Center for Veterinary Medicine

Center for Veterinary Medicine

Agency overview
Agency executive	Tracey Forfa, J.D., M. Div., Director
Parent agency	Food and Drug Administration
Website	www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary

The Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) is a branch of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that regulates the manufacture and distribution of food, food additives, and drugs that will be given to animals. These include animals from which human foods are derived, as well as food additives and drugs for pets or companion animals. CVM is responsible for regulating drugs, devices, and food additives given to, or used on, over one hundred million companion animals, plus millions of poultry, cattle, swine, and minor animal species. Minor animal species include animals other than cattle, swine, chickens, turkeys, horses, dogs, and cats.

CVM monitors the safety of animal foods and medications. Much of the center's work focuses on animal medications used in food animals to ensure that significant drug residues are not present in the meat or other products from these animals.

CVM does not regulate vaccines for animals; these are handled by the United States Department of Agriculture^[1]