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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21

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The information on this page is current as of Dec 22, 2023.

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[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 21, Volume 4]
[CITE: 21CFR201]





TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SUBCHAPTER C - DRUGS: GENERAL
 
PART 201LABELING
 

Subpart D - Exemptions From Adequate Directions for Use

Sec. 201.100 Prescription drugs for human use.

A drug subject to the requirements of section 503(b)(1) of the act shall be exempt from section 502(f)(1) if all the following conditions are met:

(a) The drug is:

(1)(i) In the possession of a person (or his agents or employees) regularly and lawfully engaged in the manufacture, transportation, storage, or wholesale distribution of prescription drugs; or

(ii) In the possession of a retail, hospital, or clinic pharmacy, or a public health agency, regularly and lawfully engaged in dispensing prescription drugs; or

(iii) In the possession of a practitioner licensed by law to administer or prescribe such drugs; and

(2) It is to be dispensed in accordance with section 503(b)

(b) The label of the drug bears:

(1) The statement "Rx only" and

(2) The recommended or usual dosage and

(3) The route of administration, if it is not for oral use; and

(4) The quantity or proportion of each active ingredient, as well as the information required by section 502 (d) and (e); and

(5) If it is for other than oral use, the names of all inactive ingredients, except that:

(i) Flavorings and perfumes may be designated as such without naming their components.

(ii) Color additives may be designated as coloring without naming specific color components unless the naming of such components is required by a color additive regulation prescribed in subchapter A of this chapter.

(iii) Trace amounts of harmless substances added solely for individual product identification need not be named. If it is intended for administration by parenteral injection, the quantity or proportion of all inactive ingredients, except that ingredients added to adjust the pH or to make the drug isotonic may be declared by name and a statement of their effect; and if the vehicle is water for injection it need not be named.

(6) An identifying lot or control number from which it is possible to determine the complete manufacturing history of the package of the drug.

(7) A statement directed to the pharmacist specifying the type of container to be used in dispensing the drug product to maintain its identity, strength, quality, and purity. Where there are standards and test procedures for determining that the container meets the requirements for specified types of containers as defined in an official compendium, such terms may be used. For example, "Dispense in tight, light-resistant container as defined in the National Formulary". Where standards and test procedures for determining the types of containers to be used in dispensing the drug product are not included in an official compendium, the specific container or types of containers known to be adequate to maintain the identity, strength, quality, and purity of the drug products shall be described. For example, "Dispense in containers which (statement of specifications which clearly enable the dispensing pharmacist to select an adequate container)": Provided, however, That in the case of containers too small or otherwise unable to accommodate a label with sufficient space to bear all such information, but which are packaged within an outer container from which they are removed for dispensing or use, the information required by paragraph (b) (2), (3), (5), and (7) of this section may be contained in other labeling on or within the package from which it is to be dispensed; the information referred to in paragraph (b)(1) of this section may be placed on such outer container only; and the information required by paragraph (b)(6) of this section may be on the crimp of the dispensing tube. The information required by this paragraph (b)(7) is not required for prescription drug products packaged in unit-dose, unit-of-use, on other packaging format in which the manufacturer's original package is designed and intended to be dispensed to patients without repackaging.

(c)(1) Labeling on or within the package from which the drug is to be dispensed bears adequate information for its use, including indications, effects, dosages, routes, methods, and frequency and duration of administration, and any relevant hazards, contraindications, side effects, and precautions under which practitioners licensed by law to administer the drug can use the drug safely and for the purposes for which it is intended, including all purposes for which it is advertised or represented; and

(2) If the article is subject to section 505 of the act, the labeling bearing such information is the labeling authorized by the approved new drug application or required as a condition for the certification or the exemption from certification requirements applicable to preparations of insulin or antibiotic drugs.

