COVID-19 Leads FDA To Relax Rules On Surgical Masks, Offer EUAs For Reprocessing Some Respirators

The US agency is relaxing some regulatory requirements on facial masks and actively pursuing ways to reprocess N95 respirators used by medical staff under an immediately-in-effect guidance document.

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Manufacturers of some medical face masks won’t need US Food and Drug Administration clearance to sell their wares under an immediately in effect guidance document issued on March 26.

Some regulatory requirements on masks are being relaxed as part of the agency’s efforts to increase the country’s supply of face masks and respirators during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the guidance document states

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