Search Results for keywords:"public health"

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the revocation of Emergency Use Authorizations (EUAs) for three COVID-19 tests developed by Beckman Coulter, Inc., including the Access SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IgM, and IgG II tests. This action was taken upon the request of Beckman Coulter, who also decided to stop the distribution of these tests as of January 1, 2025. The FDA concluded that revoking these authorizations is necessary to protect public health and safety. The revocation became effective on January 8, 2025, with detailed explanations provided for each decision.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking public comments on an information collection project called the "National Syringe Services Program (SSP) Evaluation." This project aims to assess the operation and effectiveness of SSPs, which provide services to individuals who inject drugs, in order to reduce the spread of infectious diseases. The survey will be voluntary and will take approximately 35 minutes to complete. The CDC hopes to gather detailed information from SSPs across the nation to improve program quality and effectiveness.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing new rules for the use of certain chemical substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). These rules, known as Significant New Use Rules (SNURs), require entities to notify EPA at least 90 days before starting activities considered significant new uses of these chemicals. The EPA will then assess these uses for potential risks. The proposed rules aim to ensure new chemical substances are safely manufactured and processed, protecting human health and the environment.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has granted Maine Yankee Atomic Power Company three exemptions from regulations for their Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI). These exemptions will let Maine Yankee continue using certain practices previously allowed under past amendments when adopting the latest amendment, No. 9, to their Certificate of Compliance for storing nuclear waste. The NRC has determined that these exemptions do not pose any increased safety risks or environmental impacts, ensuring no significant harm to public health or the environment. These changes will not lead to more accidents, more radiation exposure, or affect cultural or historic sites.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking public comments on an ongoing information collection project called Performance Monitoring of CDC's Core State Injury Prevention Program (SIPP). This initiative aims to improve injury prevention programs and demonstrate their effectiveness in reducing injury-related illnesses and deaths. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, the CDC must gather public input before continuing the collection of this information, which helps track progress and effectiveness across different states. Comments must be submitted by February 3, 2025, and CDC requests approval for an estimated 286 hours of annual respondent burden time.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced the availability of a government-owned invention for licensing, aimed at speeding up the commercialization of research funded by the government to benefit public health. This invention involves analogues of N-Lactoyl-Phenylalanine (Lac-Phe), which could serve as appetite suppressants and help treat obesity and related diseases. It is currently in the preclinical development stage and is open for licensing under U.S. patent law. Interested parties can contact Malabika Ghosh at the NIH for licensing details.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the release of a report titled "Food and Drug Administration Report and Plan on Best Practices for Guidance." This report, requested by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, outlines best practices for creating, prioritizing, and using guidance documents efficiently. The FDA gathered and considered public feedback on a draft report published in December 2023, which led to this final version. The report aims to enhance transparency, improve regulatory processes, and support the development of new products for public health.

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is proposing a new tool called the SAMHSA Unified Client-Level Performance Reporting Tool (SUPRT) to streamline and improve how they collect data on mental health and substance use programs. This tool aims to reduce the burden on clients by allowing self-administered questionnaires and using administrative data from grantees. The SUPRT will help SAMHSA align its data collection with other federal agencies and improve its ability to monitor and evaluate the performance of its grant programs, contributing to broader public health goals. Public comments on this proposal can be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget by January 6, 2025.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) extended a temporary halt on residential evictions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. This extension lasts from January 31, 2021, through March 31, 2021, and aims to protect renters from eviction if they meet certain criteria, like having a drop in income or making partial rental payments. The order seeks to prevent evicted individuals from moving into crowded settings, which can heighten the risk of spreading the virus. It also highlights available federal resources, such as rental assistance programs, to support those financially impacted by the pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is seeking public comment on a proposed project called "Pathogens of High Consequence," which evaluates the presence of certain serious diseases in hospitals. As part of this project, three additional diseases—Influenza A (H5), Marburg, and Oropouche—have been added to the data collection form. The updated project aims to help hospitals track these diseases to better prevent and manage outbreaks. Comments from the public must be submitted by March 10, 2025, through the specified methods.