(d) Any labeling, as defined in section 201(m) of the act, whether or not it is on or within a package from which the drug is to be dispensed, distributed by or on behalf of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor of the drug, that furnishes or purports to furnish information for use or which prescribes, recommends, or suggests a dosage for the use of the drug (other than dose information required by paragraph (b)(2) of this section and § 201.105(b)(2) contains:

(1) Adequate information for such use, including indications, effects, dosages, routes, methods, and frequency and duration of administration and any relevant warnings, hazards, contraindications, side effects, and precautions, under which practitioners licensed by law to administer the drug can use the drug safely and for the purposes for which it is intended, including all conditions for which it is advertised or represented; and if the article is subject to section 505 of the act, the parts of the labeling providing such information are the same in language and emphasis as labeling approved or permitted, under the provisions of section 505, and any other parts of the labeling are consistent with and not contrary to such approved or permitted labeling; and

(2) The same information concerning the ingredients of the drug as appears on the label and labeling on or within the package from which the drug is to be dispensed.

(3) The information required, and in the format specified, by §§ 201.56, 201.57, and 201.80.

(e) All labeling described in paragraph (d) of this section bears conspicuously the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor, as required for the label of the drug under § 201.1.

(f) Reminder labeling which calls attention to the name of the drug product but does not include indications or dosage recommendations for use of the drug product is exempted from the provisions of paragraph (d) of this section. This reminder labeling shall contain only the proprietary name of the drug product, if any; the established name of the drug product, if any; the established name of each active ingredient in the drug product; and, optionally, information relating to quantitative ingredient statements, dosage form, quantity of package contents, price, the name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor or other written, printed, or graphic matter containing no representation or suggestion relating to the drug product. If the Commissioner finds that there is evidence of significant incidence of fatalities or serious injury associated with the use of a particular prescription drug, he may withdraw this exemption by so notifying the manufacturer, packer, or distributor of the drug by letter. Reminder labeling, other than price lists and catalogs solely intended to convey price information including, but not limited to, those subject to the requirements of § 200.200 of this chapter, is not permitted for a prescription drug product whose labeling contains a boxed warning relating to a serious hazard associated with the use of the drug product. Reminder labeling which is intended to provide consumers with information concerning the price charged for a prescription for a particular drug product shall meet all of the conditions contained in § 200.200 of this chapter. Reminder labeling, other than that subject to the requirements of § 200.200 of this chapter, is not permitted for a drug for which an announcement has been published pursuant to a review of the labeling claims for the drug by the National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council (NAS/NRC), Drug Efficacy Study Group, and for which no claim has been evaluated as higher than "possibly effective." If the Commissioner finds the circumstances are such that reminder labeling may be misleading to prescribers of drugs subject to NAS/NRC evaluation, such reminder labeling will not be allowed and the manufacturer, packer, or distributor will be notified either in the publication of the conclusions on the effectiveness of the drug or by letter.

[40 FR 13998, Mar. 27, 1975, as amended at 40 FR 58799, Dec. 18, 1975; 42 FR 15674, Mar. 22, 1977; 43 FR 37989, Aug. 25, 1978; 44 FR 20659, Apr. 6, 1979; 44 FR 37467, June 26, 1979; 45 FR 25777, Apr. 15, 1980; 63 FR 26698, May 13, 1998; 64 FR 400, Jan. 5, 1999; 67 FR 4906, Feb. 1, 2002; 71 FR 3996, Jan. 24, 2006]

Sec. 201.105 Veterinary drugs.

A drug subject to the requirements of section 503(f)(1) of the act shall be exempt from section 502(f)(1) of the act if all the following conditions are met:

(a) The drug is:

(1)(i) In the possession of a person (or his agents or employees) regularly and lawfully engaged in the manufacture, transportation, storage, or wholesale distribution of drugs that are to be used only by or on the prescription or other order of a licensed veterinarian; or

(ii) In the possession of a retail, hospital, or clinic pharmacy, or other person authorized under State law to dispense veterinary prescription drugs, who is regularly and lawfully engaged in dispensing drugs that are to be used only by or on the prescription or other order of a licensed veterinarian; or

(iii) In the possession of a licensed veterinarian for use in the course of his professional practice; and

(2) To be dispensed in accordance with section 503(f) of the act.

(b) The label of the drug bears:

(1) The statement "Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian"; and

(2) The recommended or usual dosage; and

(3) The route of administration, if it is not for oral use; and

(4) The quantity or proportion of each active ingredient as well as the information required by section 502(e) of the act; and

(5) If it is for other than oral use, the names of all inactive ingredients, except that:

(i) Flavorings and perfumes may be designated as such without naming their components.

