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Center for Veterinary Medicine Also referred to as: CVM


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What CVM Regulates
What CVM Does Not Regulate (Common Misconceptions)


The mission statement for FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) reads, “Protecting Human and Animal Health.” To achieve this broad mission, CVM:

  • Makes sure an animal drug is safe and effective before approving it. The center approves animal drugs for companion (pet) animals, such as dogs, cats, and horses; and for food-producing animals, such as cattle, pigs, chickens, and even honey bees. If the drug is for a food-producing animal, before approving it, the center also makes sure that food products made from treated animals—meat, milk, eggs, and honey—are safe for people to eat;
  • Monitors the safety and effectiveness of animal drugs on the market;
  • Makes sure animal food—which includes animal feed, pet food, and pet treats—is safe, made under sanitary conditions, and properly labeled;
  • Makes sure a food additive used in animal food is safe and effective before approving it;
  • Conducts research that helps the center ensure the safety of animal drugs, animal food, and food products made from animals; and
  • Helps make more animal drugs legally available for minor species, such as fish, hamsters, and parrots; and for minor (infrequent and limited) uses in a major species, such as cattle, turkeys, and dogs.

Meet Dr. Steven Solomon, Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine


What CVM Regulates

Frequently Asked Questions about Animal Drugs

Information for Veterinarians


What CVM Does Not Regulate (Common Misconceptions)

  • CVM does not provide veterinary advice. If you have a concern about your pet's health, please talk to your veterinarian.
  • CVM does not regulate the practice of veterinary medicine. If you have a complaint about your veterinarian or questions about veterinary standard of care, contact the veterinary medical board in your state:
  • In most cases, CVM does not regulate vaccines for infectious animal diseases. The U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates these vaccines. (Infectious diseases are diseases caused by harmful organisms, such as some viruses and bacteria, and can spread from animal to animal or from animals to people.)
  • CVM regulates some flea and tick products as animal drugs while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates others as pesticides. If a product is regulated by EPA, its label will list an EPA Registration Number (sometimes written as “EPA Reg. No.”). If a product is regulated by CVM, its label will typically have a six-digit New Animal Drug Application or Abbreviated New Animal Drug Application number and a statement indicating the drug is FDA-approved. (Note: this information is currently not required on the label of an animal drug, but it will be mandatory beginning September 30, 2023.)

Additional Resources




Contact Us

Contact Point
CVM
Center for Veterinary Medicine
Food and Drug Administration
7500 Standish Pl, HFV-1
Rockville, MD 20855
Hours Available
[email protected]
(240) 402-7002
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