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.
Photo with caption
Local authorities in Kansas City, Mo. supervise the voluntary destruction of X-33 in late 1963.
August 30, 1964:
The FDA asks state and local health and safety officials for help in removing "X-33 Water Repellent" from the market. The extremely flammable product has caused three deaths and more than 30 injuries through flash explosions, in many cases while it was being used in home basements to waterproof masonry.
 

FDA in 2006
Federal oversight of consumer products such as X-33 and many other items used in the home was transferred to the newly created Consumer Product Safety Commission in 1973. One class of consumer products still regulated by the FDA is radiation-emitting products. The FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health is charged with assuring that products such as microwave ovens, TV sets, cell phones, sunlamps, and laser
products meet radiation safety standards. The FDA develops and administers performance standards and conducts research to help reduce the radiation emissions from electronic products and reduce product users' exposure to radiation. Some of the agency's recent research has focused on the potential health effects of hand-held and walk-through security systems, cellular telephones, and hand-held computers.
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