(a) As provided in 37 CFR 1.779 of PTO's regulations, in order to determine a product's regulatory review period, APHIS will review the information in each application to determine the lengths of the following phases of the review period, and will then find their sum:

(1) The number of days in the period beginning on the date authorization to prepare an experimental biological product under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act became effective and ending on the date an application for a license was initially submitted under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act; and

(2) The number of days in the period beginning on the date an application for a license was initially submitted for approval under the Virus-Serum-Toxin Act and ending on the date such license was issued.

(b) A license application is “initially submitted” on the date it contains sufficient information to allow APHIS to commence review of the application. A product license is issued on the date of the APHIS letter informing the applicant of the issuance. The issuance of a license releases the product for commercial marketing or use.

(a) Not later than 30 days after the receipt of an application from PTO, APHIS shall determine the regulatory review period. Once the regulatory review period for a product has been determined, APHIS will notify PTO in writing of the determination, send a copy of the determination to the applicant, and make a copy available for public inspection in room 1141, South Building, 14th Street and Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays.

(b) APHIS will also publish a notice of the regulatory review period determination in the Federal Register. The notice will include the following:

(1) The name of the applicant;

(2) The trade name and true name of the product;

(3) The number of the patent for which an extension of the term is sought;

(4) The approved indications or uses for the product;

(5) The regulatory review period determination, including a statement of the length of each phase of the review period and the dates used in calculating each phase.

(a) Any interested person may request a revision of the regulatory review period determination within the 30 day period beginning on its publication in the Federal Register. The request must be sent to the Director, Center for Veterinary Biologics, Policy, Evaluation, and Licensing, 1920 Dayton Avenue, P.O. Box 844, Ames, IA 50010. The request must specify the following:

(1) The identity of the product;

(2) The identity of the applicant for patent term restoration;

(3) The docket number of the Federal Register notice announcing the regulatory review period determination; and

(4) The basis for the request for revision, including any documentary evidence.

(b) If APHIS decides to revise its prior determination, APHIS will notify PTO of the decision, and will send a copy of notification to the applicant and the person requesting the revision (if different from the applicant) with a request for comments within 10 days of notification. If no comment on the proposed revision is received, APHIS will publish the revision in the Federal Register, and include a statement giving the reasons for the revision. If comment is received, APHIS will make a final determination regarding the revision based on such comment and will then publish the revision in the Federal Register, giving reasons for its determination.

APHIS will consider its regulatory review period determination to be final upon expiration of the 180-day period for filing a due diligence petition under § 124.30 unless it receives:

(a) New information from PTO records, or APHIS records, that affects the regulatory review period determination;

(b) A request under § 124.22 for revision of the regulatory review period determination;

(c) A due diligence petition filed under § 124.30; or

(d) A request for a hearing filed under § 124.40.