UNITED STATES FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION
Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) for Non-Clinical Laboratory Studies
OMB Control No. 0910-0119 - Extension
SUPPORTING STATEMENT – Part A: Justification
Circumstances Making the Collection of Information Necessary
This information collection helps to support implementation of sections 409, 505, 512, and 515 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 348, 355, 360(b), 360(e)) and related statutes. Regulations found in 21 CFR part 58, “Good Laboratory Practice for Nonclinical Laboratory Studies” (GLP), set forth good laboratory practice requirements for conducting nonclinical laboratory studies that support or are intended to support applications for research or marketing permits for food additives, human drugs and biological products, animal drugs, medical devices, and specified products regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The applications must include, among other important items, full reports of all studies conducted to demonstrate product safety in man and/or other animals, as well as to ensure adequate quality control for these studies. The regulations specify minimum standards for the proper conduct of safety testing and contain sections on facilities, personnel, equipment, standard operating procedures (SOPs), test and control articles, quality assurance, protocol and conduct of a safety study, records and reports, and laboratory disqualification.
Part 58 regulations also require that testing facilities engaged in conducting toxicological studies retain, and make available to regulatory officials, records regarding compliance with GLP regulations. Records are maintained on file at each testing facility and examined there periodically by FDA inspectors. The GLP regulations require that, for each nonclinical laboratory study, a final report be prepared that documents the results of quality assurance unit inspections, test and control article characterization, testing of mixtures of test and control articles with carriers, and an overall interpretation of nonclinical laboratory studies. The GLP regulations also require written records pertaining to: (1) personnel job descriptions and summaries of training and experience; (2) master schedules, protocols and amendments thereto, inspection reports, and SOPs; (3) equipment inspection, maintenance, calibration, and testing records; (4) documentation of feed and water analyses, and animal treatments; (5) test article accountability records; and (6) study documentation and raw data.
We therefore request extension of OMB approval for the information collection provisions in 21 CFR part 58 of agency regulations.
Purpose and Use of the Information Collection
We use the information to ensure that nonclinical laboratory studies conform to specific quality and integrity standards as established by agency regulations. Respondents to the collection of information are sponsors of nonclinical laboratory studies that support or are intended to support applications for research or marketing permits for products regulated by FDA.
Use of Improved Information Technology and Burden Reduction
The regulations do not specifically prescribe the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological techniques or other forms of information technology as necessary for use by firms, however we anticipate this is usual and customary business practice as submissions to FDA are required electronically unless a waiver to the requirement is granted. We estimate ninety-five percent (95%) of respondents utilize electronic means to satisfy the required recordkeeping.
Efforts to Identify Duplication and Use of Similar Information
We are unaware of duplicative information collection.
Impact on Small Businesses or Other Small Entities
The information collection poses no undue burden on small entities.
Consequences of Collecting the Information Less Frequently
The information collection schedule is consistent with statutory and regulatory requirements and includes reporting only on an occasional basis. We believe this imposes minimal burden on respondents while at the same time preserves data quality of information maintained in accordance with the applicable public health regulatory requirements.
Special Circumstances Relating to the Guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.5
Upon review of 5 CFR §1320.5, we note a 5-year retention of records applicable to toxicology studies. This extended retention period is necessary because testing can cover this same 5-year period and entail a process spanning that period. These records must be available to FDA inspectors so they can be examined during on-site visits to verify the quality and integrity of the data throughout the entire course of study.
Comments in Response to the Federal Register Notice and Efforts to Consult Outside the Agency
FDA published a 60-day notice for public comment in the Federal Register of August 8, 2023 (88 FR 53492), we published a 60-day notice soliciting comment on the proposed collection of information. One comment was received underscoring the critical nature of language translations in information exchange between international communities, but did not suggest any modifications to our burden estimates.
Explanation of Any Payment or Gift to Respondents
There are no incentives, payments or gifts associated with this information collection.
Assurance of Confidentiality Provided to Respondents
Consistent with 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)(vii) and agency regulations in 21 CFR § 20.20, data will be kept private to the extent allowed by law:
The Privacy Act of 1974
In preparing this supporting statement, we consulted our Privacy Office to ensure appropriate identification and handling of information collected. This ICR collects personally identifiable information (PII) pertaining to subject individuals’ professional capacity and the FDA-related work performed for their employer (e.g., point of contact at a regulated entity). The PII collected is the name of study director, scientists or professionals, and supervisory personnel, which is included in the final study report. The GLP regulations require that, among other things, for each nonclinical laboratory study, a final report be prepared that documents the dates of quality assurance unit inspections, test and control article characterization, and an overall interpretation of nonclinical laboratory studies. We have minimized the PII collected to protect the privacy of the individuals.
