Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA)
Drafted: 1938 - Amended: 1954 and 1958
By: Tara Stull
What is the FFDCA?
The United States Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic
act is a set of laws set by Congress, giving authority to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to oversee the safety of food, drugs and cosmetics. Originally set in 1938.
Why was the FFDCA enacted?
Environmental Issues?
The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act was first enacted in 1938
after a legally marketed toxic elixir, sulfanilamide medication where
diethylene glycol was used to dissolve the drug and make a liquid form,
killed 107 people, including several children.
Its function is to prohibit the movement in interstate
commerce of adulterated and misbranded food, drugs,
devices and cosmetics and for other purposes.
One environmental issue is protection of human health and
safety by preventing the harm that can come from such
things as food additives, medicinal drugs and cosmetic
products.
Now, the FFDCA requires producers of food additives to demonstrate to a reasonable certainty that no harm will result from the intended use of an additive. If the FDA finds an additive to be safe the agency issues a regulation specifying the conditions under which the additive may be safely used.
FFDCA governs the establishment of pesticide
tolerances for food and feed products.
- A tolerance is the maximum level of pesticide
residues allowed in or on human food and animal feed.
Picture: FDR signing the FFDCA
Who governs the FFDCA?
The Food and Drug Admionistration (FDA) is responsible for the regulation and enforcement of the act.