What legislation required that active ingredients be listed on drug packaging and maintain established purity levels?

The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 was pivotal in establishing foundational standards for food and drug safety in the United States. This legislation was designed to prevent the misbranding and adulteration of food and medications. A key aspect of the act was the requirement for active ingredients to be accurately listed on drug packaging, ensuring that consumers and healthcare professionals were informed about what substances were contained in a drug.

Additionally, the act mandated that these products maintain established purity levels, addressing public health concerns regarding the quality and safety of drugs available in the market. This was an early effort to regulate the pharmaceutical industry and protect consumers from substandard or harmful products, laying the groundwork for subsequent regulations and amendments in pharmaceutical law.

This legislation represents a significant shift toward federal regulation of the drug industry, ensuring transparency and accountability in drug manufacturing and labeling, which are critical for patient safety. The later amendments and laws, while also important, focused on different aspects of drug regulation, such as prescription requirements, drug efficacy, and orphan drug designations, but it was the Pure Food and Drug Act that first set these essential standards for active ingredients and purity.