PMTA Application Status
The deadline for premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) for many new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, certain cigars and hookah products, currently on the market was September 2020. Since that time, CDA and its supplier partners have been urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide a timeline and process for disclosing which suppliers have submitted applications. Earlier this year, the FDA committed to making PMTA information publicly available as soon as possible, but the agency has struggled to compile the applications for public review and reference.
The agency announced that the process is complete for the deemed new tobacco products with timely applications submitted through the PMTA pathway and all lists of deemed new tobacco products with timely submitted applications are available on the FDA website.
Additionally, the agency has issued a clarification of the meaning of “Deficiency Letters." As the FDA wades through thousands of PMTA applications, they are in the arduous process of evaluating scientific information and data included in the applications. Undoubtedly, there will be follow-up questions and gaps in the information provided. The FDA issued the following clarification of what their “deficiency letters” mean. In short, the letters are indications of a deficiency in the content of an application, not a deficiency in the product. However, there are no guarantees that answering a deficiency letter will result in approval.
From the FDA:
Following the Sept. 9 premarket application deadline for most deemed new tobacco products that are currently on the market, FDA’s job is to process, review, and take action on as many applications as possible before September 9, 2021. As noted in the perspective article FDA issued on Feb. 16, substantive review is the longest and most thorough phase of FDA’s review process because it includes evaluation of the scientific information and data in an application and often includes identification of follow-up questions for the applicant. Before a final decision is made based on substantive review, FDA generally sends a Deficiency letter, which allows one opportunity for applicants to provide additional information that FDA needs to continue its scientific review.
Given that many applicants are experiencing the premarket review process for the first time, and based on FDA’s growing experience with product review and the current review process, FDA recently updated the language in Deficiency letters related to premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs). The new language clarifies that the intended purpose of such letters is only to communicate information gaps identified during review for which the applicant may wish to provide further information. The language further clarifies that the letter is not intended to convey a list of concerns about the product, and a complete response to the Deficiency letter does not guarantee that the applicant will receive a positive marketing order. Importantly, a final decision regarding marketing of the product(s) will be made at the end of FDA’s scientific review. FDA will base the final decision on the applicable public health standard in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act after reviewing the totality of all the information included in the original submission and amendments.
The following links provide information on FDA’s PMTA process:
Premarket Tobacco Product Applications
Premarket Tobacco Product Marketing Orders