Requests for Inspection by an Accredited Person under the Inspection by Accredited Persons Program

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations

Guidance for Industry, FDA Staff,
and FDA-Accredited Third Parties
Requests for Inspection by an
Accredited Person under the Inspection
by Accredited Persons Program
Authorized by Section 201 of the
Medical Device User Fee and
Modernization Act of 2002
Document issued on: September 15, 2005
This document supersedes the draft of this document,
which was issued on June 3, 2004
The information collection provisions in this guidance have been approved under OMB
control number 0910-0569. This approval expires August 31, 2008. An agency may not
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB number.
For questions regarding this document contact Casper Uldriks, 240-276-0106,
ceu@cdrh.fda.gov, for CDRH issues or Carol Rehkopf, 301-827-6202,
Rehkoph@cber.fda.gov, for CBER issues.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research

Contains Nonbinding Recommendations

Preface
Public Comment
Written comments and suggestions may be submitted at any time for Agency consideration to
the Division of Dockets Management, Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane,
Room 1061, (HFA-305), Rockville, MD, 20852. When submitting comments, please refer to
the exact title of this guidance document. Comments may not be acted upon by the Agency
until the document is next revised or updated.

Additional Copies
Additional copies are available from the Internet at:
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/comp/guidance/1532.pdf. or to receive this document by fax, call the CDRH
Facts-On-Demand system at 800-899-0381 or 301-827-0111 from a touch-tone telephone.
Press 1 to enter the system. At the second voice prompt, press 1 to order a document. Enter
the document number 1532 followed by the pound sign (#). Follow the remaining voice
prompts to complete your request.

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Guidance for Industry, FDA Staff, and
FDA-Accredited Third-Parties
Requests for Inspection by an Accredited
Person under the Inspection by Accredited
Persons Program Authorized by Section
201 of the Medical Device User Fee and
Modernization Act of 2002
This guidance represents the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) current thinking on this topic.
It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the
public. You can use an alternative approach if the approach satisfies the requirements of the
applicable statutes and regulations. If you want to discuss an alternative approach, contact the FDA
staff responsible for implementing this guidance. If you cannot identify the appropriate FDA staff,
call the appropriate number listed on the title page of this guidance.

I.

Introduction

Manufacturers of Medical Devices May Be Eligible To Have Third-Party Inspections of
Their Establishments
On October 26, 2002, Section 201 of the Medical Device User Fee and Modernization Act of
2002 (MDUFMA) (Public Law 107-250) amended section 704 of the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act (the act) by adding subsection (g). (21 U.S.C. 374(g)). Certain important
technical corrections were later made to section 704(g) by the Medical Devices Technical
Corrections Act of 2004 (MDTCA)(Public Law 108-214), which became law on April 1,
2004. Section 201 of MDUFMA, as amended by MDTCA, authorized FDA to establish a
voluntary third-party inspection program applicable to manufacturers of Class II or Class III
medical devices who meet certain eligibility criteria. Under this new Inspection by
Accredited Persons Program (AP Program), such manufacturers may elect to have third
parties that have been accredited by FDA (Accredited Person or AP) conduct some of their
inspections instead of FDA.

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The AP Program applies to manufacturers who currently market their medical devices in the
United States and who also market or plan to market their devices in foreign countries.
These manufacturers may need current inspections of their establishments to operate in
global commerce.
One benefit of the new program is that it will allow manufacturers greater control over the
timing of their inspections. In addition, because some of the APs accredited by FDA are
already recognized by other countries as persons authorized to conduct inspections of device
establishments, it is possible that in some cases a single AP inspection will meet the
requirements of more than one regulatory authority, thereby reducing the need for multiple
inspections of the same establishment.
This guidance will help device establishments determine whether they are eligible to
participate in the AP Program. Any establishment that is interested in obtaining additional
information about eligibility or other matters addressed in this document may contact CDRH.
Most of the APs who have been approved by FDA will have to complete training before they
may begin conducting independent inspections under the new program. Therefore, many of
the APs will not be available to companies for several months from the date of this guidance.
FDA's guidance documents, including this guidance, do not establish legally enforceable
responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the Agency's current thinking on a topic and
should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory
requirements are cited. The use of the word should in Agency guidances means that
something is suggested or recommended, but not required.

