21 CFR Part 1271 · Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products

§ 1271.320 Complaint file

Subpart D - Current Good Tissue Practice Official text on eCFR Amendment history

(a) Procedures. You must establish and maintain procedures for the review, evaluation, and documentation of complaints as defined in § 1271.3(aa) , relating to core current good tissue practice (CGTP) requirements, and the investigation of complaints as appropriate.

(b) Complaint file. You must maintain a record of complaints that you receive in a file designated for complaints. The complaint file must contain sufficient information about each complaint for proper review and evaluation of the complaint (including the distinct identification code of the HCT/P that is the subject of the complaint) and for determining whether the complaint is an isolated event or represents a trend. You must make the complaint file available for review and copying upon request from FDA.

(c) Review and evaluation of complaints. You must review and evaluate each complaint relating to core CGTP requirements to determine if the complaint is related to an HCT/P deviation or to an adverse reaction, and to determine if a report under § 1271.350 or another applicable regulation is required. As soon as practical, you must review, evaluate, and investigate each complaint that represents an event required to be reported to FDA, as described in § 1271.350 . You must review and evaluate a complaint relating to core CGTP requirements that does not represent an event required to be reported to determine whether an investigation is necessary; an investigation may include referring a copy of the complaint to another establishment that performed manufacturing steps pertinent to the complaint. When no investigation is made, you must maintain a record that includes the reason no investigation was made, and the name of the individual(s) responsible for the decision not to investigate.

Independent copy, not an official legal edition. 21 CFR is a U.S. Government work in the public domain; this text comes from the eCFR and the annual CFR edition, and may lag recent amendments. The authoritative version is on ecfr.gov. Compliome is not affiliated with or endorsed by FDA. Not legal advice.

What FDA inspectors cite under § 1271.320

Form FDA 483 observations citing this section, fiscal years 2009–2025 (Human Tissue for Transplantation).

  • Procedures re complaints 71
  • Review and evaluation, report to FDA 6
  • Designated complaint file 4
  • Sufficient information to draw conclusions 4
  • Available for review and copying by FDA 2
  • Documentation of decision not to investigate 1

Warning letters citing § 1271.320

2 FDA warning letters since 2017 cite this section :

FDA guidance that cites § 1271.320

Amendment history

Federal Register documents that created or amended this section.