# 21 CFR § 20.23: Request for existing records

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.23

## Section

- **Citation:** 21 CFR § 20.23
- **Heading:** Request for existing records
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 22, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 21—Food and Drugs > CHAPTER I—FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES > SUBCHAPTER A—GENERAL > PART 20—PUBLIC INFORMATION > Subpart B—General Policy

## Text

(a) Any written request to the Food and Drug Administration for existing records not prepared for routine distribution to the public shall be deemed to be a request for records pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, whether or not the Freedom of Information Act is mentioned in the request, and shall be governed by the provisions of this part.
(b) Records or documents prepared by the Food and Drug Administration for routine public distribution, e.g., pamphlets, speeches, and educational materials, shall be furnished free of charge upon request as long as the supply lasts. The provisions of this part shall not be applicable to such requests except when the supply of such material is exhausted and it is necessary to reproduce individual copies upon specific request.
(c) All existing Food and Drug Administration records are subject to routine destruction according to standard record retention schedules.

## Nearby sections

- [21 CFR § 20.1 § 20.1 Testimony by Food and Drug Administration employees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.1.md)
- [21 CFR § 20.2 § 20.2 Production of records by Food and Drug Administration employees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.2.md)
- [21 CFR § 20.3 § 20.3 Certification and authentication of Food and Drug Administration records.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.3.md)
- [21 CFR § 20.20 § 20.20 Policy on disclosure of Food and Drug Administration records.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.20.md)
- [21 CFR § 20.21 § 20.21 Uniform access to records.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.21.md)
- [21 CFR § 20.22 § 20.22 Partial disclosure of records.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.22.md)
- [21 CFR § 20.23 § 20.23 Request for existing records.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.23.md)
- [21 CFR § 20.24 § 20.24 Preparation of new records.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.24.md)
- [21 CFR § 20.25 § 20.25 Retroactive application of regulations.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.25.md)
- [21 CFR § 20.26 § 20.26 Electronic availability and indexes of certain records.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.26.md)
- [21 CFR § 20.27 § 20.27 Submission of records marked as confidential.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.27.md)
- [21 CFR § 20.28 § 20.28 Food and Drug Administration determinations of confidentiality.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.28.md)
- [21 CFR § 20.29 § 20.29 Prohibition on withdrawal of records from Food and Drug Administration files.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.29.md)
- [21 CFR § 20.30 § 20.30 Food and Drug Administration Division of Freedom of Information.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.30.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/ecfr-21-20.23. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.