The Least Burdensome Approach
We believe we should consider the least burdensome approach in all areas of medical device
regulation. This guidance reflects our careful review of the relevant scientific and legal
requirements and what we believe is the least burdensome way for you to comply with those
requirements. However, if you believe that an alternative approach would be less
burdensome, please contact us so we can consider your point of view. You may send your
written comments to the contact person listed in the preface to this guidance or to the CDRH
Ombudsman. Comprehensive information on CDRH's Ombudsman, including ways to
contact him, can be found on the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ombudsman/.

II. Discussion
Under section 510(h) of the act, domestic manufacturers of Class II or Class III medical
devices must be inspected for compliance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP)
requirements and other applicable requirements at least once every two years. (21 U.S.C.
360(h)). The AP inspection program established by MDUFMA permits eligible
manufacturers to schedule qualified independent third-parties to perform a comprehensive
inspection that satisfies FDA’s biennial inspection requirement, provided the previous

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completed FDA or AP inspection resulted in a “No Action Indicated” (NAI) or “Voluntary
Action Indicated” (VAI) inspection. Manufacturers customarily schedule a series of partial
inspections to be performed by qualified independent third-parties to comply with
international and other national regulatory standards. Manufacturers may rely on a single
comprehensive inspection or a series of partial inspections that would cumulatively
constitute a complete inspection for the purposes of meeting FDA’s biennial inspection
requirement.
Following the enactment of MDUFMA, FDA accredited 15 APs to perform inspections
under the AP Program. FDA used stringent selection criteria in its selection of APs to help
ensure that third-party inspections under this program do not present any actual or apparent
conflicts of interest. Most of those APs who were selected are still in the process of
completing training so they may soon begin conducting independent inspections under the
AP Program. Once independent AP inspections are underway, FDA will review the reports
prepared by the APs to determine if your firm is in compliance with GMPs and other
requirements.
The list of APs prepared by FDA is available on the Internet at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/apinspection/ap-inspection.html#list. You may select any of the APs listed, provided you meet
all of the eligibility criteria for the AP Program. The next section of this guidance describes
in detail the eligibility criteria applicable to manufacturers who wish to participate in the AP
Program.

III. Information about how to participate in the AP
Program
Who may participate in the AP Program?
The AP Program is open to domestic U.S. device establishments, as well as foreign
establishments that are required to register with FDA under section 510(i) of the act,
provided such establishments otherwise meet the program’s eligibility criteria.
What are the eligibility requirements for participating in the AP Program?
Based on the requirements found at Section 704(g) of the act, you must satisfy the following
criteria in order to be eligible to participate in the program:
1. You “manufacture, prepare, propagate, compound, or process” class II or class III
medical devices (Sec. 704(g))(1) of the act.) The shorthand term “manufacture”
will be used for convenience throughout this document instead of listing each of
these activities (i.e., “manufacture, prepare, propagate, compound, or process”)
repeatedly;

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2. You market at least one of the devices in the United States;
3. You market or intend to market at least one of the devices in one or more foreign
countries and one or both of the following two conditions are met:
(a) one of the foreign countries certifies, accredits, or otherwise recognizes
the AP you have selected as a person authorized to conduct inspections of
device establishments, or
(b) your firm submits a statement that the law of a country where you market
or intend to market your device(s) recognizes an inspection by the FDA or
by the AP. (Sec. 704(g)(6)(A)(iii)(I), (II) of the act.);
4. Your most recent complete inspection performed by FDA, or by an AP under this
program, was classified by FDA as either NAI or VAI.1 (Sec. 704(g)(6)(A)(i) of
the act.); and
5. You submit a notice to FDA requesting clearance (approval) to use an AP,
identify the AP you selected, and FDA agrees to the use of the selected AP. (Sec
704(g)(6))(A)(ii) of the act.)

A. Device Eligibility Requirements2
Is your medical device eligible?
•

Only establishments that manufacture (which term includes preparing, propagating,
compounding, or processing) devices that are either class II or class III may be
eligible for inspection under the AP Program. (Sec. 704(g)(1) of the act.) In
addition, to be eligible, at least one of these devices must be marketed in the United
States and at least one must be marketed, or intended to be marketed, in one or more
foreign countries. (Sec. 704(g)(6)(A)(iii) of the act.) FDA cannot waive these
requirements or provide a variance.

