D) as (C), and struck out former subpar. (C) which read as follows: "initial certification or initial approval of an antibiotic drug under section 357 of this title, or".

Par. (3). Pub. L. 105–115, §§102(2), 107, in closing provisions, temporarily struck out "and" before "does not include a large volume parenteral drug" and substituted "September 1, 1992, does not include a biological product that is licensed for further manufacturing use only, and does not include a drug that is not distributed commercially and is the subject of an application or supplement submitted by a State or Federal Government entity. Such term does include a large volume biological product intended for single dose injection for intravenous use or infusion" for "September 1, 1992" before period at end. See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Par. (4). Pub. L. 105–115, §§102(3), 107, temporarily substituted "without substantial further manufacturing" for "without further manufacturing". See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Par. (5). Pub. L. 105–115, §§102(4), 107, temporarily amended first sentence generally. Prior to amendment, first sentence read as follows: "The term 'prescription drug establishment' means a foreign or domestic place of business which is—

"(A) at one general physical location consisting of one or more buildings all of which are within 5 miles of each other, at which one or more prescription drug products are manufactured in final dosage form, and

"(B) under the management of a person that is listed as the applicant in a human drug application for a prescription drug product with respect to at least one such product."

See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Par. (7)(A). Pub. L. 105–115, §§102(5), 107, temporarily substituted "contractors of the Food and Drug Administration," for "employees under contract with the Food and Drug Administration who work in facilities owned or leased for the Food and Drug Administration," and "and committees and to contracts with such contractors," for "and committees,". See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Par. (8)(A). Pub. L. 105–115, §§102(6)(A), 107, temporarily substituted "April of the preceding fiscal year" for "August of the preceding fiscal year" and "April 1997" for "August 1992". See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Par. (8)(B). Pub. L. 105–115, §§102(6)(B), 107, temporarily substituted "section 254(c)" for "section 254(d)", "fiscal year 1997" for "fiscal year 1992", and "105th Congress, 1st Session" for "102d Congress, 2d Session". See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Par. (9). Pub. L. 105–115, §§102(7), 107, temporarily added par. (9). See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment

Section 106 of title I of Pub. L. 105–115 provided that: "The amendments made by this subtitle [subtitle A (§§101–107) of title I of Pub. L. 105–115, amending this section and section 379h of this title] shall take effect October 1, 1997."

Section 107 of Pub. L. 105–115 provided that: "The amendments made by sections 102 and 103 [amending this section and section 379h of this title] cease to be effective October 1, 2002, and section 104 [enacting provisions set out as a note below] ceases to be effective 120 days after such date."

Termination Date

Section 105 of Pub. L. 102–571 provided that: "The amendments made by section 103 [enacting this subpart] shall not be in effect after October 1, 1997 and section 104 [enacting provisions set out as a note below] shall not be in effect after 120 days after such date."

Savings Provision

Section 105 of Pub. L. 105–115 provided that: "Notwithstanding section 105 of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act of 1992 [section 105 of Pub. L. 102–571, set out above], the Secretary shall retain the authority to assess and collect any fee required by part 2 of subchapter C of chapter VII of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [this subpart] for a human drug application or supplement accepted for filing prior to October 1, 1997, and to assess and collect any product or establishment fee required by such Act for a fiscal year prior to fiscal year 1998."

Congressional Findings Concerning Fees Relating to Drugs

Section 101 of title I of Pub. L. 105–115 provided that: "Congress finds that—

"(1) prompt approval of safe and effective new drugs and other therapies is critical to the improvement of the public health so that patients may enjoy the benefits provided by these therapies to treat and prevent illness and disease;

"(2) the public health will be served by making additional funds available for the purpose of augmenting the resources of the Food and Drug Administration that are devoted to the process for review of human drug applications;

"(3) the provisions added by the Prescription Drug User Fee Act of 1992 [see section 101(a) of Pub. L. 102–571, set out as a Short Title of 1992 Amendment note under section 301 of this title] have been successful in substantially reducing review times for human drug applications and should be—

"(A) reauthorized for an additional 5 years, with certain technical improvements; and

"(B) carried out by the Food and Drug Administration with new commitments to implement more ambitious and comprehensive improvements in regulatory processes of the Food and Drug Administration; and

"(4) the fees authorized by amendments made in this subtitle [subtitle A (§§101–107) of title I of Pub. L. 105–115, amending this section and section 379h of this title] will be dedicated toward expediting the drug development process and the review of human drug applications as set forth in the goals identified, for purposes of part 2 of subchapter C of chapter VII of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [this subpart], in the letters from the Secretary of Health and Human Services to the chairman of the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives and the chairman of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, as set forth in the Congressional Record."

Annual Reports

Section 104 of Pub. L. 105–115 provided that:

"(a) Performance Report.—Beginning with fiscal year 1998, not later than 60 days after the end of each fiscal year during which fees are collected under part 2 of subchapter C of chapter VII of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 379g et seq.), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate a report concerning the progress of the Food and Drug Administration in achieving the goals identified in the letters described in section 101(4) [section 101(4) of Pub. L. 105–115 set out above] during such fiscal year and the future plans of the Food and Drug Administration for meeting the goals.

"(b) Fiscal Report.—Beginning with fiscal year 1998, not later than 120 days after the end of each fiscal year during which fees are collected under the part described in subsection (a), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate a report on the implementation of the authority for such fees during such fiscal year and the use, by the Food and Drug Administration, of the fees collected during such fiscal year for which the report is made."

Congressional Findings Concerning Prescription Drug User Fees

Section 102 of title I of Pub. L. 102–571 provided that: "The Congress finds that—

"(1) prompt approval of safe and effective new drugs is critical to the improvement of the public health so that patients may enjoy the benefits provided by these therapies to treat and prevent illness and disease;

"(2) the public health will be served by making additional funds available for the purpose of augmenting the resources of the Food and Drug Administration that are devoted to the process for review of human drug applications; and

"(3) the fees authorized by this title [see Short Title of 1992 Amendment note, set out under section 301 of this title] will be dedicated toward expediting the review of human drug applications as set forth in the goals identified in the letters of September 14, 1992, and September 21, 1992, from the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Labor and Human Resources Committee of the Senate, as set forth at 138 Cong. Rec. H9099–H9100 (daily ed. September 22, 1992)."

Annual Reports

Section 104 of Pub. L. 102–571 provided that:

"(a) First Report.—Within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year during which fees are collected under part 2 of subchapter C of chapter VII of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [this subpart], the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report stating the Food and Drug Administration's progress in achieving the goals identified in section 102(3) of this Act [set out as a note above] during such fiscal year and that agency's future plans for meeting such goals.

"(b) Second Report.—Within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year during which such fees are collected, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit a report on the implementation of the authority for such fees during such fiscal year and on the use the Food and Drug Administration made of the fees collected during such fiscal year for which the report is made.

"(c) Committees.—The reports described in subsections (a) and (b) shall be submitted to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate."

Animal Drug User Fee Study

Section 108 of Pub. L. 102–571 provided that:

"(a) Study.—The Secretary, in consultation with manufacturers of animal drug products and other interested persons, shall undertake a study to evaluate whether, and under what conditions, to impose user fees to supplement appropriated funds in order to improve the process of reviewing applications (including abbreviated and supplemental applications) for new animal drugs under section 512 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 360b]. The study shall include—

"(1) an assessment of the overall review process for animal drugs at the Center for Veterinary Medicine, including the number of applications received, and the average times for interim and final decisions on each type of application,

"(2) the current allocation of funds to the animal drug review process,

"(3) recommendations for goals for decision making times on applications submitted to the Center for Veterinary Medicine and for additional resources required to meet the goals, and

"(4) recommendations for supplementing the resources for the animal drug review process through user fees.

"(b) Completion.—The results of the study required by subsection (a) shall be presented no later than January 4, 1994, to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate."

§379h. Authority to assess and use drug fees

(a) Types of fees

Beginning in fiscal year 1998, the Secretary shall assess and collect fees in accordance with this section as follows:

(1) Human drug application and supplement fee

(A) In general

Each person that submits, on or after September 1, 1992, a human drug application or a supplement shall be subject to a fee as follows:

(i) A fee established in subsection (b) of this section for a human drug application for which clinical data (other than bioavailability or bioequivalence studies) with respect to safety or effectiveness are required for approval.

