The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announces that Tracey Forfa, J.D., a 30-year veteran of the agency, is the new director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM).
The CVM IS charged with ensuring safe animal food, animal drugs and veterinary medical devices are brought to the marketplace.
Forfa has been acting in the position since December 2022, when previous director Steven M. Solomon, DVM, MPH, retired from federal service. She has been with CVM since 2002 and was appointed the deputy center director in 2008. She also previously served as acting director in 2016.
“After a robust recruitment and interview process, I’m pleased to announce Tracey’s selection as Center Director,” said Robert M. Califf, M.D., MACC, commissioner of Food and Drugs. “I know she will continue to apply the Center’s guiding principles: protecting public health; regulating based on the best evidence and science; leveraging and collaboration; operating transparently; continuous quality improvement; and strong stakeholder engagement.”
Forfa is the first non-veterinarian to hold the CVM directorship. As recently determined by Commissioner Califf, however, when the center director is not a veterinarian, the agency soon will name a chief veterinary officer to advise on a wide variety of veterinary issues.
AFIA backs pick to lead CVM
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) applauded the FDA's announcement.
"With her rich, 30-year history at the FDA, we have no doubt that her knowledge of the animal food industry will serve the agency well as it looks to modernize its regulatory processes to keep up with scientific advances in animal nutrition and help the United States regain its global competitive edge," said Constance Cullman, AFIA president and CEO.
"With its planned reorganization of the food program, the FDA is at a critical juncture, and we are confident that Tracey will be the effective leader Commissioner Robert Califf and the animal food industry needs to ensure the unique products the CVM regulates are properly addressed.”
