Which foundational US Act established baseline safety requirements long before specific anti-counterfeiting mandates targeted drug diversion?

Answer

Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938

The regulatory groundwork for drug safety in the United States began significantly before modern electronic tracking became technically or legally required. The Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 served as the initial legislative foundation, establishing broad safety requirements for products entering commerce. While this act addressed general product safety, it did not contain the direct, unit-level anti-counterfeiting mandates seen in later legislation; those specific enforcement mechanisms evolved much later in response to specific supply chain vulnerabilities.

Which foundational US Act established baseline safety requirements long before specific anti-counterfeiting mandates targeted drug diversion?
inventionsystemtracktrace