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  3. Electronic Product Radiation Control Program
  4. Getting a Radiation Emitting Product to Market: Frequently Asked Questions
  1. Electronic Product Radiation Control Program

Getting a Radiation Emitting Product to Market: Frequently Asked Questions

General Requirements

Q1) What products are regulated as electronic products that emit radiation?
Any product that contains an electronic circuit and generates any kind of radiation is an electronic product that emits radiation. X radiation (X-rays), microwaves, radio waves (radiofrequency (RF)), laser, visible light, sound, ultrasound, and ultraviolet light are a few examples of the many types of radiation-emitting electronic products. Diagnostic x-ray systems, laser products, laser light shows, and microwave ovens are a few examples out of the many different electronic products that emit radiation. Legal definitions of the terms "electronic product radiation" and "electronic product" are located in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Chapter 5, Subchapter C - Electronic Product Radiation Control.

Q2) Who has regulatory authority over the manufacture and use of radiation-emitting electronic products?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) is responsible for regulating radiation-emitting electronic products within the scope of its authority under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The CDRH goal is to protect the public from hazardous and unnecessary exposure to radiation from electronic products. For most electronic products, safety regulation is divided between CDRH and state regulatory agencies. CDRH regulates the manufacture of the products, and the states regulate the use of the products.

For additional information on CDRH regulations that apply to manufacturers of electronic products see the Laws and Regulations (Radiation-Emitting Products) webpage.

Suggested State Regulations for safe use can be found at the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors, Inc.'s web site CRCPD's web site also contains contact information for each state's regulatory agency.

Note: Manufacturers may be subject to additional FDA regulations if their product is intended to be used in a medical application (Medical Devices) or for irradiation or inspection of food (Title 21 CFR 179 Food Irradiation). These regulations do not address radiation safety and their details are beyond the scope of this document.

Q3) What gives FDA the authority to regulate manufacturers of radiation-emitting electronic products and what are the regulatory requirements?
The FDA's statutory authority to regulate radiation-emitting electronic products is granted by the United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Chapter V, Subchapter C, Electronic Product Radiation Control. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, Chapter 5, Subchapter C - Electronic Product Radiation Control

Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Subchapter J, Parts 1000 through 1050 (21 CFR Parts 1000 – 1050) contains radiation safety regulations for manufacturers of radiation-emitting electronic products. Manufacturers are responsible for producing products that do not emit hazardous and unnecessary radiation. All manufacturers must comply with the applicable requirements in 21 CFR Parts 1000, 1002, 1003, 1004 and 1005. If a mandatory radiation safety performance standard applies to a manufacturer's product, then the manufacturer must also comply with 21 CFR Part 1010 and the product must comply with the requirements of the standard. Mandatory radiation safety performance standards are found in 21 CFR Parts 1020 – 1050.

Q4) What other Federal Agencies are involved in radiation safety?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for issuing general radiation guidance to Federal Agencies.

The U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has regulations on protecting workers from radiation in the workplace.

The National Institutes of Occupational Safety and Health does assessments of potential work place hazards including radiation.

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has jurisdiction over radioactive materials used in nuclear reactors and radioactive materials that are man- made (http://www.nrc.gov).

Q5) Am I a manufacturer?
Manufacturer means any person engaged in the business of manufacturing, assembling, or importing electronic products. [21 CFR 1000.3(n)]

Requirements for Records and Reporting

Q6) Am I required to maintain records and submit reports for radiation- emitting electronic products to CDRH?
Yes. Manufacturers are required to maintain records and submit reports to CDRH for their electronic products that emit radiation. The specific requirements for reporting and record keeping are listed by product in Table 1 of 21 CFR 1002.1.

Please review the Records and Reporting (Radiation-Emitting Products) webpage for additional information regarding reports required prior to introduction of a radiation-emitting electronic product into United States interstate commerce.

Q7) When do I have to submit the product, supplemental, or abbreviated report required for my new product?
Your product, supplemental, or abbreviated report must be submitted prior to introduction of the product into interstate commerce. Early submission of your report increases the probability that CDRH can contact you about problems before you sell your product.