(ii) A fee established in subsection (b) of this section for a human drug application for which clinical data with respect to safety or effectiveness are not required or a supplement for which clinical data (other than bioavailability or bioequivalence studies) with respect to safety or effectiveness are required.

(B) Payment

The fee required by subparagraph (A) shall be due upon submission of the application or supplement.

(C) Exception for previously filed application or supplement

If a human drug application or supplement was submitted by a person that paid the fee for such application or supplement, was accepted for filing, and was not approved or was withdrawn (without a waiver), the submission of a human drug application or a supplement for the same product by the same person (or the person's licensee, assignee, or successor) shall not be subject to a fee under subparagraph (A).

(D) Refund of fee if application refused for filing

The Secretary shall refund 75 percent of the fee paid under subparagraph (B) for any application or supplement which is refused for filing.

(E) Exception for designated orphan drug or indication

A human drug application for a prescription drug product that has been designated as a drug for a rare disease or condition pursuant to section 360bb of this title shall not be subject to a fee under subparagraph (A), unless the human drug application includes an indication for other than a rare disease or condition. A supplement proposing to include a new indication for a rare disease or condition in a human drug application shall not be subject to a fee under subparagraph (A), if the drug has been designated pursuant to section 360bb of this title as a drug for a rare disease or condition with regard to the indication proposed in such supplement.

(F) Exception for supplements for pediatric indications

A supplement to a human drug application proposing to include a new indication for use in pediatric populations shall not be assessed a fee under subparagraph (A).

(G) Refund of fee if application withdrawn

If an application or supplement is withdrawn after the application or supplement was filed, the Secretary may refund the fee or a portion of the fee if no substantial work was performed on the application or supplement after the application or supplement was filed. The Secretary shall have the sole discretion to refund a fee or a portion of the fee under this subparagraph. A determination by the Secretary concerning a refund under this paragraph shall not be reviewable.

(2) Prescription drug establishment fee

(A) In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each person that—

(i) is named as the applicant in a human drug application; and

(ii) after September 1, 1992, had pending before the Secretary a human drug application or supplement,

shall be assessed an annual fee established in subsection (b) of this section for each prescription drug establishment listed in its approved human drug application as an establishment that manufactures the prescription drug product named in the application. The annual establishment fee shall be assessed in each fiscal year in which the prescription drug product named in the application is assessed a fee under paragraph (3) unless the prescription drug establishment listed in the application does not engage in the manufacture of the prescription drug product during the fiscal year. The establishment fee shall be payable on or before January 31 of each year. Each such establishment shall be assessed only one fee per establishment, notwithstanding the number of prescription drug products manufactured at the establishment. In the event an establishment is listed in a human drug application by more than one applicant, the establishment fee for the fiscal year shall be divided equally and assessed among the applicants whose prescription drug products are manufactured by the establishment during the fiscal year and assessed product fees under paragraph (3).

(B) Exception

If, during the fiscal year, an applicant initiates or causes to be initiated the manufacture of a prescription drug product at an establishment listed in its human drug application—

(i) that did not manufacture the product in the previous fiscal year; and

(ii) for which the full establishment fee has been assessed in the fiscal year at a time before manufacture of the prescription drug product was begun;

the applicant will not be assessed a share of the establishment fee for the fiscal year in which the manufacture of the product began.

(3) Prescription drug product fee

(A) In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), each person—

(i) who is named as the applicant in a human drug application for a prescription drug product which has been submitted for listing under section 360 of this title, and

(ii) who, after September 1, 1992, had pending before the Secretary a human drug application or supplement,

shall pay for each such prescription drug product the annual fee established in subsection (b) of this section. Such fee shall be payable for the fiscal year in which the product is first submitted for listing under section 360 of this title, or is submitted for relisting under section 360 of this title if the product has been withdrawn from listing and relisted. After such fee is paid for that fiscal year, such fee shall be payable on or before January 31 of each year. Such fee shall be paid only once for each product for a fiscal year in which the fee is payable.

(B) Exception

The listing of a prescription drug product under section 360 of this title shall not require the person who listed such product to pay the fee prescribed by subparagraph (A) if such product is the same product as a product approved under an application filed under section 355(b)(2) or 355(j) of this title, under an abbreviated application filed under section 357 of this title (as in effect on the day before November 21, 1997), or under an abbreviated new drug application pursuant to regulations in effect prior to the implementation of the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984.

(b) Fee amounts

Except as provided in subsections (c), (d), (f), and (g) of this section, the fees required under subsection (a) of this section shall be determined and assessed as follows:

(1) Application and supplement fees

(A) Full fees

The application fee under subsection (a)(1)(A)(i) of this section shall be $250,704 in fiscal year 1998, $256,338 in each of fiscal years 1999 and 2000, $267,606 in fiscal year 2001, and $258,451 in fiscal year 2002.

(B) Other fees

The fee under subsection (a)(1)(A)(ii) of this section shall be $125,352 in fiscal year 1998, $128,169 in each of fiscal years 1999 and 2000, $133,803 in fiscal year 2001, and $129,226 in fiscal year 2002.

(2) Total fee revenues for establishment fees

The total fee revenues to be collected in establishment fees under subsection (a)(2) of this section shall be $35,600,000 in fiscal year 1998, $36,400,000 in each of fiscal years 1999 and 2000, $38,000,000 in fiscal year 2001, and $36,700,000 in fiscal year 2002.

(3) Total fee revenues for product fees

The total fee revenues to be collected in product fees under subsection (a)(3) of this section in a fiscal year shall be equal to the total fee revenues collected in establishment fees under subsection (a)(2) of this section in that fiscal year.

(c) Adjustments

(1) Inflation adjustment

The fees and total fee revenues established in subsection (b) of this section shall be adjusted by the Secretary by notice, published in the Federal Register, for a fiscal year to reflect the greater of—

(A) the total percentage change that occurred during the preceding fiscal year in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers (all items; U.S. city average), or

(B) the total percentage change for such fiscal year in basic pay under the General Schedule in accordance with section 5332 of title 5, as adjusted by any locality-based comparability payment pursuant to section 5304 of such title for Federal employees stationed in the District of Columbia.

The adjustment made each fiscal year by this subsection will be added on a compounded basis to the sum of all adjustments made each fiscal year after fiscal year 1997 under this subsection.

(2) Annual fee adjustment

Subject to the amount appropriated for a fiscal year under subsection (g) of this section, the Secretary shall, within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year beginning after September 30, 1997, adjust the establishment and product fees described in subsection (b) of this section for the fiscal year in which the adjustment occurs so that the revenues collected from each of the categories of fees described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (b) of this section shall be set to be equal to the revenues collected from the category of application and supplement fees described in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this section.

(3) Limit

The total amount of fees charged, as adjusted under this subsection, for a fiscal year may not exceed the total costs for such fiscal year for the resources allocated for the process for the review of human drug applications.

(d) Fee waiver or reduction

(1) In general

The Secretary shall grant a waiver from or a reduction of one or more fees assessed under subsection (a) of this section where the Secretary finds that—

(A) such waiver or reduction is necessary to protect the public health,

(B) the assessment of the fee would present a significant barrier to innovation because of limited resources available to such person or other circumstances,

(C) the fees to be paid by such person will exceed the anticipated present and future costs incurred by the Secretary in conducting the process for the review of human drug applications for such person,

(D) assessment of the fee for an application or a supplement filed under section 355(b)(1) of this title pertaining to a drug containing an active ingredient would be inequitable because an application for a product containing the same active ingredient filed by another person under section 355(b)(2) of this title could not be assessed fees under subsection (a)(1) of this section, or

(E) the applicant involved is a small business submitting its first human drug application to the Secretary for review.

(2) Use of standard costs

In making the finding in paragraph (1)(C), the Secretary may use standard costs.

(3) Rules relating to small businesses

(A) "Small business" defined

In paragraph (1)(E), the term "small business" means an entity that has fewer than 500 employees, including employees of affiliates.

