---
kind: "section"
citation: "21 U.S.C. § 360m"
title: "21"
title_heading: "Food and Drugs"
number: "360m"
heading: "Accredited persons"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/21/360m"
units:
  - "Chapter 9 — Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act"
  - "Subchapter V — Drugs and Devices"
  - "Part A — Drugs and Devices"
---

# §360m. Accredited persons

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) **Review and classification of devices—** Not later than 1 year after November 21, 1997, the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall, subject to [paragraph (3)](#a-3), accredit [persons](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) for the purpose of reviewing reports submitted under [section 360(k) of this title](/usc/21/360.md?p=k) and making recommendations to the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) regarding the initial classification of [devices](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) under [section 360c(f)(1) of this title](/usc/21/360c.md?p=f-1).
  - (2) **Requirements regarding review—**
    - (A) **In general—** In making a recommendation to the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) under [paragraph (1)](#a-1), an accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) shall notify the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) in writing of the reasons for the recommendation.
    - (B) **Time period for review—** Not later than 30 days after the date on which the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) is notified under [subparagraph (A)](#a-2-A) by an accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) with respect to a recommendation of an initial classification of a [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1), the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall make a determination with respect to the initial classification.
    - (C) **Special rule—** The [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) may change the initial classification under [section 360c(f)(1) of this title](/usc/21/360c.md?p=f-1) that is recommended under [paragraph (1)](#a-1) by an accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e), and in such case shall provide to such [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e), and the [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) who submitted the report under [section 360(k) of this title](/usc/21/360.md?p=k) for the [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1), a statement explaining in detail the reasons for the change.
  - (3) **Certain devices—**
    - (A) **In general—** An accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) may not be used to perform a review of—
      - (i) a class III [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1);
      - (ii) a [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) classified under [section 360c(f)(2) of this title](/usc/21/360c.md?p=f-2) or designated under [section 360e–3(d)](/usc/21/360e–3.md?p=d)[^1] of this title;
      - (iii) a [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) that is intended to be permanently implantable, life sustaining, or life supporting, unless otherwise determined by the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) in accordance with [subparagraph (B)(i)(II)](#a-3-B-i-II) and listed as eligible for review under [subparagraph (B)(iii)](#a-3-B-iii); or
      - (iv) a [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) that is of a type, or subset of a type, listed as not eligible for review under [subparagraph (B)(iii)](#a-3-B-iii).
    - (B) **Designation for review—** The [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall—
      - (i) issue draft guidance on the factors the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) will use in determining whether a class I or class II [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) type, or subset of such [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) types, is eligible for review by an accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e), including—
        - (I) the risk of the [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) type, or subset of such [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) type; and
        - (II) whether the [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) type, or subset of such [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) type, is permanently implantable, life sustaining, or life supporting, and whether there is a detailed public health justification for permitting the review by an accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) of such [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) type or subset;
      - (ii) not later than 24 months after the date on which the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) issues such draft guidance, finalize such guidance; and
      - (iii) beginning on the date such guidance is finalized, designate and post on the internet website of the [Food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) and [Drug](/usc/21/321.md?p=g-1) Administration, an updated list of class I and class II [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) types, or subsets of such [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) types, and the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d)’s determination with respect to whether each such [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) type, or subset of a [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) type, is eligible or not eligible for review by an accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) under this section based on the factors described in [clause (i)](#a-3-B-i).
    - (C) **Interim rule—** Until the date on which the updated list is designated and posted in accordance with [subparagraph (B)(iii)](#a-3-B-iii), the list in effect on August 18, 2017, shall be in effect.
- (b) **Accreditation—**
  - (1) **Programs—** The [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall provide for such accreditation through programs administered by the [Food](/usc/21/321.md?p=f) and [Drug](/usc/21/321.md?p=g-1) Administration, other government agencies, or by other qualified nongovernment organizations.
  - (2) **Accreditation—**
    - (A) **In general—** Not later than 180 days after November 21, 1997, the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall establish and publish in the Federal Register criteria to accredit or deny accreditation to [persons](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) who request to perform the duties specified in [subsection (a)](#a). The [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall respond to a request for accreditation within 60 days of the receipt of the request. The accreditation of such [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) shall specify the particular activities under [subsection (a)](#a) for which such [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) is accredited.