If your product is an import, please send in your report at least one month before you present your products for import. This allows CDRH time to provide an acknowledgement of receipt letter which will include the report's accession number. An accession number is a unique identification number for your report assigned by the CDRH Document Control Center (DCC) staff when the report is received.

Q8) When do I have to submit my Annual Report?
Annual reports are due September 1 of every year. The report should cover production for the US from July 1 of the previous year through June 30 of the current year. The Reporting forms or guides for Annual Reports may be found in the electronic submissions software. For information on each product area, see the FDA eSubmitter webpage, and the A-Z List of Regulated Products & Procedures webpage.

There is a 2-month "grace" period between June 30th and September 1st of each year when the annual report submitted by September 1 of the previous year is still valid while the manufacturer prepares a report due by September 1 of the current year. For example, an annual report for July 1, 2007 - June 30, 2008 that was submitted by September 1, 2008, is still valid through September 1, 2009.

Reports can be sent by email to RadHealthCustomerService@fda.hhs.gov.

Q9) When my company sells a regulated product line to another company, how do we inform CDRH?
Your company can inform CDRH by submitting an Annual Report to "close out" either a particular model or your entire involvement in the electronic product manufacturing business.

Situation 1: A firm makes a radiation-emitting electronic product (one or a cluster of many) and then stops making electronic products. They file one more Annual Report and say they are now out of the business of making electronic products. No more Annual Reports are expected unless they resume making electronic products.

Situation 2: A firm makes one or several electronic products and then stops making them, but still makes others. They still need to submit Annual Reports, but the models they stopped are marked as discontinued effective on a certain date. We no longer expect to find those models in the Annual Report.

If your company prefers not to wait to submit an Annual Report, you may also submit a letter listing all the models and Accession numbers that are being acquired by another company. This letter serves as a report supplement for each Accession number and the CDRH Document Control Center (DCC) will update each Accession number to reflect the new ownership. Manufacturers are required to submit product reports on the electronic products they manufacture and certify to the performance standard, per 21 CFR 1002.10. So a new manufacturer may submit a new stand-alone report on the product or might submit a new supplement for each model describing any changes introduced by the firm that affects its compliance to the performance standard, such as component changes, the new certification and identification label, other required labels, the firm's own quality control inspection & testing procedures, and a new Operator's manual as soon as they are printed.

Q10) When do the Radiological Health reporting responsibilities begin after a model or product line changes hands?

As soon as the new company begins manufacturing the new product, they are responsible for assuring that these products comply with the applicable performance standard. This includes developing and implementing an adequate in-house quality control inspection and testing program such that each unit that passes complies with the performance standard and carries a certification label prior to marketing. The company is also required to submit their own radiation safety product report demonstrating how the product complies. Initially, it would be acceptable to reference the previous manufacturer's product report; however, as the new manufacturer may modify components, testing procedures, and print up their own labels and user/service instructions, CDRH is concerned with the new firm's quality assurance so the new firm must submit their own documentation.

Q11) How should a company get the reports submitted by the previous manufacturer transferred to the new firm?

When electronic products are transferred from one firm to another, it is appropriate to have the records transferred as well. A letter or email on company letterhead sent to the CDRH/DCC identifying which models and report Accession numbers should be transferred to the new company name and contact information will assure that the CDRH database is updated to reflect the new ownership. However, be aware that the company is also required to submit their own radiation safety product report demonstrating how the product complies, because the new manufacturer may modify components, testing procedures, and print up their own labels and user/service instructions, which need to be submitted to CDRH in a product report.

