Blood Vessels Recovered With Organs and Intended for Use in Organ Transplantation; Withdrawal

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published in the Federal Register of May 12, 2006 (71 FR 27606), a direct final rule to amend the regulations to consider as part of an organ those blood vessels recovered with the organ that are intended for use in organ transplantation; and to exclude such blood vessels from the definition of human cells, tissues, and cellular and tissue-based products. The comment period closed July 26, 2006. HRSA and FDA are withdrawing the direct final rule because FDA received significant adverse comment. The agencies will consider the comments received under our usual procedures for notice and comment in connection with the notice of proposed rulemaking that was published as a companion to the direct final rule (71 FR 27649).