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The Notebook: a potpourri of items of interest gathered from FDA news releases, other news sources, and the Federal Register (designated FR, with date of publication). The Federal Register is available in many public libraries.
Certain FDA regulations would be eliminated under an agency-proposed rule because they are obsolete or no longer necessary to protect the public health. The elimination is a step to streamline the agency and ease the regulatory burden on industry and consumers. The public has until Jan. 11, 1996, to submit written comments to Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), FDA, Rockville, MD 20857. (FR Oct. 13)
Advisory committee annual reports from closed committee meetings are now available from FDA. The meetings were held between Oct. 1, 1993, and Sept. 30, 1994. Free single copies may be ordered from the Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), FDA, Rockville, MD 20857; telephone (301) 443-1751. (FR Oct. 11)
A monosodium glutamate adverse reactions report is available. "Analysis of Adverse Reactions to Monosodium Glutamate (MSG)" was prepared for FDA by the Life Sciences Research Office, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. Single copies cost $50 and may be purchased from the Life Sciences Research Office, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301) 530-7030. (FR Oct. 3)
Neurotoxicity risk assessment guidelines for environmental agents have been proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency. The proposed guidelines are intended to direct future EPA evaluation of agents suspected of causing neurotoxicity. Comments on the proposal will be accepted until Feb. 1, 1996. For more information, contact Hugh A. Tilson at (919) 541-2671. (FR Oct. 4)
Dental cavity prevention products sold over-the-counter are safe and effective and not misbranded, according to an FDA final rule that will take effect Oct. 7, 1996. After that date, no OTC dental product containing an ingredient that is not recognized as safe and effective may be introduced into interstate commerce. (FR Oct. 6)
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports, CDC's weekly reports of health data from state health departments, is now on the Internet. The address on CDC's file transfer protocol server is ftp.cdc.gov. The address on the World Wide Web is http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/mmwr.html. For more information, telephone MMWR's editor at (404) 332-4555. (MMWR Oct. 13)
Hazardous substances and their health effects are discussed in 12 reports now available from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Copies of the reports can be purchased from the National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, VA 22151; telephone (1-800) 553-6847. (FR Oct. 25)
Folic acid can help prevent the birth defects spina bifida and anencephaly, but many American women still are not aware of these facts, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a telephone survey of 2,010 women, 52 percent of women reported hearing or reading about folic acid. Of these, 9 percent answered that folic acid helps prevent birth defects and 6 percent that folic acid helps reduce the risk for spina bifida. Researchers also found that only 25 percent of nonpregnant women regularly consumed a vitamin supplement containing 0.4 milligrams of folic acid, and only about 6 percent ate breakfast cereal containing 0.4 mg of folic acid. (MMWR Sept. 29)
FDA Consumer magazine (January-February 1996)