Q12) Where do I send my report?
You can email your report to: RadHealthCustomerService@fda.hhs.gov

OR send your report to our mailing address

U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Document Control Center - WO66-G609
10903 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002

Q13) May I submit radiation safety reports and correspondence to CDRH by email?
Yes, all Radiation Safety reports may now be submitted to CDRH by email to the RadHealthCustomerService@fda.hhs.gov mailbox. This includes all report types, such as product reports, annual reports, and supplemental reports of all types, and all communications such as notifications of defect/failure to comply, corrective action plan (CAP) proposals, and accidental radiation occurrences (AROs). Reports should be submitted in PDF format, or packaged by the eSubmitter packaging procedures, and attached to your email. eSubmissions no longer need to be transferred to a physical medium and mailed to the CDRH Document Control Center (DCC). An eSubmitter user does not need to acquire an FDA Electronic Submissions Gateway account. Do not use the Rad Health mailbox to submit medical device premarket submissions (PMA, De novo, or 510(k)) or eMDR submissions.

For more information on Radiological Health reports, please review the CDRH Learn Modules: How to Get your Electronic Product to the US Market and Electronic Product Certification and Quality Testing Programs.

Q14) If I want to sell my product immediately, is it acceptable to initially submit an incomplete product report?
No. The reports you submit must contain all of the information required by the applicable regulations (21 CFR 1002.10 through 1002.12). If CDRH has published a reporting guide for your product, please follow the format and organization in the reporting guide when preparing your report. You may refer to Records and Reporting (Radiation-Emitting Products) web site or use the FDA eSubmitter electronic reports software to prepare your report.

Acknowledgement Letters and Accession Numbers

PLEASE NOTE:
If you have submitted a report on a product and have not yet received your acknowledgement letter, please wait at least one month before contacting DCC.

Q15) What is the purpose of the acknowledgement of receipt letter?
The CDRH acknowledgement of receipt letter is intended to inform you:

  • That your report has been received;
  • That your report has been entered into our database;
  • Of the Product Code assigned to your report; and
  • Of your report's accession number.

An acknowledgement of receipt letter is not an approval of your product nor does it mean that your report is adequate.

Q16) What is an accession number?
Accession numbers are unique identifiers for reports in our database and are provided in the CDRH acknowledgement of receipt letters. An accession number facilitates communication about specific reports because all parties can use the accession number to identify the document being discussed. Additionally, FDA imports staff use accession numbers to confirm that a manufacturer has, at a minimum, complied with the self-certification and reporting requirements for the product being imported.

Q17) Does an accession number for my report mean that CDRH has approved my product?
No. An accession number means that your report has been received by CDRH Document Control Center (DCC), and some information about the manufacturer and product were entered into our database.

Q18) Where are acknowledgement of receipt letters sent?
Acknowledgement of receipt letters are returned to the address provided for the report submitter. Only one copy of the letter is sent. If the submitter is different from the manufacturer, the letter is only sent to the report submitter. The submitter may send a copy to the manufacturer.

Q19) How long after I submit my report may I expect to receive an acknowledgement of receipt letter from CDRH?
You should receive an acknowledgement of receipt letter within four weeks after you emailed or mailed your product report, abbreviated report, annual report or supplemental report. Please wait at least 4 weeks before making an inquiry. If you have not received your acknowledgement of receipt letter after four weeks from the date you submitted your report, you may contact CDRH at:

Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Document Mail Center - WO66-G609
10903 New Hampshire Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002
Email: RadHealthCustomerService@fda.hhs.gov.

If you contact us, please provide us the names of the manufacturer and submitter, the model name or number, the date the report was sent, the exact address you used, the name of mail service used, and any associated tracking number. We will not respond to inquiries received less than four weeks from the date you sent the report.

If you submit your report electronically, an email acknowledgement message will be sent out as soon as the submission is successfully loaded into the CDRH database. Typically, an electronic report is loaded within one day of receipt.

Q20) Is there something I can do to assure a faster acknowledgement of receipt letter of my report?
Yes. We have electronic submissions software, eSubmitter, for all documents required by the Radiological Health program in CDRH. Reports prepared and submitted using this software may be acknowledged significantly faster than a traditional report submitted on paper. You may use the FDA eSubmitter to submit documents electronically. The FDA eSubmitter software correctly packages and the FDA Gateway authenticates and validates electronic submissions for routing to CDRH.