    - (B) **Withdrawal of accreditation—** The [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) may suspend or withdraw accreditation of any [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) accredited under this paragraph, after providing notice and an opportunity for an [informal hearing](/usc/21/321.md?p=x), when such [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) is substantially not in compliance with the requirements of this section or poses a threat to public health or fails to act in a manner that is consistent with the purposes of this section.
    - (C) **Performance auditing—** To ensure that [persons](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) accredited under this section will continue to meet the standards of accreditation, the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall—
      - (i) make onsite visits on a periodic basis to each accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) to audit the performance of such [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e); and
      - (ii) take such additional measures as the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) determines to be appropriate.
    - (D) **Periodic reaccreditation—**
      - (i) **Period—** Subject to suspension or withdrawal under [subparagraph (B)](#b-2-B), any accreditation under this section shall be valid for a period of 3 years after its issuance.
      - (ii) **Response to reaccreditation request—** Upon the submission of a request by an accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) for reaccreditation under this section, the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall approve or deny such request not later than 60 days after receipt of the request.
      - (iii) **Criteria—** Not later than 120 days after July 9, 2012, the [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall establish and publish in the Federal Register criteria to reaccredit or deny reaccreditation to [persons](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) under this section. The reaccreditation of [persons](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) under this section shall specify the particular activities under [subsection (a)](#a), and the [devices](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1), for which such [persons](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) are reaccredited.
  - (3) **Qualifications—** An accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) shall, at a minimum, meet the following requirements:
    - (A) Such [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) may not be an employee of the Federal Government.
    - (B) Such [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) shall be an independent organization which is not owned or controlled by a [manufacturer](/usc/21/360hh.md?p=3), supplier, or vendor of [devices](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1) and which has no organizational, material, or financial affiliation with such a [manufacturer](/usc/21/360hh.md?p=3), supplier, or vendor.
    - (C) Such [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) shall be a legally constituted entity permitted to conduct the activities for which it seeks accreditation.
    - (D) Such [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) shall not engage in the design, manufacture, promotion, or sale of [devices](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1).
    - (E) The operations of such [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) shall be in accordance with generally accepted professional and ethical business practices.
    - (F) Such [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) shall agree, at a minimum, to include in its request for accreditation a commitment to, at the time of accreditation, and at any time it is performing any review pursuant to this section—
      - (i) certify that reported information accurately reflects data reviewed;
      - (ii) limit work to that for which competence and capacity are available;
      - (iii) treat information received, records, reports, and recommendations as proprietary information;
      - (iv) promptly respond and attempt to resolve complaints regarding its activities for which it is accredited; and
      - (v) protect against the use, in carrying out [subsection (a)](#a) with respect to a [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1), of any officer or employee of the [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) who has a financial conflict of interest regarding the [device](/usc/21/321.md?p=h-1), and annually make available to the public disclosures of the extent to which the [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e), and the officers and employees of the [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e), have maintained compliance with requirements under this clause relating to financial conflicts of interest.
  - (4) **Selection of accredited persons—** The [Secretary](/usc/21/321.md?p=d) shall provide each [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) who chooses to use an accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) to receive a [section 360(k) of this title](/usc/21/360.md?p=k) report a panel of at least two or more accredited [persons](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) from which the regulated [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) may select one for a specific regulatory function.
  - (5) **Compensation of accredited persons—** Compensation for an accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) shall be determined by agreement between the accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) and the [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) who engages the services of the accredited [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e), and shall be paid by the [person](/usc/21/321.md?p=e) who engages such services.
- (c) **Duration—** The authority provided by this section terminates on October 1, 2027.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(June 25, 1938, ch. 675, § 523, as added Pub. L. 105–115, title II, § 210(a), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2342; amended Pub. L. 107–250, title II, § 202, Oct. 26, 2002, 116 Stat. 1609; Pub. L. 110–85, title II, § 221, Sept. 27, 2007, 121 Stat. 852; Pub. L. 111–31, div. A, title I, § 103(f), June 22, 2009, 123 Stat. 1837; Pub. L. 112–144, title VI, § 611, July 9, 2012, 126 Stat. 1059; Pub. L. 114–255, div. A, title III, § 3102(4), Dec. 13, 2016, 130 Stat. 1156; Pub. L. 115–52, title II, § 206, Aug. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 1018; Pub. L. 117–180, div. F, title II, § 2006, Sept. 30, 2022, 136 Stat. 2154; Pub. L. 117–229, div. C, title III, § 309, Dec. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2312; Pub. L. 117–328, div. FF, title III, § 3109, Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5808.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 360e–3 of this title, referred to in subsec. (a)(3)(A)(ii), was in the original a reference to section 515C of act June 25, 1938, which was renumbered section 515B by Pub. L. 115–52, title IX, § 901(f)(2), Aug. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 1077.

