Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Quick Definition: FDA
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services. It oversees the safety, efficacy, and truthful labeling of a wide range of products including human and animal drugs, vaccines, medical devices, food, cosmetics, and tobacco.
Key Points
- Approves and monitors: Drugs, vaccines, devices, food additives, and more. It does not control pricing, insurance coverage, or medical practice.
- Inspects facilities: Domestic and foreign sites where regulated products are made.
- Enforces standards: Issues recalls, warnings, and bans on unsafe products.
- FDA-approved means the FDA reviewed data and determined the product is safe and effective for its intended use.
- The FDA does not test products itself. The agency reviews data submitted by manufacturers and may inspect facilities, but it does not conduct testing in-house.