(B) Waiver of application fee

The Secretary shall waive under paragraph (1)(E) the application fee for the first human drug application that a small business or its affiliate submits to the Secretary for review. After a small business or its affiliate is granted such a waiver, the small business or its affiliate shall pay—

(i) application fees for all subsequent human drug applications submitted to the Secretary for review in the same manner as an entity that does not qualify as a small business; and

(ii) all supplement fees for all supplements to human drug applications submitted to the Secretary for review in the same manner as an entity that does not qualify as a small business.

(e) Effect of failure to pay fees

A human drug application or supplement submitted by a person subject to fees under subsection (a) of this section shall be considered incomplete and shall not be accepted for filing by the Secretary until all fees owed by such person have been paid.

(f) Assessment of fees

(1) Limitation

Fees may not be assessed under subsection (a) of this section for a fiscal year beginning after fiscal year 1997 unless appropriations for salaries and expenses of the Food and Drug Administration for such fiscal year (excluding the amount of fees appropriated for such fiscal year) are equal to or greater than the amount of appropriations for the salaries and expenses of the Food and Drug Administration for the fiscal year 1997 (excluding the amount of fees appropriated for such fiscal year) multiplied by the adjustment factor applicable to the fiscal year involved.

(2) Authority

If the Secretary does not assess fees under subsection (a) of this section during any portion of a fiscal year because of paragraph (1) and if at a later date in such fiscal year the Secretary may assess such fees, the Secretary may assess and collect such fees, without any modification in the rate, for human drug applications and supplements, prescription drug establishments, and prescription drug products at any time in such fiscal year notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section relating to the date fees are to be paid.

(g) Crediting and availability of fees

(1) In general

Fees collected for a fiscal year pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall be credited to the appropriation account for salaries and expenses of the Food and Drug Administration and shall be available in accordance with appropriation Acts until expended without fiscal year limitation. Such sums as may be necessary may be transferred from the Food and Drug Administration salaries and expenses appropriation account without fiscal year limitation to such appropriation account for salaries and expenses with such fiscal year limitation. The sums transferred shall be available solely for the process for the review of human drug applications.

(2) Collections and appropriation acts

The fees authorized by this section—

(A) shall be collected in each fiscal year in an amount equal to the amount specified in appropriation Acts, or otherwise made available for obligation, for such fiscal year, and

(B) shall only be collected and available to defray increases in the costs of the resources allocated for the process for the review of human drug applications (including increases in such costs for an additional number of full-time equivalent positions in the Department of Health and Human Services to be engaged in such process) over such costs, excluding costs paid from fees collected under this section, for fiscal year 1997 multiplied by the adjustment factor.

(3) Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated for fees under this section—

(A) $106,800,000 for fiscal year 1998;

(B) $109,200,000 for fiscal year 1999;

(C) $109,200,000 for fiscal year 2000;

(D) $114,000,000 for fiscal year 2001; and

(E) $110,100,000 for fiscal year 2002,

as adjusted to reflect adjustments in the total fee revenues made under this section and changes in the total amounts collected by application, supplement, establishment, and product fees.

(4) Offset

Any amount of fees collected for a fiscal year under this section that exceeds the amount of fees specified in appropriation Acts for such fiscal year shall be credited to the appropriation account of the Food and Drug Administration as provided in paragraph (1), and shall be subtracted from the amount of fees that would otherwise be authorized to be collected under this section pursuant to appropriation Acts for a subsequent fiscal year.

(h) Collection of unpaid fees

In any case where the Secretary does not receive payment of a fee assessed under subsection (a) of this section within 30 days after it is due, such fee shall be treated as a claim of the United States Government subject to subchapter II of chapter 37 of title 31.

(i) Written requests for waivers, reductions, and refunds

To qualify for consideration for a waiver or reduction under subsection (d) of this section, or for a refund of any fee collected in accordance with subsection (a) of this section, a person shall submit to the Secretary a written request for such waiver, reduction, or refund not later than 180 days after such fee is due.

