Overview of FDA and Regulations
Overview of FDA
The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety,
effectiveness and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products,
medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that release
radiation.
FDA is also responsible for progressing the public health by helping to speed
improvements that make medicines more effective, safer, and cheaper and by
helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use
medicines and foods to maintain and improve their health. FDA also has
responsibility for regulating the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of
tobacco products to protect the public health and to cut down on tobacco use by
youths.
FDA plays an important role in the Nation’s counterterrorism capability. FDA
fulfills this responsibility by ensuring the security of the food supply and by
fostering development of medical products to respond to deliberate and naturally
emerging public health threats.
The scope of FDA’s regulatory authority is very broad. FDA's
responsibilities are closely related to those of several other government
agencies. Often frustrating and confusing for consumers is determining the
appropriate regulatory agency to contact. The following is a list of
traditionally-recognized product categories that fall under FDA’s regulatory
jurisdiction; however, this is not an exhaustive
list.
In general, FDA regulates:
Foods including:
Dietary supplements, bottled water, infant formulas & other food products (although the U.S. Department of
Agriculture plays a lead role in regulating aspects of some meat, poultry,
and egg products)
Drugs
including:
prescription drugs (both brand-name and generic) & non-prescription (over-the-counter) drugs
Biologics
including:
vaccines, blood and blood products, cellular and gene therapy products, tissue and tissue products & allergenics
Medical
Devices, including:
Electronic
Products that give off radiation, including:
microwave ovens, x-ray equipment, laser products & mercury vapor lamps
Cosmetics
including:
color additives found in makeup and other personal care products, skin moisturizers and cleansers, nail polish and perfume
Veterinary
Products including:
livestock feeds, pet foods & veterinary drugs and devices
Tobacco
Products, including:
cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, smokeless tobacco
FDA does not regulate:
advertising some consumer products, such as paint, child-resistant
packages, baby toys, and household appliances
other government agencies.
Sources:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cWp3Mh7aNzk/Us1cwFII_-I/AAAAAAAAGk4/vQjMszo4Pkw/s1600/NSA-FDA-Seal.png
http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm194879.htm
http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/WhatWeDo/default.htm
The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety,
effectiveness and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products,
medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that release
radiation.
FDA is also responsible for progressing the public health by helping to speed
improvements that make medicines more effective, safer, and cheaper and by
helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use
medicines and foods to maintain and improve their health. FDA also has
responsibility for regulating the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of
tobacco products to protect the public health and to cut down on tobacco use by
youths.
FDA plays an important role in the Nation’s counterterrorism capability. FDA
fulfills this responsibility by ensuring the security of the food supply and by
fostering development of medical products to respond to deliberate and naturally
emerging public health threats.
The scope of FDA’s regulatory authority is very broad. FDA's
responsibilities are closely related to those of several other government
agencies. Often frustrating and confusing for consumers is determining the
appropriate regulatory agency to contact. The following is a list of
traditionally-recognized product categories that fall under FDA’s regulatory
jurisdiction; however, this is not an exhaustive
list.
In general, FDA regulates:
Foods including:
Dietary supplements, bottled water, infant formulas & other food products (although the U.S. Department of
Agriculture plays a lead role in regulating aspects of some meat, poultry,
and egg products)
Drugs
including:
prescription drugs (both brand-name and generic) & non-prescription (over-the-counter) drugs
Biologics
including:
vaccines, blood and blood products, cellular and gene therapy products, tissue and tissue products & allergenics
Medical
Devices, including:
- dental devices
- surgical implants and prosthetics
Electronic
Products that give off radiation, including:
microwave ovens, x-ray equipment, laser products & mercury vapor lamps
Cosmetics
including:
color additives found in makeup and other personal care products, skin moisturizers and cleansers, nail polish and perfume
Veterinary
Products including:
livestock feeds, pet foods & veterinary drugs and devices
Tobacco
Products, including:
cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, smokeless tobacco
FDA does not regulate:
advertising some consumer products, such as paint, child-resistant
packages, baby toys, and household appliances
- illegal drugs of abuse, such as heroin and marijuana
- health insurance
- meat and poultry (except for game meats, such as venison,
ostrich, and snake) - restaurants and grocery stores
- vaccines for infectious animal
diseases
other government agencies.
Sources:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cWp3Mh7aNzk/Us1cwFII_-I/AAAAAAAAGk4/vQjMszo4Pkw/s1600/NSA-FDA-Seal.png
http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/Transparency/Basics/ucm194879.htm
http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/WhatWeDo/default.htm