Skip to main content
          Skip to FDA Search
          Skip to in this section menu
          Skip to footer links


U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government

					Here’s how you know
          			Dot gov**The .gov means it’s official.**Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site.
							      SSL**The site is secure.** The **https://** ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. 
			U.S. Food and Drug Administration
				
        Search
            Menu
							
						Search FDA
									
									Submit search 
		Featured
							Contact FDA
	                FDA Guidance Documents
	                Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts
	                Press Announcements
	                Warning Letters
	                Advisory Committees
	                En Español

					Products
            Food
							Drugs
							Medical Devices
							Radiation-Emitting Products
							Vaccines, Blood, and Biologics
							Animal and Veterinary
							Cosmetics
							Tobacco ProductsTopics
            About FDA
							Combination Products
							Regulatory Information
							Safety
							Emergency Preparedness
							International Programs
							News and Events
							Training and Continuing Education
							Inspections and Compliance
							Science and ResearchInformation For
            Consumers
	            Patients
	            Industry
	            Health Professionals
	            Federal, State and Local Officials 
 In this section:

                Center for Veterinary Medicine

Center for Veterinary Medicine
              
                        Contact CVM
          Working at CVM


                        CVM FOIA Electronic Reading Room
          CVM Offices
          CVM Ombuds
          CVM Vision and Mission Home
          About FDA
          FDA Organization
          Center for Veterinary MedicineFDA Organization Center for Veterinary Medicine
    Also referred to as: CVM

    
Share
    Post
    Linkedin

    Email
    PrintEspañol

**What CVM RegulatesWhat CVM Does Not Regulate (Common Misconceptions)**

The mission statement for FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) reads, “Protecting Human and Animal Health.” To achieve this broad mission, CVM:

Ensures animal drugs are safe and effective, properly made, and adequately labeled and packaged;
	Ensures that when food-producing animals, such as cattle and chickens, are treated with an animal drug, food made from those animals, such as meat, milk, and eggs, are safe for people to eat;
	Ensures that new animal food additives are safe and serve their intended function;
	Educates pet owners, animal producers, veterinarians, and the animal health industry about the products we regulate;
	Monitors the safety of all types of animal food for all types of animals;
	Monitors and investigates side effects and product quality problems that are reported for animal food, drugs, and devices (like thermometers and pacemakers) once they are sold on the market;
	Carries out research to support our policies and regulatory decisions about animal food, drugs, and devices;
	Works to make more animal drugs legally available for minor species, such as ferrets and fish; and for minor (infrequent and limited) uses in a major species, such as horses and dogs;
	Works to support and spur the development of new technologies and approaches that address health needs across human, animal and environmental health sectors; and
	Leads, coordinates, and manages CVM’s international activities in collaboration with relevant FDA Centers and Offices, as well as FDA’s international regulatory counterparts.Meet Tracey Forfa, Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine

What CVM Regulates

Animal Drugs
	Animal Food & Feeds (which includes pet food)
	Animal Medical DevicesFrequently Asked Questions about Animal Drugs

Information for Veterinarians

What CVM Does Not Regulate (Common Misconceptions)

CVM does not provide veterinary advice. If you have a concern about your pet's health, please talk to your veterinarian.
	CVM does not regulate the practice of veterinary medicine. If you have a complaint about your veterinarian or questions about veterinary standard of care, contact the veterinary medical board in your state:
	American Veterinary Medical Association, Veterinary State Board Websites
		American Association of Veterinary State Boards, Licensing Boards for Veterinary Medicine
	In most cases, CVM does not regulate vaccines for infectious animal diseases, like rabies and distemper. The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates these vaccines. (Infectious animal diseases are diseases caused by harmful organisms, such as some viruses and bacteria, and can spread from animal to animal or between animals and people.)
	CVM regulates some flea and tick products as animal drugs while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates others as pesticides. If a product is regulated by EPA, its label will list an EPA Registration Number (sometimes written as “EPA Reg. No.”). If a product is regulated by CVM, its label will typically have a six-digit New Animal Drug Application (NADA) or Abbreviated New Animal Drug Application (ANADA) number and a statement indicating the drug is FDA-approved.Additional Resources

Contact CVM
	Working at CVM
	CVM’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategic PlanContact Us


    
  
  Contact Point
          CVM
							
		    		    	Center for Veterinary Medicine
Food and Drug Administration
7500 Standish Pl, HFV-1
Rockville, MD 20855
		    
		    		    	Hours Available
		AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov
		    
		    		    	(240) 402-7002

                                                                                  Content current as of:
      11/15/2023Center for Veterinary Medicine
              
          
                        Contact CVM
          Working at CVM


                        CVM FOIA Electronic Reading Room
          CVM Offices
          CVM Ombuds
          CVM Vision and Mission
 
 Footer Links
    FDA Archive
          About FDA
          Accessibility
      Visitor Information
          Website Policies / Privacy
          No FEAR Act
          Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
      FOIA
          HHS.gov
          USA.gov
    Contact FDA
      Follow FDA on Facebook
      Follow FDA on X
      Follow FDA on Instagram
      Follow FDA on LinkedIn
      View FDA videos on YouTube
      Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds
    FDA Homepage
    Contact Number
      1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) Back toTop