An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know U.S. Food and Drug Administration Search Menu Home About FDA FDA History FDA History Share Tweet Linkedin Email Print The Food and Drug Administration is the oldest comprehensive consumer protection agency in the U. S. federal government. Since 1848 the federal government has used chemical analysis to monitor the safety of agricultural products -- a responsibility inherited by the Department of Agriculture in 1862 and later by the FDA. Although it was not known by its present name until 1930, FDA’s modern regulatory functions began with the passage of the 1906 Pure Food and Drugs Act, a law a quarter-century in the making that prohibited interstate commerce in adulterated and misbranded food and drugs. Harvey Washington Wiley, Chief Chemist of the USDA Bureau of Chemistry, had been the driving force behind this law and headed its enforcement in the early years, providing basic elements of protection that consumers had never known before that time. Since then, the FDA has changed along with social, economic, political and legal changes in the United States. Examining the history of these changes illuminates the evolving role that FDA has played in promoting public health and offers lessons to consider as we evaluate current regulatory challenges. ORAL HISTORIES; RESEARCH TOOLS Oral Histories Read first-hand accounts of important agency changes from former FDA employees. Research Tools Recommendations from the agency’s historians on useful resources for researchers. HISTORICAL IMAGES; FDA HISTORY EXHIBITS Historical Images Search and download over 250 free, non-copyrighted, high resolution digital images on FLICKR. External Link Disclaimer FDA History Exhibits Explore FDA history through select images, artifacts and vignettes. Content current as of: 06/29/2018 FDA History Milestones in U.S. Food and Drug Law The History of Food & Cosmetics Regulation The History of Drug Regulation The History of Biologics Regulation The History of Medical and Radiation-Emitting Device Regulation The History of Toxicological Research at FDA The History of Veterinary Product Regulation The History of FDA's Enforcement Work FDA Leadership: 1907 to Today Changes in Science, Law and Regulatory Authorities FDA History Exhibits FDA History Research Tools The FDA History Office 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)