An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know U.S. Food and Drug Administration Search Menu Home About FDA What We Do What We Do Share Tweet Linkedin Email Print Español FDA Mission FDA's Regulatory Responsibilities: Laws and Regulations Product Approval Recalls, News, and Events Guidance Documents, Rulemaking, and Freedom of Information FDA Basics FDA Mission The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. FDA also has responsibility for regulating the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of tobacco products to protect the public health and to reduce tobacco use by minors. FDA is responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medical products more effective, safer, and more affordable and by helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medical products and foods to maintain and improve their health. FDA also plays a significant role in the Nation's counterterrorism capability. FDA fulfills this responsibility by ensuring the security of the food supply and by fostering development of medical products to respond to deliberate and naturally emerging public health threats. FDA's Regulatory Responsibilities: Laws and Regulations Laws enforced by FDA What does FDA regulate? FDA 101: An overview of FDA's regulatory and research activities FDA regulations: 21 CFR, Food and Drugs Product Approval Approvals of FDA-regulated products Is It Really "FDA-Approved?" Recalls, News, and Events Recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts FDA news and events Guidance Documents, Rulemaking, and Freedom of Information Search for FDA guidance documents FDA rules and regulations FDA Dockets: Comment on rulemaking, administrative proceedings Freedom of Information Content current as of: 03/28/2018 What We Do Centennial Quiz Footer Links FDA Archive About FDA Accessibility Visitor Information Website Policies / Privacy No FEAR Act FOIA HHS.gov USA.gov Contact FDA Follow FDA on Facebook Follow FDA on Twitter View FDA videos on YouTube Subscribe to FDA RSS feeds FDA Homepage Contact Number 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332)