Q21) Do I have to wait until I receive an acknowledgement letter with my accession number before I can begin shipping my products to customers?
No. However, you are required to submit reports to CDRH before introducing products into United States commerce. The acknowledgement of receipt letter and accession number are evidence that the report was received by CDRH. If your product is made in another country for import into the United States, the import clearance process requests identification of the accession number on the import affirmation form, FDA 2877, when that form is required. The form FDA 2877 is available at: FDA Forms.

Q22) How long does it take for CDRH to approve my product after a report receives an accession number?
CDRH does not have the authority, to approve the radiation safety of an electronic product that emits radiation. You may not receive a technical review about your product report. If CDRH has not contacted you about your report, it means that we have not identified any significant deficiencies with the report or questions about your product.

It may take at least four weeks after you mailed your report to receive your acknowledgement of receipt letter that contains your accession number. Neither the acknowledgement of receipt letter nor the accession number constitutes an approval of your product.

Q23) Will CDRH contact me after review of my report?
CDRH will not contact you unless we have specific questions about your product or report.

Performance Standards and Certification

Q24) What is certification?
Certification means that the manufacturer of a radiation-emitting electronic product states that the product complies with an applicable FDA performance standard and does not emit hazardous and unnecessary radiation. Certification is based upon the manufacturer's own quality control testing program and does not indicate FDA approval.

Q25) Does the FDA approve the certification of my product?
No. Certification is a manufacturer's statement that indicates its product complies with the applicable standard. The manufacturer is responsible for assuring the certification (21 CFR 1010) that a product complies with an applicable standard is true to the best of its knowledge. This statement of certification must be based on a quality control and testing program which can demonstrate that each product manufactured complies with the applicable standard.

Note: The only routine communication sent by CDRH regarding radiation safety is an acknowledgement of receipt letter (see Q11). Only manufacturers with safety issues or potential safety issues receive letters from the FDA.

Q26) How do I know if an FDA performance standard applies to my product?
Table 1 of 21 CFR 1002.1 shows a list of products followed by a reference to any applicable standard. Mandatory radiation safety performance standards are contained in 21 CFR Parts 1020 through 1050. The first section of each standard defines and describes products subject to that standard.

Q27) What if no FDA performance standard applies to my product?
It is always the manufacturer's responsibility to produce an electronic, radiation-emitting product that does not emit hazardous and unnecessary radiation and to comply with the general requirements in 21 CFR 1000 through 1005. If there is no performance standard associated with the product, the manufacturer may still have certain reporting requirements, see Table 1 of 21 CFR 1002.1.

Laser Standards and International Standards

Q28) For products with an applicable FDA mandatory radiation safety performance standard, are there any other standards that FDA will accept?

All products with an applicable standard must comply with the FDA's standard before entering the U.S. or its territories. The FDA will provisionally accept portions of IEC laser standards as described in Laser Notice 50 and 56; however, on June 7, 2023, FDA announced that manufacturers should prepare to transition to Laser Notice No. 56 because Laser Notice 50 (LN 50) will be withdrawn on December 31, 2024.

Please see information on Laser Notices to Industry on the Notices to the Laser Industry web page. 

Some program areas, such as the diagnostic X-ray products, may have posted guidance documents that recognize international standards and/or provide guidance on certain reporting requirements. The FDA does not recognize regulatory approvals from other countries or other organizations. 

Q29) Is the decision to withdraw Laser Notice 50 a final notice or is it provisional information?

In 2014, the International Electrotechnical Committee (IEC) published IEC 60825-1:2014 (Edition 3) and has since withdrawn IEC 60825-1:2007 (Edition 2), on which Laser Notice 50 was based. The FDA announcement of the withdrawal of Laser Notice 50 is intended to provide ample notice for industry to adjust their quality test programs before the effective date, which is December 31, 2024. Up to and including this effective date, manufacturers may continue to certify their laser products using Laser Notice 50. However, it is recommended that manufacturers begin to prepare to certify their laser products to either the FDA laser standard in 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11 or use Laser Notice 56.  

Q30) For products that have been reported under Laser Notice No. 50, do we need to resubmit product reports / supplemental reports under Laser Notice No. 56 and change the certification label on the products?

