The Food And Drug Administration
By www.menhealthonline.biz
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a federal agency in the United States Department of Health and Health Services. It is responsible for the regulation of most types of food, drugs, medical devices, veterinary equipment, and cosmetics. Additionally, the FDA regulates sanitation on interstate highways as well as disease control regulations on specific situations, from pets like turtles that carry salmonella to semen and egg donations. In 2008, the agency received a $2.1 billion budget to perform its duties, which is a $105.8 million dollar increase from 2007.
Most of the regulations enforced by the FDA are codified into law by the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Safety specifications vary according to each product, especially in regards to its potential risks. The Food and Drug Administration Act heavily regulates all prescription medication, including all steps of production, from testing, manufacturing, marketing, and labeling to efficacy, safety, and distribution, because of its large set of inherent risks. The FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research is responsible for the monitoring of medication, with different requirements for new drugs, generic drugs, and over-the-counter medicine.
New medications must undergo extensive investigation in a process called the New Drug Application (NDA). Generic drugs are prescription medications whose patents have expired, and are therefore available for other companies to manufacture and
