The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is a governmental body comprised of the Office of the Commissioner and four main directorates. These directorates manage the agency's essential duties: overseeing Medical Products and Tobacco, Foods and Veterinary Medicine, Global Regulatory Operations and Policy, and general Operations.The FDA's primary role is to safeguard public health by ensuring that foods (excluding meat from livestock, poultry, and certain egg products, which are under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture) are safe, nutritious, clean, and accurately labeled. It also ensures that human and veterinary medications, along with biological products and medical devices for human use, are safe and effective. Additionally, the FDA protects the public from hazards associated with electronic products, guarantees the safety and proper labeling of cosmetics and dietary supplements, regulates tobacco products, and promotes public health by supporting product innovations.The FDA's jurisdiction covers all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and other U.S. territories and possessions.
