What is the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act?

The Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) was passed for the purpose of ensuring the safety of food, drugs (some medical devices), and cosmetics. The act gave authority to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to administer the provisions of the Act. It is a broad Act including provisions for electronic radiation control, provisions for effective testing and marketing of drugs, and bioterrorism preparation. The FFDCA contains both civil and criminal penalties for violation of its provisions. Repeated, intentional, and fraudulent violations of the Act are generally subject to criminal action.