This part implements section 522 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) by providing procedures and requirements for postmarket surveillance of class II and class III devices that meet any of the following criteria:

(a) Failure of the device would be reasonably likely to have serious adverse health consequences;

(b) The device is intended to be implanted in the human body for more than 1 year; or

(c) The device is intended to be used outside a user facility to support or sustain life. If you fail to comply with requirements that we order under section 522 of the act and this part, your device is considered misbranded under section 502(t)(3) of the act and you are in violation of section 301(q)(1)(C) of the act.

The purpose of this part is to implement our postmarket surveillance authority to maximize the likelihood that postmarket surveillance plans will result in the collection of useful data. These data can reveal unforeseen adverse events, the actual rate of anticipated adverse events, or other information necessary to protect the public health.

Some of the terms we use in this part are specific to postmarket surveillance and reflect the language used in the statute (law). Other terms are more general and reflect our interpretation of the law. This section of the part defines the following terms:

(a) Act means the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. 301 et seq., as amended.

(b) Designated person means the individual who conducts or supervises the conduct of your postmarket surveillance. If your postmarket surveillance plan includes a team of investigators, as defined below, the designated person is the responsible leader of that team.

(c) Device failure means a device does not perform or function as intended, and includes any deviation from the device's performance specifications or intended use.

(d) General plan guidance means agency guidance that provides information about the requirement to conduct postmarket surveillance, the submission of a plan to us for approval, the content of the submission, and the conduct and reporting requirements of the surveillance.

(e) Human cell, tissue, or cellular or tissue-based product (HCT/P) regulated as a device means an HCT/P as defined in § 1271.3(d) of this chapter that does not meet the criteria in § 1271.10(a) and that is also regulated as a device.

(f) Investigator means an individual who collects data or information in support of a postmarket surveillance plan.

(g) Life-supporting or life-sustaining device used outside a device user facility means that a device is essential to, or yields information essential to, the restoration or continuation of a bodily function important to the continuation of human life and is used outside a hospital, nursing home, ambulatory surgical facility, or diagnostic or outpatient treatment facility. A physician's office is not a device user facility.

(h) Manufacturer means any person, including any importer, repacker, and/or relabeler, who manufactures, prepares, propagates, compounds, assembles, processes a device, or engages in any of the activities described in § 807.3(d) of this chapter.

(i) Postmarket surveillance means the active, systematic, scientifically valid collection, analysis, and interpretation of data or other information about a marketed device.

(j) Prospective surveillance means that the subjects are identified at the beginning of the surveillance and data or other information will be collected from that time forward (as opposed to retrospective surveillance).

(k) Serious adverse health consequences means any significant adverse experience related to a device, including device-related events that are life-threatening or that involve permanent or long-term injuries or illnesses.

(l) Specific guidance means guidance that provides information regarding postmarket surveillance for specific types or categories of devices or specific postmarket surveillance issues. This type of guidance may be used to supplement general guidance and may address such topics as the type of surveillance approach that is appropriate for the device and the postmarket surveillance question, sample size, or specific reporting requirements.

(m) Surveillance question means the issue or issues to be addressed by the postmarket surveillance.

(n) Unforeseen adverse event means any serious adverse health consequence that either is not addressed in the labeling of the device or occurs at a rate higher than anticipated.

(o) Unique device identifier (UDI) means an identifier that adequately identifies a device through its distribution and use by meeting the requirements of § 830.20 of this chapter. A UDI is composed of:

(1) A device identifier - a mandatory, fixed portion of a UDI that identifies the specific version or model of a device and the labeler of that device; and

(2) A production identifier - a conditional, variable portion of a UDI that identifies one or more of the following when included on the label of the device:

(i) The lot or batch within which a device was manufactured;

(ii) The serial number of a specific device;

(iii) The expiration date of a specific device;

(iv) The date a specific device was manufactured.

(v) For an HCT/P regulated as a device, the distinct identification code required by § 1271.290(c) of this chapter.

If we have ordered you to conduct postmarket surveillance of a medical device under section 522 of the act, this part applies to you. We have the authority to order postmarket surveillance of any class II or class III medical device, including a device reviewed under the licensing provisions of section 351 of the Public Health Service Act, that meets any of the following criteria:

(a) Failure of the device would be reasonably likely to have serious adverse health consequences;

(b) The device is intended to be implanted in the human body for more than 1 year; or

(c) The device is intended to be used to support or sustain life and to be used outside a user facility.