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Under FOIA (5 U.S.C. 552), the public has broad access to government documents. However, FOIA provides certain exemptions from mandatory public disclosure of government records (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(1-9)). FDA will make the fullest possible disclosure of records to the public, consistent with the rights of individuals to privacy, the property rights of persons in trade and confidential commercial or financial information.
Consistent with 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2)(vii), data will be kept private to the extent allowed by law.
Justification for Sensitive Questions
The collection of information does not involve sensitive questions.
Estimates of Annualized Burden Hours and Cost
12a. Annualized Hour Burden Estimate
The annual burden for the information collection requirements in these regulations is estimated at 1,304,157 burden hours (517,849 plus 786,308 equals 1,304,157). The hours per response estimates are based on our experience with similar programs and information received from industry. We account for 36,150 responses annually, which accounts for recordkeeping requirements enumerated in table 2, noting the requirement includes reporting activities under 5 CFR 1320.3(m).
Table 1 – Estimated Annual Reporting Burden1
21 CFR Part |
No. of Respondents |
No. of Responses per Respondent |
Total Annual Responses |
Average Burden per Response |
Total Hours |
58.35(b)(7); Quality assurance unit |
300 |
60.25 |
18,075 |
1 |
18,075 |
58.185; Reporting of nonclinical laboratory study results |
300 |
60.25 |
18,075 |
27.65 |
499,774 |
Total |
|
|
|
|
517,849 |
1 There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information.
Table 2 – Estimated Annual Recordkeeping Burden1
21 CFR Part |
No. of Recordkeepers |
No. of Records per Recordkeeper |
Total Annual Records |
Average Burden per Recordkeeping |
Total Hours |
58.29(b); Personnel |
300 |
20 |
6,000 |
.21 (13 mins.) |
1,260 |
58.35(b)(1)-(6), and (c); Quality assurance unit |
300 |
270.76 |
81,228 |
3.36 |
272,926 |
58.63(b) and (c); Maintenance and calibration of equipment |
300 |
60 |
18,000 |
.09 (5 mins.) |
1,620 |
58.81(a)-(c); SOPs |
300 |
301.80 |
90,540 |
.14 (8 mins.) |
12,676 |
58.90(c) and (g); Animal care |
300 |
62.70 |
18,810 |
.13 (8 mins.) |
2,445 |
58.105(a) and (b); Test and control article characterization |
300 |
5 |
1,500 |
11.8 |
17,700 |
58.107(d); Test and control article handling |
300 |
1 |
300 |
4.25 |
1,275 |
58.113(a); Mixtures of articles with carriers |
300 |
15.33 |
4,599 |
6.8 |
31,273 |
58.120; Protocol |
300 |
15.38 |
4,614 |
32.7 |
150,878 |
58.195; Retention of records |
300 |
251.50 |
75,450 |
3.9 |
294,255 |
Total |
|
|
|
|
786,308 |
1 There are no capital costs or operating and maintenance costs associated with this collection of information.
12b. Annualized Cost Burden Estimate
The annual hourly burden for the information collection requirements in these regulations is estimated at 1,304,157 burden hours. The cost to the respondents is estimated by assuming a cost of $51.57 per hour for 1,304,157 burden hours for a total cost of $67,255,376.49.
Type of Respondent |
Total Burden Hours |
Hourly Wage Rate |
Total Respondent Costs |
Compliance Officer |
1,304,157 |
$51.57 |
$67,255,376.49 |
1 May 2022 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates, Bureau of Labor Statistics and including 30% for benefits (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics4_325400.htm).
Estimates of Other Total Annual Costs to Respondents/Recordkeepers or Capital Costs
There are no capital, start-up, operating or maintenance costs associated with this information collection.
Annualized Cost to the Federal Government
To estimate costs to the Federal government we multiplied the number of reporting hours attendant to quality assurance (18,075) by an hourly wage rate of $ 60.83, reflecting median pay for a Federal employee in the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area, using 2023 OPM data. Based on our calculations this results in costs of $1,099,502.25 annually.
Explanation for Program Changes or Adjustments
Upon review of the information collection, we have made no adjustments to the currently approved burden estimates.
Plans for Tabulation and Publication and Project Time Schedule
This information collected will not be published or tabulated.
Reason(s) Display of OMB Expiration Date is Inappropriate
Display of OMB Expiration Date is appropriate.
18. Exceptions to Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions
There are no exceptions to the certification.
File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
File Created | 2023-12-20 |