FDA Vs. USDA

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) work in conjunction to protect the American people on issues related to the safety of the food and medicines we consume. While their broad mandates are similar, the two agencies differ in their approaches and use different means to accomplish their distinct goals.

FDA

• The FDA is an agency consisting of a number of centers and offices dealing with specific topics. It is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety and efficacy of drugs, biological products, medical devices, cosmetics, products that emit radiation and the nation's food supply. It is also responsible for advancing public health by making these products safer and more affordable, and ensuring information related to their use is publically available.

USDA

• The USDA is a full federal government department headed by a cabinet member, the Secretary of Agriculture. It has a number of specific missions carried out by agencies under its supervision. These missions include assisting the country's farmers and ranchers from an economic and marketing perspective, food safety and work towards ending hunger. The USDA also is involved in protecting America's natural resources and environment as well as assisting rural communities through financial programs and loans.

Working together

• The FDA and USDA work toward maintaining the safety of the food chain and its consumers. Together they can be a powerful force ensuring the health of the nation and addressing problems as they arise. An example of this ability to work together is shown in the response to the December 2003 discovery of a cow infected with BSE, commonly known as mad cow disease. While the USDA tracked down the source herd of the infected animal and recalled meat that was possibly from the animal, the FDA was working to ensure the disease did not spread from feed.

Different agendas

• The FDA is involved in regulating drugs, medical products and potential health risks that are not in scope for the USDA. This can at times cause friction between the two agencies and their policies toward certain groups or businesses. One prime example would be tobacco products. While the FDA wants stronger regulation and would support the elimination of tobacco products, this would hurt the nation's tobacco farmers. Their protection and economic viability is a concern of the USDA, which can potentially be offering help and guidance to a group manufacturing a product that the FDA warns consumers to avoid.

Enforcement

• The FDA has a number of enforcement tools at its disposal. It sets guidelines for various processes, such as drug production and conducts periodical inspections to ensure compliance. IT conducts safety tests for new medicines and medical devices, and can declare them unsafe and unfit for the market. It can also call for recalls of products shown to be dangerous to the public, such as some over-the-counter weight control products. The USDA also enforces its guidelines by levying fines and granting or revoking accreditations, such as that given to farms producing organic products.