More than 70 years ago, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section became one of the first sections to be formally organized by the New York State Bar Association. During the ensuing years, this group – the first organization in the country to be composed of in-house, law firm, government and trade association attorneys practicing food and drug law – has been a focal point for practitioners in this specialty. We welcome you to our expanded website!
Contact the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Law Section Liaison
To learn more about this Section, please contact Catherine Carl
[email protected]
(518) 487-5679
Larissa Bergin
Larissa Bergin of Washington, DC is the new chair of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section.
Bergin is a partner of Jones Day. Her practice addresses the antitrust concerns arising from mergers and acquisitions matters, joint ventures, federal investigations, and commercial practices.
A 12-year member of the State Bar, Bergin most recently served as secretary of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section. She also is a member of the Antitrust Law Section and the Membership Committee.
Bergin graduated from Boston University, magna cum laude, and earned her law degree from Catholic University of America School of Law, magna cum laude.
Online Community
Legal and Regulatory Legislative Memoranda
- Comments on COVID-19 Task Force’s Revised Resolution No. 3, “COVID-19 Vaccine and Virus Testing Legal Reforms – October 2020
- Comments re FDAs Guidance Entitled “Nonproprietary Naming of Biological Products – May 2019
- Comments re FDA’s Definition of the term “Biological Product” – February 25, 2019
- Comments re FDA’s Facilitating Competition and Innovation in the Biological Products Marketplace – September 21, 2018
- Deemed to Be a License Provision of the Biologics Price Competition– May 13, 2016
- Comments on U.S. FDA Guidance entitled “Framework for Regulatory Oversight of Laboratory Developed Tests” – January 28, 2015
- Comments on FDA Draft Guidance No. 230– “Guidance of Industry Compounding Animal Drugs from Bulk Drug Substances,” August 17, 2015
- Comments on “Non Proprietary Naming of Biological Products:Guidance for Industry,” October 26, 2015
Food, Drug & Cosmetic Law Section Committee
FDA Resources
- FDA
- FDA’s Electronic Orange Book (Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations)
- [email protected]
- Biologics Products and Establishments
- Recently-Approved Devices
- Animal [email protected]
- FDA inspections, Compliance, Enforcement and Criminal Investigations
- FDA Docket Notice (www.regulations.gov)
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Purple Book (approved human biologics)
- Green Book (approved animal drugs)
- Medical Device Approvals (PMAs)
- Medical Device 510(k)s
USDA Resources
International Regulatory Authorities
- European Medicines Agency
- European Union Clinical Trials Register
- Medicines and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom)
- Health Canada
- Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Japan
Section History
The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) established the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section in 1945 as one of the first sections of the NYSBA.
The Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section was formed in 1945 following enactment of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act of 1938 (“the Act”). This NYSBA section was the first of its kind in the nation, serving as the forum for those experts in this field in the private and public sectors. The Chair cited the importance of the increasing the bar’s knowledge of the Act, the work of the Food and Drug Administration, the intended consumer benefits, and the enhancement of technical and ethical standards of industries involved.
“The action of the Association, setting up a Section on Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law, is worthy of special notice not only as this is the first Section of its kind, but also because it will tend to give this branch of law the prestige, the dignity, and the attention which it so clearly merits.” – Charles Wesley Dunn, first Chair, on the creation of the Section.
In addition to food, drug, and cosmetic issues, committees were also created on related fields of practice. Within several years of creation, the Section successfully urged creation of a Food and Drug Committee within the Administrative Law Section of the American Bar Association. Over the years, the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section’s committees have evolved to meet the times.
In its first year, the Section began professional education programs continued today on legislative and administrative developments, ramifications of amendments to the Act, enforcement procedures, approval and marketing in interstate commerce, advertising compliance, and product liability issues. The focal point for the Section’s professional education has always remained the NYSBA’s Annual Meeting, supplemented with specialty topics and events throughout the year.
Annual Meeting Programs
Food, Drug, Cosmetic Law- Annual Meeting 2019 BrochureFood, Drug, Cosmetic Law- Annual Meeting 2018 Brochure
Food, Drug, Cosmetic Law- Annual Meeting 2017 Brochure
Sampling of Past CLE Programs
January 17, 2019 – Food, Drug and Cosmetic Law Section Annual Meeting – Hot Topics in FDA Law
November 1, 2018 – Craft Beverage Law CLE & New York Cider Tasting
October 18, 2018 – Sports, Drugs and Rock & Roll – EASL/FDC Sections (EASL Fall Meeting)
October 4, 2018 – Beyond the Basics of Blockchain: Current and Future Use Cases and Corresponding Regulatory Development
September 21, 2018 – Best Practices for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion | Co-Sponsored by the FDC Section
May 1, 2018 – Pharmaceutical Brand Names: Navigating the PTO/FDA Rapids
October 26, 2017 – FDC/EASL Fall Meeting (Food Truck Law)
October 14, 2016 – Medical Marijuana in New York
May 26, 2016 – Developments in Self Regulation of OCT, Cosmetic & Dietary Supplements
November 11, 2015 – Food for Thought: Street Art and Celebrity Chefs
Food, Drug & Cosmetic Law Section Networking Receptions
June 1, 2017 – with Health Law Section Committee on Medical Research and Biotechnology (230 Fifth Rooftop Bar)
May 26, 2016 – Following the Developments in Self-Regulation of OTC, Cosmetic and Dietary Supplement Advertising Claims (McGuireWoods LLP)
May 14, 2015 – with Health Law Section Committee on Medical Research and Biotechnology (230 Fifth Rooftop Bar)
November 3, 2014 – FDA Lawyers
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