Feds will begin issuing safety labels for drugs marketed to children in a bid to prevent a new wave of drug-related deaths and illnesses, the Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday.
The FDA’s new labeling guidelines for the most commonly used and most widely used drugs in the United States are based on recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics and other experts and are intended to give parents a clear sense of what to expect when taking a drug.”FDA’s labeling requirements will help parents understand and take reasonable steps to ensure that their children are not exposed to unsafe or potentially harmful drug ingredients,” FDA Commissioner Dr. Cynthia Cox said in a statement.
“We are committed to protecting the health of our nation’s children and families, and we are working to make this a reality.”
The FDA is now issuing its own labeling guidelines, and the agency is expected to begin issuing its new labeling guidance in the coming months.
FDA officials say the agency expects the new labeling to go into effect within the next six months.
The new guidelines will be issued on a case-by-case basis.
The FDA will be in charge of issuing the labeling guidelines to the states.
FDA will also begin issuing guidance to doctors on how to write up patient information and health warnings.
