In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the development of new drug products and their subsequent marketing. One of the FDA’s functions is to promote and protect public health by helping safe and effective drug products reach the market in a timely manner, and to monitor these products for continued safety after they are in use. In addition to conventional and biologic drugs, the FDA regulates related products such as tissues for transplantation, medical devices, veterinary drug products, as well as most food products (except meat and poultry), animal feed, and tobacco products.
In addition, the FDA monitors the safety of cosmetics, medical and consumer products, and devices that emit radiation (such as cell phones, microwave ovens, and lasers). The FDA also has responsibilities in response to bioterrorism by ensuring adequate and timely supplies of therapeutic agents to treat the injured.
