General Info

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, also known as the FDA, is one of the oldest consumer protection agencies in the United States. The agency is a scientific, regulatory and public health organization. It maintains a staff of more than 9,000 employees. The agency is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration protects public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, cosmetics and radiation-emitting products. The agency supports MedWatch, which is a safety information and adverse event reporting program that serves health care professionals and medical product users. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration operates centers for veterinary medicine, toxicological research, biologics assessment, drug evaluation, radiological health monitoring, and food safety and applied nutrition options. The agency maintains a location in Alameda, Calif.