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FACE MASKS

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

FACE MASKS ARE MEDICAL DEVICES

N95 Respirators and Surgical Masks (Face Masks), Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs), are Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical devices.

Keep that in mind before you import these products from China, India, South Korea, or any other countries.

USE DURING PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY

For the duration of the public health emergency, FDA did not object to the distribution and use of face masks, with or without a face shield (not including respirators), that are intended for a medical purpose (whether used by medical personnel or the general public), without compliance with the following regulatory requirements, where the face mask does not create an undue risk:

▪ Prior submission of a premarket notification.
▪ Registration and listing requirements.
▪ Quality system regulation.
▪ Reports of corrections and removals.
▪ Unique Device Identification requirements.

Such devices would not create an undue risk where:

• The product includes labeling that accurately describes the product as a face mask (as opposed to a surgical mask or filtering facepiece respirator – FFR) and includes a list of the body contacting materials
(which does not include any drugs or biologics).

• The product includes labeling that makes recommendations that would reduce sufficiently the risk of use. The labeling recommends against use in any surgical setting or where significant exposure to liquid, bodily or other hazardous fluids, may be expected; use in a clinical setting where the infection risk level through inhalation exposure is high; and use in the presence of a high intensity heat source or flammable gas.

• The product labeling does not include uses for antimicrobial or antiviral protection or related uses or uses for infection prevention or reduction or related uses and does not include particulate filtration claims.

EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION (EUA)

On March 6, 2023, the FDA revised and reissued the umbrella EUA for disposable, single-use surgical masks intended for use in health care settings by health care professionals, to assist in preventing the spread of infectious materials. The revision authorizes emergency use of only those surgical masks listed in the EUA’s Appendix A as of the date of this reissuance.

However, are not covered:

Powered respirators, such as powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs).

Face shields.

Non health care use of face masks and respirators intended to limit industrial or general exposure to non-infectious particles, such as during construction or other industrial use.

AVAILABLE RESOURCES

▪ Identify FDA-cleared products, search the 510(k) Premarket Notification database using device name (such as, surgical mask) or product code (such as FXX, OUK, or OXZ).

▪ Find NIOSH-approved surgical N95s, search the NIOSH certified equipment list (CEL).

▪ List of emergency use authorized products for masks, respirators, and other personal protective equipment (PPE), search the personal protective equipment EUAs.