§ 356e. Drug shortage list

(a) Establishment

The Secretary shall maintain an up-to-date list of drugs that are determined by the Secretary to be in shortage in the United States.

(b) Contents For each drug on such list, the Secretary shall include the following information:

(1) The name of the drug in shortage, including the National Drug Code number for such drug.

(2) The name of each manufacturer of such drug.

(3) The reason for the shortage, as determined by the Secretary, selecting from the following categories:

(A) Requirements related to complying with good manufacturing practices.

(B) Regulatory delay.

(C) Shortage of an active ingredient.

(D) Shortage of an inactive ingredient component.

(E) Discontinuation of the manufacture of the drug.

(F) Delay in shipping of the drug.

(G) Demand increase for the drug.

(4) The estimated duration of the shortage as determined by the Secretary.

(c) Public availability

(1) In general

Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Secretary shall make the information in such list publicly available.

(2) Trade secrets and confidential information

Nothing in this section alters or amends section 1905 of title 18 or section 552(b)(4) of title 5.

(3) Public health exception

The Secretary may choose not to make information collected under this section publicly available under paragraph (1) or section 356c(c) of this title if the Secretary determines that disclosure of such information would adversely affect the public health (such as by increasing the possibility of hoarding or other disruption of the availability of drug products to patients).

(June 25, 1938, ch. 675, § 506E, as added Pub. L. 112–144, title X, § 1004, July 9, 2012, 126 Stat. 1104.)