Federal regulations · Through 2026-08-25 · Newer source version available

21 CFR 860.120: General.

(a) Sections 513(e) and (f), 514(b), 515(b), and 520(l) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act provide for reclassification of a device and prescribe the procedures to be followed to effect reclassification. The purposes of subpart C are to:
(1) Set forth the requirements as to form and content of petitions for reclassification;
(2) Describe the circumstances in which each of the five statutory reclassification provisions applies; and
(3) Explain the procedure for reclassification prescribed in the five statutory reclassification provisions.
(b) The criteria for determining the proper class for a device are set forth in § 860.3(c). The reclassification of any device within a generic type of device causes the reclassification of all devices within that generic type. Accordingly, a petition for the reclassification of a specific device will be considered a petition for reclassification of all devices within the same generic type.
(c) Any interested person may submit a petition for reclassification under section 513(e), 514(b), or 515(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. A manufacturer or importer may submit a petition for reclassification under section 513(f) or 520(l) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The Commissioner may initiate the reclassification of a device under the following sections of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act:
(1) Section 513(e) (for a classified device other than a device classified into class III under section 513(f)(1) or 520(l)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act);
(2) Section 513(f)(3) (for a device classified into class III under section 513(f)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act); or
(3) Section 520(l)(2) (for a device classified into class III under section 520(l)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act).

Where this section sits in the code

Title 21—Food and Drugs
CHAPTER I—FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
SUBCHAPTER H—MEDICAL DEVICES
PART 860—MEDICAL DEVICE CLASSIFICATION PROCEDURES
Subpart C—Reclassification

(1) Set forth the requirements as to form and content of petitions for reclassification;

(2) Describe the circumstances in which each of the five statutory reclassification provisions applies; and

(3) Explain the procedure for reclassification prescribed in the five statutory reclassification provisions.

(b) The criteria for determining the proper class for a device are set forth in § 860.3(c). The reclassification of any device within a generic type of device causes the reclassification of all devices within that generic type. Accordingly, a petition for the reclassification of a specific device will be considered a petition for reclassification of all devices within the same generic type.

(c) Any interested person may submit a petition for reclassification under section 513(e), 514(b), or 515(b) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. A manufacturer or importer may submit a petition for reclassification under section 513(f) or 520(l) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The Commissioner may initiate the reclassification of a device under the following sections of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act:

(1) Section 513(e) (for a classified device other than a device classified into class III under section 513(f)(1) or 520(l)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act);

(2) Section 513(f)(3) (for a device classified into class III under section 513(f)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act); or

(3) Section 520(l)(2) (for a device classified into class III under section 520(l)(1) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act).

Collected 2026-08-27T02:24:47Z. Source file · JSON

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