General hospital and personal use devices: proposed classification of liquid chemical sterilants and general purpose disinfectants--FDA. Proposed rule.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is proposing to classify both liquid chemical sterilants intended for use as the terminal step in processing critical and semicritical medical devices prior to patient use, and general purpose disinfectants intended to process noncritical medical devices and equipment surfaces. Under the proposal, liquid chemical sterilants would be classified into class II (special controls) and general purpose disinfectants would be classified into class I (general controls). FDA also proposes to exempt general purpose disinfectants from the premarket notification requirements. The agency is publishing in this document the recommendations of the General Hospital and Personal Use Devices Panel (the Panel) regarding the classification of these devices. After considering public comments on the proposed classification, FDA will publish a final regulation classifying these devices. This action is being taken to establish sufficient regulatory controls that will provide reasonable assurance of the safety and effectiveness of these devices.