We will send you a letter (the postmarket surveillance order) notifying you of the requirement to conduct postmarket surveillance. Before we send the order, or as part of the order, we may require that you submit information about your device that will allow us better to define the scope of a surveillance order. We will specify the device(s) subject to the surveillance order and the reason that we are requiring postmarket surveillance of the device under section 522 of the act. We will also provide you with any general or specific guidance that is available to help you develop your plan for conducting postmarket surveillance.

We will notify you as soon as we have determined that postmarket surveillance of your device is necessary, based on the identification of a surveillance question. This may occur during the review of a marketing application for your device, as your device goes to market, or after your device has been marketed for a period of time.

(a) If you do not agree with our decision to order postmarket surveillance for a particular device, you may request review of our decision by:

(1) Requesting a meeting with the Director, Office of Surveillance and Biometrics, who generally issues the order for postmarket surveillance;

(2) Seeking internal review of the order under § 10.75 of this chapter;

(3) Requesting an informal hearing under part 16 of this chapter; or

(4) Requesting review by the Medical Devices Dispute Resolution Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee.

(b) You may obtain guidance documents that discuss these mechanisms from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health's (CDRH's) Web site (http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/OfficeofMedicalProductsandTobacco/CDRH/CDRHOmbudsman/default.htm.).

You must submit your plan to conduct postmarket surveillance within 30 days of the date you receive the postmarket surveillance order. For devices regulated by the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, send three copies of your submission to the Food and Drug Administration, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Document Control Center, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 71, Rm. G112, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. For devices regulated by the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, send three copies of your submission to the Central Document Room, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 5901-B, Ammendale Rd., Beltsville, MD 20705-1266. For devices regulated by the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, send three copies of your submission to the Document Mail Center, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 66, rm. G609, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. When we receive your original submission, we will send you an acknowledgment letter identifying the unique document number assigned to your submission. You must use this number in any correspondence related to this submission.

Your submission must include the following:

(a) Organizational/administrative information:

(1) Your name and address;

(2) Generic and trade names of your device;

(3) Name and address of the contact person for the submission;

(4) Premarket application/submission number and device identifiers for your device;

(5) Table of contents identifying the page numbers for each section of the submission;

(6) Description of the device (this may be incorporated by reference to the appropriate premarket application/submission);

(7) Product codes and a list of all relevant model numbers; and

(8) Indications for use and claims for the device;

(b) Postmarket surveillance plan;

(c) Designated person information;

(1) Name, address, and telephone number; and

(2) Experience and qualifications.

Your surveillance plan must include a discussion of:

(a) The plan objective(s) addressing the surveillance question(s) identified in our order;

(b) The subject of the study, e.g., patients, the device, animals;

(c) The variables and endpoints that will be used to answer the surveillance question, e.g., clinical parameters or outcomes;

(d) The surveillance approach or methodology to be used;

(e) Sample size and units of observation;

(f) The investigator agreement, if applicable;

(g) Sources of data, e.g., hospital records;

(h) The data collection plan and forms;

(i) The consent document, if applicable;

(j) Institutional Review Board information, if applicable;

(k) The patient followup plan, if applicable;

(l) The procedures for monitoring conduct and progress of the surveillance;

(m) An estimate of the duration of surveillance;

(n) All data analyses and statistical tests planned;

(o) The content and timing of reports.

You must design your surveillance to address the postmarket surveillance question identified in the order you received. You should consider what, if any, patient protection measures should be incorporated into your plan. You should also consider the function, operating characteristics, and intended use of your device when designing a surveillance approach.

Guidance documents that discuss our current thinking on preparing a postmarket surveillance submission and designing a postmarket surveillance plan are available on the Center for Devices and Radiological Health's Web site and from the Food and Drug Administration, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Office of Surveillance and Biometrics, 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 66, rm. 3219, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002. Guidance documents represent our current interpretation of, or policy on, a regulatory issue. They do not establish legally enforceable rights or responsibilities and do not legally bind you or FDA. You may choose to use an approach other than the one set forth in a guidance document, as long as your alternative approach complies with the relevant statutes (laws) and regulations. If you wish, we will meet with you to discuss whether an alternative approach you are considering will satisfy the requirements of the act and regulations.

