An over-the-counter (OTC) drug listed in this subchapter is generally recognized as safe and effective and is not misbranded if it meets each of the conditions contained in this part and each of the conditions contained in any applicable monograph. Any product which fails to conform to each of the conditions contained in this part and in an applicable monograph is liable to regulatory action.
(a)
The product is manufactured in compliance with current good manufacturing practices, as established by parts 210 and 211 of this chapter.
(b)
The establishment(s) in which the drug product is manufactured is registered, and the drug product is listed, in compliance with part 207 of this chapter. It is requested but not required that the number assigned to the product pursuant to part 207 of this chapter appear on all drug labels and in all drug labeling. If this number is used, it shall be placed in the manner set forth in part 207 of this chapter.
(c)
(1)
The product is labeled in compliance with chapter V of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) and subchapter C et seq. of this chapter, including the format and content requirements in § 201.66 of this chapter. An OTC drug product that is not in compliance with chapter V and subchapter C, including § 201.66 of this chapter, is subject to regulatory action. For purposes of § 201.61(b) of this chapter, the statement of identity of the product shall be the term or phrase used in the applicable OTC drug monograph established in this part.
(2)
The “Uses” section of the label and labeling of the product shall contain the labeling describing the “Indications” that have been established in an applicable OTC drug monograph or alternative truthful and nonmisleading statements describing only those indications for use that have been established in an applicable monograph, subject to the provisions of section 502 of the act relating to misbranding and the prohibition in section 301(d) of the act against the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of unapproved new drugs in violation of section 505(a) of the act. Any other labeling under this subchapter and subchapter C et seq. of this chapter shall be stated in the exact language where exact language has been established and identified by quotation marks in an applicable OTC drug monograph or by regulation (e.g., § 201.63 of this chapter ), except as provided in paragraphs (i) and (j) of this section.
(d)
The advertising for the product prescribes, recommends, or suggests its use only under the conditions stated in the labeling.
(e)
The product contains only suitable inactive ingredients which are safe in the amounts administered and do not interfere with the effectiveness of the preparation or with suitable tests or assays to determine if the product meets its professed standards of identity, strength, quality, and purity. Color additives may be used only in accordance with section 721 of the act and subchapter A of this chapter.
(f)
The product container and container components meet the requirements of § 211.94 of this chapter.
(g)
The labeling for all drugs contains the general warning: “Keep out of reach of children.” [highlighted in bold type]. The labeling of drugs shall also state as follows: For drugs used by oral administration, “In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away”; for drugs used topically, rectally, or vaginally and not intended for oral ingestion, “If swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away”; and for drugs used topically and intended for oral use, “If more than used for” (insert intended use, e.g., pain) “is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.” The Food and Drug Administration will grant an exemption from these general warnings where appropriate upon petition, which shall be maintained in a permanent file for public review by the Division of Dockets Management, Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
(h)
Where no maximum daily dosage limit for an active ingredient is established in this part, it is used in a product at a level that does not exceed the amount reasonably required to achieve its intended effect.
(i)
The following terms may be used interchangeably in the labeling of OTC drug products, provided such use does not alter the meaning of the labeling that has been established and identified in an applicable monograph or by regulation. The following terms shall not be used to change in any way the title, headings, and subheadings required under § 201.66(c)(1) through (c)(9) of this chapter:
(1)
“Abdominal” or “stomach” (in context only).
(2)
“Administer” or “give”.
(3)
“Aggravate(s)” or “make(s) worse”.
(4)
“Application of this product” or “applying”.
(5)
“Are uncertain” or “do not know”.
(6)
“Ask” or “consult” or “contact”.
(7)
“Asking” or “consulting”.
(8)
“Assistance” or “help” or “aid”.
(9)
“Associated with” or “due to” or “caused by”.
(10)
“Avoid contact with eyes” or “do not get into eyes”.
(11)
“Avoid inhaling” or “do not inhale”.
(12)
“Before a doctor is consulted” or “without first consulting your doctor” or “consult your doctor before”.
(13)
“Beverages” or “drinks”.
(14)
“Clean” or “cleanse”.
(15)
“Consulting” or “advising”.
(16)
“Continue(s)” or “persist(s)” or “is persistent” or “do(es) not go away” or “last(s)”.
(17)
“Daily” or “every day”.
(18)
“Develop(s)” or “begin(s)” or “occur(s)”.
(19)
“Difficulty” or “trouble”.
(20)
“Difficulty in urination” or “trouble urinating”.
