The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA) is a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, one of the United States federal executive departments. The FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and supervision of the following:
- 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
- veterinary products
FDA does not develop or test products before approving them. Instead, FDA experts review the results of laboratory, animal, and human clinical testing done by manufacturers. If FDA grants an approval, it means the agency has determined that the benefits of the product outweigh the known risks for the intended use. Even when FDA approval is not required before a product is sold, the agency has regulatory authority to act when safety issues arise. For more information about FDA approval, visit this page.