Yes, you may reference information that you have submitted in premarket submissions as well as other postmarket surveillance submissions. You must specify the information to be incorporated and the document number and pages where the information is located.

The length of postmarket surveillance will depend on the postmarket surveillance question identified in our order. We may order prospective surveillance for a period up to 36 months; longer periods require your agreement. If we believe that a prospective period of greater than 36 months is necessary to address the surveillance question, and you do not agree, we will use the Medical Devices Dispute Resolution Panel to resolve the matter. You may obtain guidance regarding dispute resolution procedures from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health's (CDRH') Web site (http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/OfficeofMedicalProductsandTobacco/CDRH/CDRHOmbudsman/default.htm.). The 36-month period refers to the surveillance period, not the length of time from the issuance of the order.

First, we will determine that the submission is administratively complete. Then, in accordance with the law, we must determine whether the designated person has appropriate qualifications and experience to conduct the surveillance and whether the surveillance plan will result in the collection of useful data that will answer the surveillance question.

We will review your submission within 60 days of receipt.

We will send you a letter notifying you of our decision and identifying any action you must take.

The failure to have an approved postmarket surveillance plan or failure to conduct postmarket surveillance in accordance with the approved plan constitutes failure to comply with section 522 of the act. Your failure would be a prohibited act under section 301(q)(1)(C) of the act, and your device would be misbranded under section 502(t)(3) of the act. We have the authority to initiate actions against products that are adulterated or misbranded, and against persons who commit prohibited acts. Adulterated or misbranded devices can be seized. Persons who commit prohibited acts can be enjoined from committing such acts, required to pay civil money penalties, or prosecuted.

You must receive our approval in writing before making changes in your plan that will affect the nature or validity of the data collected in accordance with the plan. To obtain our approval, you must submit three copies of the request to make the proposed change and revised postmarket surveillance plan to the applicable address listed in § 822.8. You may reference information already submitted in accordance with § 822.14. In your cover letter, you must identify your submission as a supplement and cite the unique document number that we assigned in our acknowledgment letter for your original submission, specifically identify the changes to the plan, and identify the reasons and justification for making the changes. You must report changes in your plan that will not affect the nature or validity of the data collected in accordance with the plan in the next interim report required by your approval order.

(a) If you disagree with us about the content of your plan or if we disapprove your plan, or if you believe there is a less burdensome approach that will answer the surveillance question, you may request review of our decision by:

(1) Requesting a meeting with the Director, Office of Surveillance and Biometrics, Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), who generally issues the order for postmarket surveillance;

(2) Seeking internal review of the order under § 10.75 of this chapter;

(3) Requesting an informal hearing under part 16 of this chapter; or

(4) Requesting review by the Medical Devices Dispute Resolution Panel of the Medical Devices Advisory Committee.

(b) You may obtain guidance documents that discuss these mechanisms from the Center for Devices and Radiological Health's (CDRH's) Web site.

We consider the content of your submission confidential until we have approved your postmarket surveillance plan. After we have approved your plan, the contents of the original submission and any amendments, supplements, or reports may be disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information Act. We will continue to protect trade secret and confidential commercial information after your plan is approved. We will not disclose information identifying individual patients. You may wish to indicate in your submission which information you consider trade secret or confidential commercial.

You must submit your plan to conduct postmarket surveillance to us within 30 days from receipt of the order (letter) notifying you that you are required to conduct postmarket surveillance of a device.

After we have approved your plan, you must conduct the postmarket surveillance of your device in accordance with your approved plan. This means that you must ensure that:

(a) Postmarket surveillance is initiated in a timely manner;

(b) The surveillance is conducted with due diligence;

(c) The data identified in the plan is collected;

(d) Any reports required as part of your approved plan are submitted to us in a timely manner; and

(e) Any information that we request prior to your submission of a report or in response to our review of a report is provided in a timely manner.