(21)
“Discard” or “throw away”.
(22)
“Discontinue” or “stop” or “quit”.
(23)
“Doctor” or “physician”.
(24)
“Drowsiness” or “the drowsiness effect”.
(25)
“Drowsiness may occur” or “you may get drowsy”.
(26)
“Enlargement of the” or “an enlarged”.
(27)
“Especially in children” or especially children”.
(28)
“Exceed” or “use more than” or “go beyond”.
(29)
“Exceed recommended dosage” or “use more than directed”.
(30)
“Excessive” or “too much”.
(31)
“Excitability may occur” or “you may get excited”.
(32)
“Experience” or “feel”.
(33)
“For relief of” or “relieves”.
(34)
“For temporary reduction of” or “temporarily reduces”.
(35)
“For the temporary relief of” or “temporarily relieves”.
(36)
“For the treatment of” or “treats”.
(37)
“Frequently” or “often”.
(38)
“Give to” or “use in”.
(39)
“Immediately” or “right away” or “directly”.
(40)
“Immediately” or “as soon as”.
(41)
“Immediately following” or “right after”.
(42)
“Improve(s)” or “get(s) better” or “make(s) better”.
(43)
“Increased” or “more”.
(44)
“Increase your risk of” or “cause”.
(45)
“Indication(s)” or “Use(s)”.
(46)
“Inhalation” or “puff”.
(47)
“In persons who” or “if you” or “if the child”.
(49)
“Is (are) accompanied by” or “you also have” (in context only) or “(optional: that) occur(s) with”.
(51)
“Lung” or “pulmonary”.
(52)
“Medication(s)” or “medicine(s)” or “drug(s)”.
(53)
“Nervousness, dizziness, or sleeplessness occurs” or “you get nervous, dizzy, or sleepless”.
(54)
“Not to exceed” or “do not exceed” or “not more than”.
(55)
“Obtain(s)” or “get(s)”.
(56)
“Passages” or “passageways” or “tubes”.
(57)
“Perforation of” or “hole in”.
(58)
“Persistent” or “that does not go away” or “that continues” or “that lasts”.
(59)
“Per day” or “daily”.
(60)
“Presently” or “now”.
(61)
“Produce(s)” or “cause(s)”.
(62)
“Prompt(ly)” or “quick(ly)” or “right away”.
(63)
“Reduce” or “minimize”.
(64)
“Referred to as” or “of”.
(65)
“Sensation” or “feeling”.
(66)
“Solution” or “liquid”.
(67)
“Specifically” or “definitely”.
(68)
“Take” or “use” or “give”.
(69)
“Tend(s) to recur” or “reoccur(s)” or “return(s)” or “come(s) back”.
(70)
“To avoid contamination” or “avoid contamination” or “do not contaminate”.
(71)
“To help” or “helps”.
(72)
“Unless directed by a doctor” or “except under the advice of a doctor” or “unless told to do so by a doctor”.
(73)
“Use caution” or “be careful”.
(74)
“Usually” or “generally” (in context only).
(75)
“You” (“Your”) or “the child” (“the child's”).
(76)
“You also have” or “occurs with”.
(77)
“When practical” or “if possible”.
(79)
“Worsen(s)” or “get(s) worse” or “make(s) worse”.
(j)
The following connecting terms may be deleted from the labeling of OTC drug products, provided such deletion does not alter the meaning of the labeling that has been established and identified in an applicable monograph or by regulation. The following terms shall not be used to change in any way the specific title, headings, and subheadings required under § 201.66(c)(1) through (c)(9) of this chapter:
(3)
“Associated” or “to be associated”.
(6)
“Drug Interaction Precaution”.
(8)
“Except under the advice and supervision of a physician”.
(14)
“Or as directed by a doctor”.
(16)
“Such as occurs with”.
(19)
“Unless directed by a doctor”.
(20)
“While taking this product” or “before taking this product”.
Code of Federal Regulations
[39 FR 11741, Mar. 29, 1974, as amended at 40 FR 11718, Mar. 13, 1975; 40 FR 13496, Mar. 27, 1975; 42 FR 15674, Mar. 22, 1977; 46 FR 8459, Jan. 27, 1981; 50 FR 8996, Mar. 6, 1985; 51 FR 16266, May 1, 1986; 55 FR 11581, Mar. 29, 1990; 59 FR 4000, Jan. 28, 1994; 59 FR 14365, Mar. 28, 1994; 64 FR 13294, Mar. 17, 1999; 68 FR 24879, May 9, 2003]