January 2023
· 11 min read
Ashley Kelleher delivered a presentation on U.S. FDA recalls and expectations at Informa’s Product Recalls and Complaints Conference on October 25, 2022. She covered recall requirements and what the FDA expects as well as how to navigate interactions with the FDA.
When a company learns that there is a problem with one of its medical devices, it proposes a correction or a removal, depending on where the action takes place.
Correction - Addresses a problem with a medical device in the place where it is used or sold.
Removal - Addresses a problem with a medical device by removing it from where it is used or sold.
The FDA uses the term “recall” when a manufacturer takes a correction or removal action to address a problem with a medical device that violates FDA regulations. Recalls occur when a medical device is defective, when it could be a risk to health, or when it is both defective and a risk to health.
The FDA uses a recall as an effective method to remove or correct FDA regulated products from the marketplace and requires speed to ensure patient safety.
Recalls may be conducted on a firm’s own initiative, by FDA request or by FDA order under statutory authority.
Voluntary (21 CFR Part 7 and 21 CFR Part 806): This is when a company (manufacturer, distributor or other responsible party) recalls a medical device on its own. When a company learns that it has a product that violates FDA regulations, the organization must do two things:
Note: An electronic product that emits radiation and is subject to 21 CFR 1003 and 1004 is not subject to the requirements under 21 CFR 7.
Nonvoluntary (Mandatory) (21 CFR 810): If a manufacturer fails to voluntarily recall a device that is a risk to health, the FDA may issue a recall order to the manufacturer under 21 CFR 810, Medical Device Recall Authority. While the FDA can legally recall a device if a company refuses, this is a rarity.
When the FDA learns of a company’s correction or removal action, it reviews the strategy the company has proposed to address the problem. During this assessment, health hazards presented by the product are reviewed, and it is determined whether they violate FDA regulations. If so, the FDA assigns the recall a classification (I, II or III) to indicate the relative degree of risk.
Class 1: A situation in which there is a reasonable chance that a product will cause serious health problems or death. The most serious of the recall classes, exclusive to dangerous products that could cause serious health problems and/or death.
Class 2: A situation in which a product may cause a temporary or reversible health problem, or in which there is a slight chance it will cause serious health problems or death. Products may cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, but the likelihood of severe danger is remote.
Class 3: A situation in which a product is not likely to cause any health problem or injury. These products are in violation of a law or regulation enforced by the FDA but are unlikely to cause adverse health problems.
Manufacturers and importers are required to report a correction or removal of a product if it involves a risk to health. Only the person that initiates the correction or removal is required to report it.
Manufacturers (807.20 (A)): A manufacturer means any person who designs, manufactures, fabricates, assembles or processes a finished device. Manufacturers include but are not limited to those who perform the functions of contract sterilization, installation, relabeling, remanufacturing, repacking or specification development, as well as initial distributors of foreign entities performing these functions.
Importers (807.40 (A)): An importer means any person who furthers the marketing of a device, from a foreign manufacturer to the person who makes the final delivery or sale of the device to the ultimate consumer or user, but does not repackage or otherwise change the container, wrapper or labeling of the device or device package. The initial importer must have a physical address in the United States staffed by individuals responsible for ensuring the compliance of imported devices with all applicable FDA laws and regulations.
The report must be submitted to the FDA within 10 working days from the time the firm initiates the correction or removal. If there is not a “risk to health” involved, a report to the FDA is not required, but the manufacturer or importer must keep a record of the correction or removal.
You have two ways to report corrections and removals: via FDA electronic submission software (eSubmitter) or email.
The FDA encourages organizations to submit reports via its eSubmitter software (eSubmitter Download and Installation | FDA). Once a report is created, it is sent to the Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) through the FDA Electronic Submission Gateway (ESG).
If an organization chooses not to utilize the eSubmitter software, it must email its report to the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA) Division Recall Coordinator (DRC). These coordinators are listed by state and region.
Please note that foreign manufacturers and importers must email reports to the DRC where their U.S. agent is located.
Ensure that the strategy method includes the following elements:
Be brief and to the point:
Every two to four weeks, status reports should be ready to submit to the FDA. This allows the FDA to review the actions your organization is taking to notify consignees/customers.
Having these procedures in place prior to the initiation of any recall will allow the recall process to proceed in an efficient manner.