No, you will not have to resubmit product reports or supplemental reports. However, if the compliance of your firm’s laser products changes as a result of certifying products using Laser Notice 56, then submit a supplemental report describing those changes from how the products were reported from the initial product report or laser supplemental report. Such changes could be as minimal as including updated emission values for classification and labeling (including the certification label as per Laser Notice 56), or as substantial as reporting a change to a new laser class and changes in corresponding performance features, labeling, quality test program, and user information, among other information.

Q31) Will the products for which the reports were already submitted while Laser Notice No. 50 is in effect continue to be considered compliant with the performance requirements of 21 CFR Part 1040 after the withdrawal?

Laser products properly certified using Laser Notice 50 up through December 31, 2024, will be considered compliant after the withdrawal date. Laser products certified after December 31, 2024, will not be considered compliant with the FDA laser performance standard unless they comply with the FDA laser performance standard as found in 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11, or unless they certified through conformance to the relevant portions of IEC 60825-1 Ed. 3 and IEC 60601-2-22 Ed. 3.1 identified as comparable with 21 CFR 1040.10 and 1040.11 as specified in Laser Notice 56.  

Q32) Will laser products being certified in accordance with Laser Notice 50 before its withdrawal need to be re-designed, re-evaluated and re-certified in accordance with Laser Notice 56 once Laser Notice 50 is withdrawn?

No. Any laser product certified using Laser Notice 50 before Jan 1, 2025, will be considered compliant, and may be entered into U.S. commerce upon submission of a product report; it will not need to be re-designed, re-evaluated, or re-certified to the FDA laser performance standard as written, or using Laser Notice 56. Should a manufacturer not be able to certify its laser products without using Laser Notice 50 after December 31 2024, the manufacturer may apply for a variance.

Q33) May a laser-illuminated projector (LIP) be certified to comply with the FDA laser performance standard using Laser Notice 50?

No.  Laser Notice 57 was published on May 8, 2019, and superseded prior guidance on LIPs. Laser Notice 57 was drafted with input from members of industry, as was the IEC LIP vertical standard, IEC 62471-5, which is referenced in Laser Notice 57. The FDA determined that Laser Notice 57 represents the most appropriate means for certifying these special purpose laser products. Specifically, Laser Notice 57 directs the use of IEC 60825-1:2014 Subclause 4.4, which describes suitability for classification using the IEC lamp standard, IEC 62471. Should the conditions in Subclause 4.4 not be met, LIP manufacturers would then use IEC 60825-1:2014, Subclause 4.3 for laser classification.  Laser Notice 50 cannot be used with Laser Notice 57.

Q34) How do I contact the FDA for questions about the use of Laser Notice 50, 56 or 57?

Please email any questions about radiation-emitting electronic products, including those about Laser Notices, to RadHealth@fda.hhs.gov.

Standards and Requirements for Electronic Products  

Q35) We make thousands of products a year; do we have to test each one?
Not necessarily. When appropriate, you may use a statistically valid sampling plan as a part of your quality control and testing program. Any sampling plan must conform to appropriate consensus standards on quality control sampling.

Q36) When am I allowed to sell my product in the United States?
You may sell your product when you have assured your product does not emit hazardous and unnecessary radiation. Additionally, if there is an applicable mandatory federal radiation safety performance standard:

  • Your product must comply with the applicable standard;
  • You must establish a testing and quality control program sufficient to prove your product is completely compliant with its applicable standard (21 CFR Parts 1020 through 1050);
  • Your product must have certification and identification information permanently affixed or inscribed as required in the general performance standard (21 CFR Paty 1010). You may only place a certification label on a product if your certification is based on an adequate quality control and testing program. The certification label is your statement that your product conforms to the applicable standard (21 CFR Part 1010.2).

Q37) I want to import a medical laser product (or other medical radiation-emitting product), what do I need to do to get it approved for U.S. market?
Because they are medical devices, they must also comply with the medical device regulations, including establishment registration and device listing requirements and applicable premarket review requirements.

For more information, see the Device Advice: Comprehensive Regulatory Assistance webpage, "How to Study and Market Your Device."

