The mission of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during radiological or nuclear emergencies is to protect the public’s health by ensuring the safety and security of the products it regulates including food, drugs, biologics, medical devices, veterinary and tobacco products. The FDA also facilitates the development of medical countermeasures and provides guidance on their use during emergencies. The FDA’s expertise includes scientists from across all disciplines who are experts in their product fields, as well as radiological health experts who oversee radiation emitting devices and provide advice and consultation on radiological health issues relevant to an emergency. The FDA’s Office of Emergency Management provides coordination across the agency and serves as FDA’s point of contact with other federal agencies for response to emergencies of any type. The FDA is a primary support agency to the U.S. Health and Human Services for Emergency Support Function 8 of the National Response Framework. FDA staff participate in a wide variety of federal interagency workgroups and committees devoted to radiological/nuclear emergency response. Its radiological health experts, along with those from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Agriculture, form the federal Advisory Team for the Environment, Food and Health, which makes recommendations during radiological/nuclear emergencies in support of federal and state, local, tribal and territorial decision makers.
