President Signs S. 172

[p944t]

President Signs S. 172






On November 9, 2005, the President has signed into law: S. 172, which requires the Food and Drug Administration to regulate all contact lenses, including non-corrective lenses, to Medical devices

[chip anderson]

Requires or empowers?

[HarryChiling]

[font=Verdana, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [font=Verdana, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Current Wording of S. 172[/font]

[The Senate version of the bill, which was introduced by Senator Michael DeWine, R-OH, has wording similar to that of the House bill below. The Senate bill was introduced on January 26, 2005. Status: Passed on July 29, 2005.]

[font=Verdana, 'Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Current Wording of H.R. 371[/font]

[The House version of the bill was introduced by Rep. John Boozman, R-AR, on January 26, 2005, and then was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Status: Passed on October 26, 2005.]

One Hundred Ninth Congress
of the
United States of America

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 26, 2005

Mr. BOOZMAN (for himself and Mr. WAXMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

A BILL
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the regulation of all contact lenses as medical devices, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds as follows:

(1) All contact lenses have significant effects on the eye and pose serious potential health risks if improperly manufactured or used without appropriate involvement of a qualified eye care professional.

(2) Most contact lenses currently marketed in the United States, including certain plano and decorative contact lenses, have been approved as medical devices pursuant to premarket approval applications or cleared pursuant to premarket notifications by the Food and Drug Administration ("FDA").

(3) FDA has asserted medical device jurisdiction over most corrective and noncorrective contact lenses as medical devices currently marketed in the United States, including certain plano and decorative contact lenses, so as to require approval pursuant to premarket approval applications or clearance pursuant to premarket notifications.

(4) All contact lenses can present risks if used without the supervision of a qualified eye care professional. Eye injuries in children and other consumers have been reported for contact lenses that are regulated by FDA as medical devices primarily when used without professional involvement, and noncorrective contact lenses sold without approval or clearance as medical devices have caused eye injuries in children.

SECTION 2. REGULATION OF CERTAIN ARTICLES AS MEDICAL DEVICES.

Section 520 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 360j) is amended by adding at the end the following subsection:

"Regulation of Contact Lens as Devices

"(n)(1) All contact lenses shall be deemed to be devices under section 201(h).

"(2) Paragraph 1 shall not be construed as having any legal effect on any article that is not described in that paragraph.".

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[HarryChiling]

I don't see this bill doing anything to actually help the consumer. I have explained to all the patient s in our prctice not to purchase lenses from an unreputable place in the past and have had no luck in preventing the few that will. This bill is geared towards consumers regulating themselves and does not have any repurcusions for the establishments that continue to sell "cosmetic" contact lenses.