(j) Construction

This section may not be construed to require that the number of full-time equivalent positions in the Department of Health and Human Services, for officers, employers, and advisory committees not engaged in the process of the review of human drug applications, be reduced to offset the number of officers, employees, and advisory committees so engaged.

(June 25, 1938, ch. 675, §736, as added Pub. L. 102–571, title I, §103, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4494; amended Pub. L. 105–115, title I, §103(a)–(g), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2299–2304.)

Amendment of Section

For termination of amendment by section 107 of Pub. L. 105–115, see Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Termination of Section

For termination of section by section 105 of Pub. L. 102–571, see Termination Date note below.

References in Text

Section 357 of this title, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(B), was repealed by Pub. L. 105–115, title I, §125(b)(1), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2325.

The Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(B), is Pub. L. 98–417, Sept. 24, 1984, 98 Stat. 1585. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1984 Amendment note set out under section 301 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1997—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(a)(1), 107, temporarily substituted "Beginning in fiscal year 1998" for "Beginning in fiscal year 1993" in introductory provisions. See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (a)(1)(B). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(a)(2)(A), 107, temporarily amended heading and text of subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

"(i) First payment.—50 percent of the fee required by subparagraph (A) shall be due upon submission of the application or supplement.

"(ii) Final payment.—The remaining 50 percent of the fee required by subparagraph (A) shall be due upon—

"(I) the expiration of 30 days from the date the Secretary sends to the applicant a letter designated by the Secretary as an action letter described in section 379g(6)(B) of this title, or

"(II) the withdrawal of the application or supplement after it is filed unless the Secretary waives the fee or a portion of the fee because no substantial work was performed on such application or supplement after it was filed.

The designation under subclause (I) or the waiver under subclause (II) shall be solely in the discretion of the Secretary and shall not be reviewable." See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (a)(1)(D). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(a)(2)(B), 107, temporarily substituted "refused" for "not accepted" in heading and "75 percent" for "50 percent", "subparagraph (B)" for "subparagraph (B)(i)", and "refused" for "not accepted" in text. See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (a)(1)(E) to (G). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(a)(2)(C), 107, temporarily added subpars. (E) to (G). See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(a)(3), 107, temporarily reenacted heading without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "Each person that—

"(A) owns a prescription drug establishment, at which is manufactured at least 1 prescription drug product which is not the, or not the same as a, product approved under an application filed under section 355(b)(2) or 355(j) of this title, and

"(B) after September 1, 1992, had pending before the Secretary a human drug application or supplement,