Q38) What standards and requirements are applicable to components of electronic products?

Some components are subject to performance standards and reporting requirements.

For example, diagnostic x-ray components identified in 21 CFR 1020.30(a)(1)(i) must comply with specific requirements in 21 CFR 1020.30 and be certified.

Laser components are exempt from the performance standard in 21 CFR 1040.10 & .11, so long as they meet specific applicability requirements identified in 21 CFR 1040.10(a). Laser component manufacturers must register their firm and identify their products by submitting a document as described in 21 CFR 1040.10(a)(3) and maintain distribution records.

Only the diagnostic x-ray and laser standards have specific requirements for components (certification or registration). For all other products, 21 CFR 1002.10, 1002.11, 1002.12, and 1002.13 apply to systems. Systems might require assembly by the user or might be fully assembled systems.

Importation of Electronic Products

Q39) What form do I need to submit to the FDA Imports office to import my product into the U.S.?
Importers of radiation-emitting electronic products subject to an FDA performance standard are required to submit a written declaration on "Declaration of Products Subject to Radiation Control Standards," form FDA 2877, along with other import entry information, through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to the appropriate FDA imports office. Electronic products that emit radiation, which fail to comply with the applicable performance standard or do not have a certification label or tag (21 CFR 1010.2) affixed to each product shall be refused entry. If your product is subject to a performance standard, one way to indicate you have reported your product as required to FDA is by including the accession number on form FDA 2877.

Q40) As a foreign manufacturer, when do I need to identify a U.S. Agent?
Your U.S. Agent should be identified at the time of preparing your product report. Please see the regulation at 21 CFR 1005.25. If your products are also medical devices, additional information may be found on the U.S. Agents web page.

Q41) Are imported devices entering the U.S. under an FDA approved Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) also exempt from complying with performance standards under the Radiological Health program?
No, they must comply with applicable radiation standards. Noncompliant radiation emitting electronic medical products (such as medical x-ray, and medical laser) subject to a standard cannot be legally imported and/or distributed and used domestically under an IDE for clinical studies because the performance standards already exist for these products.

Medical devices that are also radiation-emitting products must comply with both medical device regulations as well as electronic product regulations. Electronic product regulation 21 CFR 1010.1 states the standards listed in that subchapter are prescribed pursuant to performance standards under section 534 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Therefore, although an IDE would provide exemptions from section 514 (medical device performance standards), it does not exempt manufacturers from section 534 (electronic product performance standards), which means those regulations in 21 CFR Parts 1000 through 1050 must still be followed for radiation emitting products used in clinical studies conducted following an approved IDE. The product must  comply with the applicable standard(s), be certified, and a completed and accurate product report must be submitted to CDRH before the product is released to the importer and clinical investigators, as required by 21 CFR 1002.10.

Product Specific Questions

Q42) Are Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) or Intense Pulsed Lights (IPLs) subject to the laser regulations and reporting requirements?
LEDs and IPLs do not meet the definition of a laser, namely:

21 CFR 1040.10(b)(19) Laser means any device that can be made to produce or amplify electromagnetic radiation at wavelengths greater than 250 nm but less than or equal to 13,000 nm or, after August 20, 1986, at wavelengths equal to or greater than 180 nm but less than or equal to 1.0*106nm primarily by the process of controlled stimulated emission.

However, as they are radiation-emitting products, the manufacturers of LED and IPL products are subject to the general requirements in 21 CFR Parts 1000 through 1005, specifically, accidental radiation occurrence notifications and notifications of defect, 21 CFR Parts 1003 & 1004. There is no existing FDA performance standard for LED or IPL products. They are not subject to Product or Annual reports under 21 CFR Part 1002.

Getting More Information

Q43) Can I contact CDRH to get guidance on the meaning of specific requirements of a performance standard or applicable regulation regarding radiation-emitting electronic products?
Yes. We want you to understand our requirements. When contacting CDRH, please try to be specific about the details of your product and what part of the standard or other regulation you are inquiring about.

Questions may be directed to DICE@fda.hhs.gov or you may review the Radiation-Emitting Products web page.



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