•

If you do not manufacture a class II or a class III device, market at least one such
device in the United States, and market or intend to market at least one such device in
a foreign country, your establishment is not eligible for inspection under the AP
Program.

1

The phrase "complete inspection" as used in this document is intended to include situations in which a full
inspection may be comprised of two or more cumulative partial inspections performed by the AP during the
course of a two year period. Where an inspection consists of a series of partial inspections, FDA ordinarily
would expect to issue only one classification decision after the conclusion of the complete inspection.
2
Unless otherwise noted, a reference to “requirements” in the following section refers to the requirements
under section 704(g) of the act.

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How can you show that you market or intend to market a device in a foreign country?
The following are examples of ways you can show that you market or intend to market a
device in a foreign country:
•

A distribution agreement, purchase order, or order acknowledgement issued by a
foreign customer;

•

A marketing application submitted by your firm to a foreign government; or

•

Appropriate clearance documents from the foreign government to your firm.

Is it necessary that one of the devices marketed or intended to be marketed in a foreign
country is a class II or class III device?
•

Yes. At least one of the devices that you market in the United States must be a
class II or class III device, and at least one of the devices you manufacture for
commercial distribution in a foreign country must be a class II or class III device.
(Sec. 704(g)(1) and (g)(6)(A)(iii) of the act.)

•

You should include the specific name(s) of the device(s) and the PMA or 510(k)
number(s) of the class II or III devices in your request to FDA for clearance to use
an AP.

•

The device you market in the United States and the device you market or intend to
market in one or more foreign countries do not have to be the same device, as
long as they are manufactured in the same establishment.

B. Foreign Country-Related Eligibility Requirements3
What do you need to know about the inspection process of the foreign country or
countries where you will market your medical device?
At least one foreign country where you market or intend to market your class II or class III
device must either:
•

Certify, accredit, or otherwise recognize the AP you have chosen as a person authorized
to conduct device inspections; or

3

Unless otherwise noted, a reference to “requirements” in the following section refers to the requirements
under section 704(g) of the act.

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•

Recognize device inspections by the FDA or AP. (Sec. 704(g)(6)(A)(iii)(I) and (II) of the
act.)
For example, one foreign country where you market or intend to market the device may
certify the person you selected as an AP as authorized to conduct inspections of device
establishments. This would satisfy the condition of recognition by a foreign country of
the AP you selected.

How can you identify APs that are recognized by a foreign country as authorized to
conduct inspections of device establishments?
•

FDA’s Internet site mentioned earlier (http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ap-inspection/apinspection.html) lists the APs approved by FDA and provides information on APs
that are recognized by foreign countries. We recommend that you verify that the
foreign country recognizes the AP prior to hiring the AP to conduct an inspection of
your manufacturing facility.

Alternatively, how can you show that the law of a foreign government recognizes device
inspections by the FDA or AP?
There are at least three ways to show that the law of a foreign government recognizes device
inspections by the FDA or AP:
•

First, a country may already accept FDA’s Certificates to Foreign Governments
or Certificates of Exportability. These certificates specifically include FDA’s
acknowledgement of compliance with GMP requirements. You may be able to
obtain information about whether a particular country accepts these FDA
certificates by contacting the appropriate foreign liaison. A list of foreign liaisons
is provided at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/devadvice/391.html.

•

A letter from an appropriate foreign government office should be adequate,
provided it states that device inspections by the FDA or AP are recognized. The
list of foreign liaisons mentioned above may be useful for this purpose.

•

You could prepare and submit to FDA a signed statement that the law of a foreign
country in which you market or intend to market your device recognizes
inspections by the FDA or AP for the purpose of evaluating manufacturing
operations and compliance. Your written statement should be accompanied by a
copy of the relevant foreign law (translated into English).

C. Inspectional History

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How does your inspection history affect your participation in the AP Program?
•

Your most recent FDA-classified device inspection is one of the factors that
determines your eligibility to participate in the AP Program. (Sec. 704(g)(6)(A)(i) of
the act.)

