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Enforcement Policy for Face Masks and Barrier Face Coverings During the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency : Guidance for Industry and Food and Drug Administration Staff

FinalCenter for Devices and Radiological Health09/05/2023

Description

FDA plays a critical role in protecting the United States from threats such as emerging infectious diseases, including the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. FDA is committed to providing timely guidance to support response efforts to this pandemic.

Scope & Applicability

Product Classes

4
Face Mask

A mask that covers the user's nose and mouth used as source control

Barrier Face Covering

Product worn on the face for source control and particulate filtration; The product is labeled as a barrier face covering and is evaluated in accordance with 42 CFR Part 84

Barrier Face Coverings

Subject of the enforcement policy

Face Masks

Subject of the enforcement policy

Stakeholders

3
Health Care Personnel

EUAs have helped increase availability of these devices to HCP

HCP

inform patients and HCPs about the benefits and safety of biosimilars

healthcare personnel

Users of the devices in healthcare settings

Regulatory Context

Attributes

2
Flammability

meets the design, leakage assessment, material, and flammability criteria

liquid barrier protection

A characteristic used to categorize face masks

Identified Hazards

Hazards

1
Infectious disease transmission

Medical purpose for which face masks are intended

Related CFR Sections (2)

Related Warning Letters (10)

  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated

    Envoy Medical Inc.

    2025-12-09
  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated

    Hong Qiangxing Shenzhen Electronics Limited

    2025-11-25
  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated

    Contec Medical Systems Co., Ltd.

    2025-10-28
  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated/Misbranded

    Royal Philips

    2025-10-28
  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated/Misbranded

    Qianjiang Kingphar Medical Material Co Ltd.

    2025-10-28
  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated

    LEVO AG

    2025-10-21
  • CGMP/QSR/Medical Devices/Adulterated

    Technological Medical Advancements LLC

    2025-10-07
  • Medical Device Reporting/Misbranded

    Insung Medical Co. Ltd.

    2025-09-30
  • Medical Device/Adulterated/Misbranded/Lacks PMA and/or 510(k)

    The Richline Group, Inc.

    2025-09-23
  • Investigational Device Exemptions (IDE)/Premarket Approval Application (PMA) Adulterated Device

    SeniorLife Technologies, Inc.

    2025-09-16

See Also (8)