Biological Products Regulated Under Section 351 of the Public Health Service Act; Implementation of Biologics License; Elimination of Establishment License and Product License

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is amending the biologics regulations to eliminate references to establishment licenses and product licenses for all products regulated under the Public Health Service Act (the PHS Act). In lieu of filing an establishment license application (ELA) and product license application (PLA) in order to market a biological product in interstate commerce, a manufacturer will file a single biologics license application (BLA) with the agency. Upon approval of the BLA, a manufacturer will receive a biologics license to market the product in interstate commerce. This action is part of FDA's continuing effort to achieve the objectives of the President's ``Reinventing Government'' initiatives and is intended to reduce unnecessary burdens for industry without diminishing public health protection. This action implements certain sections of the FDA Modernization Act of 1997 (FDAMA).