What is the main role of the FDA?

The main role of the FDA, or the Food and Drug Administration, is to supervise the development and safety of medications. This encompasses a range of responsibilities, including evaluating new drugs before they can be marketed to ensure that they are safe and effective for public use. The FDA sets standards for clinical trials and thoroughly reviews research data submitted by pharmaceutical companies. This crucial process helps protect consumers by ensuring that any medication approved for use meets specific safety and efficacy requirements.

Additionally, the FDA continues to monitor these medications even after they are on the market, identifying any potential side effects and ensuring that manufacturers adhere to manufacturing standards. This ongoing oversight is critical to maintaining public health and safety.

Other options provided do not encapsulate the FDA's primary focus. While the FDA does oversee the safety of a wide variety of products, including over-the-counter items, its mandate is much broader, covering prescription medications, vaccines, and medical devices among others. The agency does not approve pricing for pharmaceuticals; this task is typically left to the market and individual companies. Monitoring environmental hazards is also not a direct role of the FDA; other agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), typically handle such responsibilities. Therefore, the correct answer highlights the FDA's central function in ensuring medication safety