21 CFR § 26.74 - Preservation of regulatory authority.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t21/s26.74"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "21 CFR § 26.74 - Preservation of regulatory authority."
title_number: 21
title_name: "Food and Drugs"
section_number: "26.74"
section_name: "Preservation of regulatory authority."
chapter_name: "FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
subchapter_number: "A"
subchapter_name: "GENERAL"
part_number: "26"
part_name: "MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF PHARMACEUTICAL GOOD MANUFACTURING PRACTICE REPORTS, MEDICAL DEVICE QUALITY SYSTEM AUDIT REPORTS, AND CERTAIN MEDICAL DEVICE PRODUCT EVALUATION REPORTS: UNITED STATES AND THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "5 U.S.C. 552; 15 U.S.C. 1453, 1454, 1455; 18 U.S.C. 1905; 21 U.S.C. 321, 331, 351, 352, 355, 360, 360b, 360c, 360d, 360e, 360f, 360g, 360h, 360i, 360j, 360l, 360m, 371, 374, 381, 382, 383, 393; 42 U.S.C. 216, 241, 242l, 262, 264, 265."
regulatory_source: "63 FR 60141, Nov. 6, 1998, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "26"
---


# 26.74 Preservation of regulatory authority.

(a) Nothing in this part shall be construed to limit the authority of a party to determine, through its legislative, regulatory, and administrative measures, the level of protection it considers appropriate for safety; for protection of human, animal, or plant life or health; for the environment; for consumers; and otherwise with regard to risks within the scope of the applicable subpart A or B of this part.

(b) Nothing in this part shall be construed to limit the authority of a regulatory authority to take all appropriate and immediate measures whenever it ascertains that a product may:

(1) Compromise the health or safety of persons in its territory;

(2) Not meet the legislative, regulatory, or administrative provisions within the scope of the applicable subpart A or B of this part; or

(3) Otherwise fail to satisfy a requirement within the scope of the applicable subpart A or B of this part. Such measures may include withdrawing the products from the market, prohibiting their placement on the market, restricting their free movement, initiating a product recall, and preventing the recurrence of such problems, including through a prohibition on imports. If the regulatory authority takes such action, it shall inform its counterpart authority and the other party within 15 days of taking such action, providing its reasons.