Skin Bleaching Drug Products For Over-the-Counter Human Use; Proposed Rule Substance Name:Hydroquinone

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing a notice of
proposed rulemaking that would establish that over-the-counter (OTC) skin bleaching drug products are not generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE) and are misbranded. FDA is also withdrawing the previous proposed rule on skin bleaching drug products for OTC human use, which was issued in the form of a tentative final monograph (TFM).
FDA is issuing this proposed rule after considering new data and information on the safety of hydroquinone, the only active ingredient that had been proposed for inclusion in a monograph for these products.
This proposal is part of FDA's ongoing review of OTC drug products.
Further, upon issuance of a final rule, FDA intends to consider all skin bleaching drug products, whether currently marketed on a prescription or OTC basis, to be new drugs requiring an approved new drug application (NDA) for continued marketing.