Final answer:
The FDA ensures compliance with standards and regulates the safety and efficacy of consumables and medicines through laws, inspections, and approval processes. The FDA and OSHA provide lists and guidelines for substances to assure the public's safety but vary in their approach to regulation, particularly in the cosmetic industry.
Step-by-step explanation:
Assurance of fidelity to the Standard and National list of allowed and prohibited substances is managed through the enforcement of laws by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA is responsible for ensuring the purity, effectiveness, and truthful labeling of food, drugs, and cosmetics. This includes conducting inspections of production and shipment of these products. US FDA regulations include a system of rigorously tested and approved lists of additives, including permitted colors subject to certification and those exempt from certification, to ensure they adhere to safety standards.
The FDA classifies substances into categories such as foods, food additives, added substances, and dietary supplements. Each has its specific standards and means of violation enforcement. Medicines are also regulated by the FDA to guarantee safety and efficacy, where companies must undergo extensive testing before their products reach the market. While this system protects from unsafe drugs, not all stakeholders benefit equally, implying that some may suffer from such strict regulations.
While the cosmetic industry is largely responsible for product safety, the FDA can intervene when needed. However, there is a noted ambiguity in the standards and systemic method for reviewing chemicals for safety within the cosmetic industry. OSHA also provides a List of Highly Hazardous Chemicals to guide workplace safety regarding hazardous substances.