Regulatory considerations in veterinary toxicology

This chapter is an overview of a complex and dynamic area that is under the constant influence of competing interests (consumer groups, industrial groups and professional organizations), new legislation and legal precedents, as well as a new generation of animal health products and issues. It is organized into seven sections: Section I: Food and Drug Administration/Center for Veterinary Medicine; Section II: Environmental Protection Agency; Section III: United States Department of Agriculture; Section IV: Drug Enforcement Administration; Section V: Occupational Safety and Health Administration; and Section VI: Statutes, Regulations and Guidelines. Sections I through V describe the federal agencies that are important to animal health, including: processes, organizational structure and mission, and selected programs. Testing methods and pharmacovigilance for the center for veterinary medicine, the environmental protection agency and the United States Department of Agriculture are described in Sections I through III. The functions of these seven regulatory agencies are outlined. Some of the agencies have overlapping jurisdictions.