21 CFR § 12.78 - Unavailability of presiding officer.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t21/s12.78"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "21 CFR § 12.78 - Unavailability of presiding officer."
title_number: 21
title_name: "Food and Drugs"
section_number: "12.78"
section_name: "Unavailability of presiding officer."
chapter_name: "FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL"
part_number: "12"
part_name: "FORMAL EVIDENTIARY PUBLIC HEARING"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "21 U.S.C. 141-149, 321-393, 467f, 679, 821, 1034; 42 U.S.C. 201, 262, 263b-263n, 264; 15 U.S.C. 1451-1461; 5 U.S.C. 551-558, 701-721; 28 U.S.C. 2112."
regulatory_source: "44 FR 22339, Apr. 13, 1979, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "12"
---


# 12.78 Unavailability of presiding officer.

(a) If the presiding officer is unable to act for any reason, the Commissioner will assign the powers and duties to another presiding officer. The substitution will not affect the hearing, except as the new presiding officer may order.

(b) Any motion based on the substitution must be made within 10 days.