Food and drug administration

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is an agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services that is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs (medications), vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, medical devices, electromagnetic radiation emitting devices (ERED), cosmetics, animal foods & feed and veterinary products.

History[edit | edit source]

The FDA was established in 1906 with the passage of the Federal Food and Drugs Act. The agency was originally tasked with testing and regulating drugs and food products to ensure they were safe for human consumption.

Role and Responsibilities[edit | edit source]

The FDA's primary role is to protect public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices. It is also responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation.

Regulatory Activities[edit | edit source]

The FDA regulates a wide range of products, including foods (except for aspects of some meat, poultry and egg products, which are regulated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture), human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products, medical devices, electronic products that emit radiation, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and tobacco products.

Criticisms and Controversies[edit | edit source]

The FDA has been criticized for its regulatory decisions, its relationship with the pharmaceutical industry, and its handling of safety issues with drugs and medical devices.

See Also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]


Food and drug administration Resources
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Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD