Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act › Federal Trade Commission

The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act is a United States federal law enacted in 1938 in response to deaths following the legal marketing of a toxic elixir. The FDCA authorized the  Federal Drug Administration to... more +

The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act is a United States federal law enacted in 1938 in response to deaths following the legal marketing of a toxic elixir. The FDCA authorized the  Federal Drug Administration to set standards for food and drug safety, and to conduct factory inspections.  The FDCA was amended in 1962 to strengthen drug safety policies and implement new efficacy requirements. In 1976, Congress further amended the FDCA to apply safety and efficacy standards to new medical devices.