shall be subject to the annual fee established in subsection (b) of this section for each such establishment, payable on or before January 31 of each year." See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (a)(3)(A). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(a)(4)(A), 107, temporarily substituted, in cl. (i), "has been submitted for listing" for "is listed" and, in closing provisions, "Such fee shall be payable for the fiscal year in which the product is first submitted for listing under section 360 of this title, or is submitted for relisting under section 360 of this title if the product has been withdrawn from listing and relisted. After such fee is paid for that fiscal year, such fee shall be payable on or before January 31 of each year. Such fee shall be paid only once for each product for a fiscal year in which the fee is payable." for "Such fee shall be payable at the time of the first such listing of such product in each calendar year. Such fee shall be paid only once each year for each listed prescription drug product irrespective of the number of times such product is listed under section 360 of this title." See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(a)(4)(B), 107, temporarily substituted "355(j) of this title, under an abbreviated application filed under section 357 of this title (as in effect on the day before November 21, 1997), or under an abbreviated new drug application pursuant to regulations in effect prior to the implementation of the Drug Price Competition and Patent Term Restoration Act of 1984." for "355(j) of this title.". See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(b), 107, temporarily amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) related to fee amounts, including a schedule of fees in par. (1) and fee exceptions for certain small businesses in par. (2). See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(c)(1), 107, temporarily substituted "Adjustments" for "Increases and adjustments" in heading. See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(c)(2), 107, temporarily substituted "Inflation adjustment" for "Revenue increase" in heading, "The fees and total fee revenues established in subsection (b) of this section shall be adjusted by the Secretary" for "The total fee revenues established by the schedule in subsection (b)(1) of this section shall be increased by the Secretary" in introductory provisions, and "change" for "increase" after "total percentage" in subpars. (A) and (B), and inserted at end "The adjustment made each fiscal year by this subsection will be added on a compounded basis to the sum of all adjustments made each fiscal year after fiscal year 1997 under this subsection." See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(c)(3), 107, temporarily substituted "September 30, 1997, adjust the establishment and product fees described in subsection (b) of this section for the fiscal year in which the adjustment occurs so that the revenues collected from each of the categories of fees described in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (b) of this section shall be set to be equal to the revenues collected from the category of application and supplement fees described in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of this section." for "October 1, 1992, adjust the fees established by the schedule in subsection (b)(1) of this section for the following fiscal year to achieve the total fee revenues, as may be increased under paragraph (1). Such fees shall be adjusted under this paragraph to maintain the proportions established in such schedule." See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(c)(4), 107, temporarily substituted "this subsection" for "paragraph (2)". See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(d), 107, temporarily struck out introductory provisions which read "The Secretary shall grant a waiver from or a reduction of 1 or more fees under subsection (a) of this section where the Secretary finds that—" and closing provisions which read "In making the finding in paragraph (3), the Secretary may use standard costs.", inserted designation, heading, and introductory provisions of par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1) to (4) as subpars. (A) to (D), respectively, of par. (1), and added pars. (1)(E), (2), and (3). See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(e), 107, temporarily substituted "fiscal year 1997" for "fiscal year 1993" and "fiscal year 1997 (excluding the amount of fees appropriated for such fiscal year)" for "fiscal year 1992". See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(f)(1), 107, temporarily inserted at end "Such sums as may be necessary may be transferred from the Food and Drug Administration salaries and expenses appropriation account without fiscal year limitation to such appropriation account for salaries and expenses with such fiscal year limitation. The sums transferred shall be available solely for the process for the review of human drug applications." See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (g)(2)(A). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(f)(2)(A), 107, temporarily substituted "Acts, or otherwise made available for obligation," for "Acts". See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (g)(2)(B). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(f)(2)(B), 107, temporarily substituted "over such costs, excluding costs paid from fees collected under this section, for fiscal year 1997" for "over such costs for fiscal year 1992". See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsec. (g)(3), (4). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(f)(3), 107, temporarily added pars. (3) and (4) and struck out heading and text of former par. (3). Text read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated for fees under this section—

"(A) $36,000,000 for fiscal year 1993,

"(B) $54,000,000 for fiscal year 1994,

"(C) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 1995,

"(D) $78,000,000 for fiscal year 1996, and

"(E) $84,000,000 for fiscal year 1997,

as adjusted to reflect increases in the total fee revenues made under subsection (c)(1) of this section." See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Subsecs. (i), (j). Pub. L. 105–115, §§103(g), 107, temporarily added subsec. (i) and redesignated former subsec. (i) as (j). See Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment note below.

Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–115 effective Oct. 1, 1997, and ceases to be effective Oct. 1, 2002, see sections 106 and 107 of Pub. L. 105–115, set out as notes under section 379g of this title.

Termination Date

Section not in effect after Oct. 1, 1997, see section 105 of Pub. L. 102–571, set out as a note under section 379g of this title.

Special Rule for Waivers and Refunds

Section 103(h) of Pub. L. 105–115 provided that: "Any requests for waivers or refunds for fees assessed under section 736 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (42 U.S.C. 379h) prior to the date of enactment of this Act [Nov. 21, 1997] shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary of Health and Human Services within 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act. Any requests for waivers or refunds pertaining to a fee for a human drug application or supplement accepted for filing prior to October 1, 1997 or to a product or establishment fee required by such Act for a fiscal year prior to fiscal year 1998, shall be evaluated according to the terms of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act of 1992 [see section 101(a) of Pub. L. 102–571, set out as a Short Title of 1992 Amendment note under section 301 of this title] (as in effect on September 30, 1997) and part 2 of subchapter C of chapter VII of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 379g et seq.] (as in effect on September 30, 1997). The term "person" in such Acts shall continue to include an affiliate thereof."

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 356, 379g of this title; title 42 section 282.