(ii) Color additives may be designated as coloring without naming specific color components unless the naming of such components is required by a color additive regulation prescribed in subchapter A of this chapter.

(iii) Trace amounts of harmless substances added solely for individual product identification need not be named.

If it is intended for administration by parenteral injection, the quantity or proportion of all inactive ingredients, except that ingredients added to adjust the pH or to make the drug isotonic may be declared by name and a statement of their effect; and if the vehicle is water for injection, it need not be named.

(6) An identifying lot or control number from which it is possible to determine the complete manufacturing history of the package of the drug;

Provided, however, That in the case of containers too small or otherwise unable to accommodate a label with sufficient space to bear all such information, but which are packaged within an outer container from which they are removed for dispensing or use, the information required by paragraphs (b) (2), (3), and (5) of this section may be contained in other labeling on or within the package from which it is to be so dispensed, and the information referred to in paragraph (b)(1) of this section may be placed on such outer container only, and the information required by paragraph (b)(6) of this section may be on the crimp of the dispensing tube.

(c)(1) Labeling on or within the package from which the drug is to be dispensed bears adequate information for its use, including indications, effects, dosages, routes, methods, and frequency and duration of administration, and any relevant hazards, contraindications, side effects, and precautions under which veterinarians licensed by law to administer the drug can use the drug safely and for the purposes for which it is intended, including all purposes for which it is advertised or represented; and

(2) If the article is subject to section 512 or 572 of the act, the labeling bearing such information is the labeling authorized by the approved new animal drug application or contained in the index listing: Provided, however , That the information required by paragraph (c)(1) of this section may be omitted from the dispensing package if, but only if, the article is a drug for which directions, hazards, warnings, and use information are commonly known to veterinarians licensed by law to administer the drug. Upon written request, stating reasonable grounds therefore, the Commissioner will offer an opinion on a proposal to omit such information from the dispensing package under this proviso.

(d) Any labeling, as defined in section 201(m) of the act, whether or not it is on or within a package from which the drug is to be dispensed, distributed by or on behalf of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor of the drug, that furnishes or purports to furnish information for use or which prescribes, recommends, or suggests a dosage for the use of the drug (other than dose information required by paragraph (b)(2) of this section and § 201.100(b)(2)) contains:

(1) Adequate information for such use, including indications, effects, dosages, routes, methods, and frequency and duration of administration, and any relevant warnings, hazards, contraindications, side effects, and precautions, and including information relevant to compliance with the new animal drug provisions of the act, under which veterinarians licensed by law to administer the drug can use the drug safely and for the purposes for which it is intended, including all conditions for which it is advertised or represented; and if the article is subject to section 512 or 572 of the act, the parts of the labeling providing such information are the same in language and emphasis as labeling approved, permitted, or indexed under the provisions of section 512 or 572, and any other parts of the labeling are consistent with and not contrary to such approved, permitted, or indexed labeling; and

(2) The same information concerning the ingredients of the drug as appears on the label and labeling on or within the package from which the drug is to be dispensed;

Provided, however, That the information required by paragraphs (d) (1) and (2) of this section is not required on the so-called reminder-piece labeling which calls attention to the name of the drug but does not include indications or dosage recommendations for use of the drug.

(e) All labeling, except labels and cartons, bearing information for use of the drug also bears the date of the issuance or the date of the latest revision of such labeling.

(f) A prescription drug intended for both human and veterinary use shall comply with paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section and § 201.100.

[40 FR 13998, Mar. 27, 1975, as amended at 42 FR 15674, Mar. 22, 1977; 57 FR 54300, Nov. 18, 1992; 72 FR 69119, Dec. 6, 2007]

Sec. 201.115 New drugs or new animal drugs.

A new drug shall be exempt from section 502(f)(1) of the act:

(a) To the extent to which such exemption is claimed in an approved application with respect to such drug under section 505 or 512 of the act or an index listing with respect to such drug under section 572 of the act; or

(b) If no application under section 505 or 512 of the act is approved and no request for addition to the index is granted under section 572 with respect to such drug but it complies with section 505(i), 512(j), or 572(g) of the act and regulations thereunder.

No exemption shall apply to any other drug which would be a new drug if its labeling bore representations for its intended uses.