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–328 substituted “on October 1, 2027” for “December 24, 2022”.

Pub. L. 117–229 substituted “December 24, 2022” for “December 17, 2022”.

Pub. L. 117–180 substituted “December 17” for “October 1”.

2017—Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(ii) to (iv). Pub. L. 115–52, § 206(1)(A), added cls. (ii) to (iv) and struck out former cls. (ii) and (iii) which read as follows:

“(ii) a class II device which is intended to be permanently implantable or life sustaining or life supporting; or

“(iii) a class II device which requires clinical data in the report submitted under section 360(k) of this title for the device, except that the number of class II devices to which the Secretary applies this clause for a year, less the number of such reports to which clauses (i) and (ii) apply, may not exceed 6 percent of the number that is equal to the total number of reports submitted to the Secretary under such section for such year less the number of such reports to which such clauses apply for such year.”

Subsec. (a)(3)(B). Pub. L. 115–52, § 206(1)(B), added subpar. (B) and struck out former subpar. (B). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “In determining for a year the ratio described in subparagraph (A)(iii), the Secretary shall not include in the numerator class III devices that the Secretary reclassified into class II, and the Secretary shall include in the denominator class II devices for which reports under section 360(k) of this title were not required to be submitted by reason of the operation of section 360(m) of this title.”

Subsec. (a)(3)(C). Pub. L. 115–52, § 206(1)(C), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (b)(2)(D), (E). Pub. L. 115–52, § 206(2)(A), redesignated subpar. (E) as (D) and struck out former subpar. (D). Prior to amendment, text of subpar. (D) read as follows: “The Secretary shall include in the annual report required under section 393(g) of this title the names of all accredited persons and the particular activities under subsection (a) for which each such person is accredited and the name of each accredited person whose accreditation has been withdrawn during the year.”

Subsec. (b)(3)(E). Pub. L. 115–52, § 206(2)(B)(iii), added subpar. (E). Former subpar. (E) redesignated (F).

Subsec. (b)(3)(F). Pub. L. 115–52, § 206(2)(B)(i), (ii), redesignated subpar. (E) as (F) and substituted “Such person shall agree, at a minimum, to include in its request for accreditation a commitment to, at the time of accreditation, and at any time it is performing any review pursuant to this section” for “The operations of such person shall be in accordance with generally accepted professional and ethical business practices and shall agree in writing that as a minimum it will” in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–52, § 206(3), substituted “2022’ for “2017”.

2016—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–255 struck out subsec. (d) which related to report to Congress.

2012—Subsec. (b)(2)(E). Pub. L. 112–144, § 611(a), added subpar. (E).

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 112–144, § 611(b), substituted “October 1, 2017” for “October 1, 2012”.

2009—Subsec. (b)(2)(D). Pub. L. 111–31 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 393(g) of this title.

2007—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–85 substituted “2012” for “2007”.

2002—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–250, § 202(1), substituted “The authority provided by this section terminates October 1, 2007.” for “The authority provided by this section terminates—

“(1) 5 years after the date on which the Secretary notifies Congress that at least 2 persons accredited under subsection (b) of this section are available to review at least 60 percent of the submissions under section 360(k) of this title, or

“(2) 4 years after the date on which the Secretary notifies Congress that the Secretary has made a determination described in paragraph (2)(B) of subsection (a) of this section for at least 35 percent of the devices that are subject to review under paragraph (1) of such subsection,

whichever occurs first.”

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 107–250, § 202(2), added subsec. (d).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2022 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 117–180 effective Oct. 1, 2022, with fees under subpart 3 of part C of subchapter VII of this chapter to be assessed for all submissions listed in section 379j(a)(2)(A) of this title received on or after Oct. 1, 2022, see section 2008 of Pub. L. 117–180, set out as a note under section 360d of this title.

### Effective Date of 2017 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 115–52 effective Oct. 1, 2017, with fees under subpart 3 of part C of subchapter VII of this chapter to be assessed for all submissions listed in section 379j(a)(2)(A) of this title received on or after Oct. 1, 2017, see section 209 of Pub. L. 115–52, set out as a note under section 379i of this title.

### Effective Date

Section effective 90 days after Nov. 21, 1997, except as otherwise provided, see section 501 of Pub. L. 105–115, set out as a note under section 321 of this title.

### Reports on Program of Accreditation

Pub. L. 105–115, title II, § 210(d), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2345, provided that:Comptroller general.— Implementation of program.—Not later than 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 21, 1997], the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Commerce [now Committee on Energy and Commerce] of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources [now Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions] of the Senate a report describing the extent to which the program of accreditation required by the amendment made by subsection (a) [enacting this section] has been implemented. Evaluation of program.—Not later than 6 months prior to the date on which, pursuant to subsection (c) of section 523 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 360m(c)] (as added by subsection (a)), the authority provided under subsection (a) of such section will terminate, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce [now Committee on Energy and Commerce] of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources [now Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions] of the Senate a report describing the use of accredited persons under such section 523, including an evaluation of the extent to which such use assisted the Secretary in carrying out the duties of the Secretary under such Act [21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.] with respect to devices, and the extent to which such use promoted actions which are contrary to the purposes of such Act. Inclusion of certain devices within program.—Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 21, 1997], the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to the Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor and Human Resources [now Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions] of the Senate a report providing a determination by the Secretary of whether, in the program of accreditation established pursuant to the amendment made by subsection (a), the limitation established in clause (iii) of section 523(a)(3)(A) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. 360m(a)(3)(A)] (relating to class II devices for which clinical data are required in reports under section 510(k) [21 U.S.C. 360(k)]) should be removed.”