•

Inspections are classified according to three categories:
-

•

No Action Indicated (NAI); this means there were no deviations or only minor
deviations from the applicable Quality System/Good Manufacturing Practice
(QS/G MP) requirements. (See 21 U.S.C. 360j(f)(1)(A) of the act and
regulations at 21 CFR Part 820).
Voluntary Action Indicated (VAI); this refers to minor to significant QS/GMP
deviations.
Official Action Indicated (OAI); this refers to significant QS/GMP deviations
and warnings.

You may qualify for the AP Program if your most recent complete device inspection,
performed either by FDA or by an AP under the AP Program, was classified by FDA
as either NAI or VAI (Sec. 704(g)(6)(A)(i)). In addition, in assessing your eligibility
to use an AP, FDA may ask you to provide compliance data including complete
reports of GMP inspectional findings from audits that occurred at your firm within
the past 24 months. (Sec. 704(g)(6)(B)(iii)). FDA may also ask you or the AP you
selected for information concerning the relationship between your firm and the AP.
(Sec. 704(g)(6)(B)(ii)(II)).

What information should I submit concerning my firm’s inspectional history?
To facilitate our review of your recent inspectional history, your request to participate in the
program should include the following information.
•

Your request should identify the date of your firm’s most recent device inspection
that was classified by FDA. As stated previously, to be eligible, your most recent
device inspection performed either by FDA or by an AP under the AP Program, must
have been classified as NAI or VAI. (Sec. 704(g)(6)(A)(i) of the act.) Because this
is a new program and most of the APs are still in the process of completing the
necessary training, there have not yet been many independent AP inspections
performed under this program. Until such time as the APs begin performing
independent inspections under this program, FDA will consider the most recent
inspection of the establishment by FDA. Once independent AP inspections are
underway, you may instead identify the date your firm was inspected by an AP if that
is the most recent inspection of your firm that FDA classified.

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•

If you received a list of inspectional observations at the conclusion of the inspection,
please provide a copy with your request. FDA uses Form FDA-483 to record
inspectional observations.

•

Please provide a copy of the inspection report provided to you after the inspection.

Does an OAI classification from FDA mean that I cannot participate in the AP
Program?
•

No. In the case of a device establishment for which FDA classified the results of the
most recent inspection of the establishment by an AP as OAI, the establishment may
petition FDA to determine its eligibility for further AP inspections. (Sec.
704(g)(6)(C) of the act.)

•

The device establishment should meet all the other eligibility requirements and
explain in the petition how it has corrected the violations.

Are there limits to the number of inspections that can be performed by an AP?
MDUFMA sets limits on the number of consecutive completed inspections that can be
performed by APs in lieu of FDA inspections. APs may perform a series of partial
inspections that cumulatively would count as one complete inspection. Section
704(g)(6)(A)(iv)(I) of the act does not permit an establishment to use an AP for more than
four years to conduct two consecutive complete inspections unless the establishment first
petitions FDA for, and receives, a waiver.4

Will manufacturers need to reapply to the FDA to schedule the same AP for each
partial inspection?
No. The same AP may conduct partial inspections that ultimately will represent one
completed comprehensive inspection for purposes of complying with applicable regulatory
requirements. In this situation, the two year period begins at the time the first partial
inspection is initiated.

D. Accredited Person (AP) Selection
How do you obtain FDA agreement to use an AP?

4

The statute describes the applicable time limits using the words “during the previous four years.” (Section
704(g)(6)(A)(iv)(I) of the act.) FDA reads “during” to mean “throughout the course or duration of,” as cited in
Webster’s II New Riverside University Dictionary, 1984 edition.

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•

Submit a written request to FDA asking for clearance (approval) to use an AP.
Your request should also identify the AP you intend to use. (Sec.
704(g)(6)(A)(ii)(I) and (II) of the act.)

•

You may select an AP from the list on the FDA website previously mentioned –
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ap-inspection/ap-inspection.html.

•

FDA will then provide clearance and approve your selection, or request
additional information to help inform its decision. (Sec. 704(g)(6)(A)(ii) and
(B) of the act.) If FDA requests compliance data or other information, FDA
must make a decision about your eligibility to use an AP, and about your AP
selection, within 60 days after you provide the requested information. If FDA
does not notify you of its decision within 60 days, your firm is deemed to have
clearance to have an inspection performed by the AP you have selected. (Sec.
704(g)(6)(B)(iv) and (v) of the act.)