You must notify us within 30 days of any change in ownership of your company. Your notification should identify any changes to the name or address of the company, the contact person, or the designated person (as defined in § 822.3(b)). Your obligation to conduct postmarket surveillance will generally transfer to the new owner, unless you and the new owner have both agreed that you will continue to conduct the surveillance. If you will continue to conduct the postmarket surveillance, you still must notify us of the change in ownership.

You must notify us within 30 days of the date of your decision to close your business. You should provide the expected date of closure and discuss your plans to complete or terminate postmarket surveillance of your device. You must also identify who will retain the records related to the surveillance (described in subpart G of this part) and where the records will be kept.

You must continue to conduct postmarket surveillance in accordance with your approved plan even if you no longer market the device. You may request that we allow you to terminate postmarket surveillance or modify your postmarket surveillance because you no longer market the device. We will make these decisions on a case-by-case basis, and you must continue to conduct the postmarket surveillance unless we notify you that you may stop your surveillance study.

You may request that we waive any specific requirement of this part. You may submit your request, with supporting documentation, separately or as a part of your postmarket surveillance submission to the address in § 822.8.

You may request exemption from the requirement to conduct postmarket surveillance for your device or any specific model of that device at any time. You must comply with the requirements of this part unless and until we grant an exemption for your device. Your request for exemption must explain why you believe we should exempt the device or model from postmarket surveillance. You should demonstrate why the surveillance question does not apply to your device or does not need to be answered for the device for which you are requesting exemption. Alternatively, you may provide information that answers the surveillance question for your device, with supporting documentation, to the address in § 822.8.

You must keep copies of:

(a) All correspondence with your investigators or FDA, including required reports;

(b) Signed agreements from each of your investigators, if your surveillance plan uses investigators, stating the commitment to conduct the surveillance in accordance with the approved plan, any applicable FDA regulations, and any conditions of approval for your plan, such as reporting requirements;

(c) Your approved postmarket surveillance plan, with documentation of the date and reason for any deviation from the plan;

(d) All data collected and analyses conducted in support of your postmarket surveillance plan; and

(e) Any other records that we require to be maintained by regulation or by order, such as copies of signed consent documents, evidence of Institutional Review Board review and approval, etc.

Your investigator must keep copies of:

(a) All correspondence between investigators, FDA, the manufacturer, and the designated person, including required reports.

(b) The approved postmarket surveillance plan, with documentation of the date and reason for any deviation from the plan.

(c) All data collected and analyses conducted at that site for postmarket surveillance.

(d) Any other records that we require to be maintained by regulation or by order.

You, the designated person, and your investigators must keep all records for a period of 2 years after we have accepted your final report, unless we specify otherwise.

If the sponsor of the plan or an investigator in the plan changes, you must ensure that all records related to the postmarket surveillance have been transferred to the new sponsor or investigator and notify us within 10 working days of the effective date of the change. You must provide the name, address, and telephone number of the new sponsor or investigator, certify that all records have been transferred, and provide the date of transfer.

We can review your postmarket surveillance programs during regularly scheduled inspections, inspections initiated to investigate recalls or other similar actions, and inspections initiated specifically to review your postmarket surveillance plan. We may also inspect any other person or site involved in your postmarket surveillance, such as investigators or contractors. Any person authorized to grant access to a facility must permit authorized FDA employees to enter and inspect any facility where the device is held or where records regarding postmarket surveillance are held.

We may, at a reasonable time and in a reasonable manner, inspect and copy any records pertaining to the conduct of postmarket surveillance that are required to be kept by this regulation. You must be able to produce records and information required by this regulation that are in the possession of others under contract with you to conduct the postmarket surveillance. Those who have signed agreements or are under contract with you must also produce the records and information upon our request. This information must be produced within 72 hours of the initiation of the inspection. We generally will redact information pertaining to individual subjects prior to copying those records, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

We can inspect and copy records identifying subjects under the same circumstances that we can inspect any records relating to postmarket surveillance. We are likely to be interested in such records if we have reason to believe that required reports have not been submitted, or are incomplete, inaccurate, false, or misleading.

You must submit interim and final reports as specified in your approved postmarket surveillance plan. In addition, we may ask you to submit additional information when we believe that the information is necessary for the protection of the public health and implementation of the act. We will also state the reason or purpose for the request and how we will use the information.