Organization Introduction

Food and Drug Administration

Introduction to US FDA

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA or U.S. FDA) is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. FDA is responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the control and regulation of food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter drugs (pharmaceuticals), vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, medical devices, electromagnetic radiation emitting devices (EREDs), cosmetics, animal food and feed, and veterinary products.

The FDA's primary responsibility is to enforce the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The agency also administers other laws, particularly Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act and related regulations. Much of its regulatory and enforcement work does not directly involve food or drugs, including oversight of lasers, cell phones, and condoms. Furthermore, the FDA is responsible for disease control in areas ranging from household pets to human sperm used in assisted reproduction.

The FDA is led by a Commissioner of Food and Drugs, who is appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Commissioner reports to the Secretary of Health and Human Services. As of January 24, 2025, Sara Brenner serves as Acting Commissioner, succeeding Commissioner Robert Califf, who resigned on January 20, 2025.

The FDA is headquartered in White Oak, Silver Spring, Maryland. The agency operates 223 field offices and 13 laboratories across all 50 states, the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Since 2008, the FDA has deployed personnel to countries such as China, India, Costa Rica, Chile, Belgium, and the United Kingdom.

Organizational Structure

Department of Health and Human Services

Food and Drug Administration

Director's Office (C)

Office of the Legal Counsel (OCC)

Executive Secretariat (OES)

Office of the Director's Advisor

Office of Digital Transformation (ODT)

Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER)

Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH)

Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN)

Center for Tobacco Products (CTP)

Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM)

Oncology Center of Excellence (OCE)

Office of Regulatory Affairs (ORA)

Office of Clinical Policy and Programs (OCPP)

Office of External Affairs (OEA)

Office of Food Policy and Response (OFPR)

Office of Minority Health and Health Equity (OMHHE)

Operations Office (OO)

Office of Policy, Legislation and International Affairs (OPLIA)

Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS)

National Center for Toxicology Research (NCTR)

Office of Women's Health (OWH)