•

If FDA denies your firm’s request for clearance to use an AP or rejects its
selection of an AP, FDA will provide your firm with a statement of the reason(s)
for its decision. (Sec. 704(g)(6)(B)(iv) and (v) of the act.)

•

If FDA grants your request to use the AP you have selected, you are responsible
for paying the AP for its services. The amount of compensation is to be
determined by agreement between your firm and the AP. (Sec. 704(g)(8)).

E. Requests for Participation in the AP Program
Does my request have to be in a particular format?
No. However, your request needs to identify the AP you have chosen and include
information that shows you meet the eligibility criteria (Sec. 704(g)(6)(A) of the act.)
If a foreign country recognizes the AP you selected as a person authorized to conduct
inspections of device establishments, you may support your statement to that effect by
referring to any relevant information from FDA’s website at www.fda.gov/cdrh/apinspection/ap-inspection.html. Alternatively, you may show that the law of the foreign
country recognizes an inspection by the FDA or an AP by submitting the documentation
discussed earlier in this guidance (e.g., a letter from an appropriate foreign government
official).

Will FDA notify you if your application is not complete?

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Yes. If FDA needs more information about your firm, its inspectional history, the AP you
have chosen, or other eligibility criteria, we will contact you as soon as possible. We intend
to respond to each request within 30 days. (Sec. 704(g)(6)(B)(i) of the act.)
If FDA does not respond within 30 days after it receives your request, your request is
deemed approved, and you may make arrangements for the AP you have selected to inspect
your facility. (Sec. 704(g)(6)(B)(i) of the act.)

Where should you send your request to participate?
You should send your request to participate in the AP Program to—
Field Programs Branch (HFZ-306)
Office of Compliance
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
2094 Gaither Road
Rockville, MD 20850

Does the AP Program affect other FDA agreements and obligations?
Inspections conducted under the AP Program do not affect FDA’s other agreements or
operations, or change obligations concerning FDA regulations that affect your device. (See
generally sec. 704(g)(1), (9), and (14) of the act.)
•

Although the AP Program makes it possible for eligible device establishments to use,
with FDA’s approval, third-parties to perform their inspections, nothing in this
program affects FDA’s broad authority to conduct its own inspections of device
establishments under the act. (Sec. 704(g)(9) of the act.)

•

The provisions of the AP Program do not affect agreements with foreign countries
established to carry out the functions of the Office of International Relations at the
Department of Health and Human Services. (Sec. 704(g)(14) of the act.)

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FDA-Accredited Third-Party Inspection Checklist
__________________________________________________________________________

This checklist may be used to help you determine whether you qualify for inspection by an
FDA-accredited third-party (AP). A GMP inspection of your manufacturing operations may
be conducted by an AP, instead of by FDA, provided you meet the following criteria and you
obtain FDA approval of your request for participation in the AP Program.
The Devices
1.__

You market a class II or class III device in the United States

2.__

You market or plan to market a class II or class III device in one or more foreign
countries.

Foreign Government
3.__

A foreign government in a country where you market or plan to market a class II or
class III device recognizes either:
(a) the AP you have selected as a person authorized to conduct device inspections.
Check FDA’s list of APs at http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/ap-inspection/apinspection.html, or
(b) device inspections by the FDA or an AP. Ways that you may demonstrate this
criterion is met include—
-

-

Submitting information showing that the foreign government accepts
FDA’s Certificates to Foreign Governments or Certificates of
Exportability (see the Foreign Liaison List for devices at
http://fda.gov/cdrh/devadvice/391.html), or
Submitting a letter from an appropriate government official that says it
recognizes device inspections by FDA or the AP, or
The foreign country’s laws recognize device inspections by the FDA or an
AP, and you submit a written statement to that effect together with a
translated version of the relevant foreign law.

History of Inspection
4.__

Your most recent complete inspection performed by FDA or by an AP under this
program was classified by FDA as either “No Action Indicated” (NAI) or “Voluntary
Action Indicated” (VAI).

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