U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Skip navigationFDA Home Page | Search FDA Site | FDA A-Z Index | Contact FDA
horizontal rule
This week in FDA history.This weekly feature from 2006, the FDA's centennial year, highlights history and progress in the agency's first 100 years.A sampling of significant events in the Food and Drug Administration's first 100 years.
The first Citizens Advisory Committee meets in Washington, D.C.
February 3, 1955:
The first Citizens Advisory Committee meets in Washington, D.C. to assess the effectiveness of the administration of the food, drug, and cosmetic laws. Its findings prompt growth in FDA resources over the next several years, especially its laboratory infrastructure.

FDA in 2006

With the passage of the Federal Advisory Committee Act in 1972, public advisory committees took on important roles throughout the federal government. Today, the highly qualified experts on the FDA's technical and scientific advisory committees help the agency make approval decisions for products ranging from prescription drugs to complex medical devices and give policy
advice on topics as diverse as food safety, toxicological research, and veterinary medicine. Membership is carefully balanced to include the perspectives of consumers, patients, health practitioners, and industry, and each member is screened to assure decisions are not influenced by financial conflicts of interest.
rule

FDA Centennial Home Page | FDA History

FDA Home Page | Search FDA Site | FDA A-Z Index | Contact FDA | Privacy | Accessibility

FDA Website Management Staff

link to FDA home page link to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services FDA logo--link to FDA home page