[40 FR 13998, Mar. 27, 1975, as amended at 72 FR 69119, Dec. 6, 2007]

Sec. 201.116 Drugs having commonly known directions.

A drug shall be exempt from section 502(f)(1) of the act insofar as adequate directions for common uses thereof are known to the ordinary individual.

[41 FR 6910, Feb. 13, 1976]

Sec. 201.117 Inactive ingredients.

A harmless drug that is ordinarily used as an inactive ingredient, such as a coloring, emulsifier, excipient, flavoring, lubricant, preservative, or solvent, in the preparation of other drugs shall be exempt from section 502(f)(1) of the act. This exemption shall not apply to any substance intended for a use which results in the preparation of a new drug, unless an approved new-drug application provides for such use.

Sec. 201.119 In vitro diagnostic products.

(a) "In vitro diagnostic products" are those reagents, instruments and systems intended for use in the diagnosis of disease or in the determination of the state of health in order to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease or its sequelae. Such products are intended for use in the collection, preparation and examination of specimens taken from the human body. These products are drugs or devices as defined in section 201(g) and 201(h), respectively, of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) or are a combination of drugs and devices, and may also be a biological product subject to section 351 of the Public Health Service Act.

(b) A product intended for use in the diagnosis of disease and which is an in vitro diagnostic product as defined in paragraph (a) of this section shall be deemed to be in compliance with the requirements of this section and section 502(f)(1) of the act if it meets the requirements of § 809.10 of this chapter.

[41 FR 6910, Feb. 13, 1976]

Sec. 201.120 Prescription chemicals and other prescription components.

A drug prepared, packaged, and primarily sold as a prescription chemical or other component for use by registered pharmacists in compounding prescriptions or for dispensing in dosage unit form upon prescriptions shall be exempt from section 502(f)(1) of the act if all the following conditions are met:

(a) The drug is an official liquid acid or official liquid alkali, or is not a liquid solution, emulsion, suspension, tablet, capsule, or other dosage unit form; and

(b) The label of the drug bears:

(1) The statement "For prescription compounding"; and

(2) If in substantially all dosage forms in which it may be dispensed it is subject to section 503(b)(1) of the act, the statement "Rx only"; or

(3) If it is not subject to section 503(b)(1) of the act and is by custom among retail pharmacists sold in or from the interstate package for use by consumers, "adequate directions for use" in the conditions for which it is so sold.

Provided, however, That the information referred to in paragraph (b)(3) of this section may be contained in the labeling on or within the package from which it is to be dispensed.

(c) This exemption shall not apply to any substance intended for use in compounding which results in a new drug, unless an approved new-drug application covers such use of the drug in compounding prescriptions.

[40 FR 13998, Mar. 27, 1975, as amended at 67 FR 4906, Feb. 1, 2002]

Sec. 201.122 Drugs for processing, repacking, or manufacturing.

A drug in a bulk package, except tablets, capsules, or other dosage unit forms, intended for processing, repacking, or use in the manufacture of another drug shall be exempt from section 502(f)(1) of the act if its label bears the statement "Caution: For manufacturing, processing, or repacking"; and if in substantially all dosage forms in which it may be dispensed it is subject to section 503(b)(1) of the act, the statement "Rx only", or if in substantially all dosage forms in which it may be dispensed it is subject to section 503(f)(1) of the act, the statement "Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian". This exemption and the exemption under § 201.120 may be claimed for the same article. However, the exemption shall not apply to a substance intended for a use in manufacture, processing, or repacking which causes the finished article to be a new drug or new animal drug, unless:

(a) An approved new drug application or new animal drug application or a new animal drug index listing covers the production and delivery of the drug substance to the application or index listing holder by persons named in the application or in the request for determination of eligibility for indexing, and, for a new drug substance, the export of it by such persons under § 314.410 of this chapter; or

(b) If no application is approved with respect to such new drug or new animal drug, and it is not listed in the index, the label statement "Caution: For manufacturing, processing, or repacking" is immediately supplemented by the words "in the preparation of a new drug or new animal drug limited by Federal law to investigational use", and the delivery is made for use only in the manufacture of such new drug or new animal drug limited to investigational use as provided in part 312 or § 511.1 or § 516.125 of this chapter; or

(c) A new drug application or new animal drug application or a request for addition to the index covering the use of the drug substance in the production and marketing of a finished drug product has been submitted but not yet approved, disapproved, granted, or denied, the bulk drug is not exported, and the finished drug product is not further distributed after it is manufactured until after the new drug application or new animal drug application is approved or the request for addition to the index is granted.

