Commissioner of Food and Drugs

United States Commissioner of Food and Drugs
Incumbent
Robert Califf
since February 17, 2022
Department of Health and Human Services
Food and Drug Administration
Reports toSecretary of Health and Human Services
Term lengthNo fixed term

The United States commissioner of food and drugs is the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The commissioner is appointed by the president of the United States and must be confirmed by the Senate. The commissioner reports to the secretary of health and human services.

Due to frequent controversies involving the FDA, appointments are not always prompt and the agency is often headed by an acting commissioner. For example, Andrew von Eschenbach's appointment was held up by senators who objected to the FDA's refusal to allow emergency contraception to be sold over the counter.

The commissioner has frequently been a physician, but this is not a requirement for the post. Commissioners rarely come from a food-related background.[1]

  1. ^ "How the FDA's food division fails to regulate health and safety hazards". politico.com. Retrieved 2022-04-26.