§ 20.31 Retention schedule of requests for Food and Drug Administration records.

(a) Unless unusual circumstances dictate otherwise, the Food and Drug Administration shall maintain and dispose of files of requests and reponses furnished thereto within the time limits authorized by GSA General Records Schedule 14, FPMR 101-11-4, January 10, 1977, as follows: (1) Files created by the receipt of and response to freedom of information requests, except denials and/or appeals, may be destroyed 2 years from date of final response. (2) Files created by a freedom of information request which was wholly or partially denied may be destroyed 5 years after the denial letter was issued. (3) Files created by a freedom of information request which was wholly or partially denied and which denial was subsequently appealed to the Department of Health and Human Services may be destroyed 4 years after final determination by FDA or 3 years after final adjudication by courts, whichever is later. (b) This destruction schedule will automatically be revised whenever the time limits pertaining to these records are revised by the GSA General Records Schedule.