[41 FR 6911, Feb. 13, 1976, as amended at 41 FR 15844, Apr. 15, 1976; 50 FR 7492, Feb. 22, 1985; 55 FR 11576, Mar. 29, 1990; 57 FR 54301, Nov. 18, 1992; 67 FR 4906, Feb. 1, 2002; 72 FR 69119, Dec. 6, 2007]

Sec. 201.125 Drugs for use in teaching, law enforcement, research, and analysis.

A drug subject to § 201.100 or § 201.105, shall be exempt from section 502(f)(1) of the act if shipped or sold to, or in the possession of, persons regularly and lawfully engaged in instruction in pharmacy, chemistry, or medicine not involving clinical use, or engaged in law enforcement, or in research not involving clinical use, or in chemical analysis, or physical testing, and is to be used only for such instruction, law enforcement, research, analysis, or testing.

[41 FR 6911, Feb. 13, 1976]

Sec. 201.127 Drugs; expiration of exemptions.

(a) If a shipment or delivery, or any part thereof, of a drug which is exempt under the regulations in this section is made to a person in whose possession the article is not exempt, or is made for any purpose other than those specified, such exemption shall expire, with respect to such shipment or delivery or part thereof, at the beginning of that shipment or delivery. The causing of an exemption to expire shall be considered an act which results in such drug being misbranded unless it is disposed of under circumstances in which it ceases to be a drug or device.

(b) The exemptions conferred by §§ 201.117, 201.119, 201.120, 201.122, and 201.125 shall continue until the drugs are used for the purposes for which they are exempted, or until they are relabeled to comply with section 502(f)(1) of the act. If, however, the drug is converted, compounded, or manufactured into a dosage form limited to prescription dispensing, no exemption shall thereafter apply to the article unless the dosage form is labeled as required by section 503(b) and §§ 201.100 or 201.105.

[41 FR 6911, Feb. 13, 1976]

Sec. 201.128 Meaning of "intended uses".

The words intended uses or words of similar import in §§ 201.5, 201.115, 201.117, 201.119, 201.120, 201.122, and 1100.5 of this chapter refer to the objective intent of the persons legally responsible for the labeling of an article (or their representatives). The intent may be shown by such persons' expressions, the design or composition of the article, or by the circumstances surrounding the distribution of the article. This objective intent may, for example, be shown by labeling claims, advertising matter, or oral or written statements by such persons or their representatives. Objective intent may be shown, for example, by circumstances in which the article is, with the knowledge of such persons or their representatives, offered or used for a purpose for which it is neither labeled nor advertised; provided, however, that a firm would not be regarded as intending an unapproved new use for an approved drug based solely on that firm's knowledge that such drug was being prescribed or used by health care providers for such use. The intended uses of an article may change after it has been introduced into interstate commerce by its manufacturer. If, for example, a packer, distributor, or seller intends an article for different uses than those intended by the person from whom he or she received the article, such packer, distributor, or seller is required to supply adequate labeling in accordance with the new intended uses.

[86 FR 41401, Aug. 2, 2021]

Sec. 201.129 Drugs; exemption for radioactive drugs for research use.

A radioactive drug intended for administration to human research subjects during the course of a research project intended to obtain basic research information regarding metabolism (including kinetics, distribution, and localization) of a radioactively labeled drug or regarding human physiology, pathophysiology, or biochemistry (but not intended for immediate therapeutic, diagnostic, or similar purposes), under the conditions set forth in § 361.1 of this chapter, shall be exempt from section 502(f)(1) of the act if the packaging, label, and labeling are in compliance with § 361.1(f) of this chapter.

[41 FR 6911, Feb. 13, 1976]

Authority: 21 U.S.C. 321, 331, 343, 351, 352, 353, 355, 358, 360, 360b, 360ccc, 360ccc-1, 360ee, 360gg-360ss, 371, 374, 379e; 42 U.S.C. 216, 241, 262, 264.
Source: 40 FR 13998, Mar. 27, 1975, unless otherwise noted.

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