Which organization is responsible for enforcing medication quality standards?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the correct choice because it is the primary agency tasked with ensuring that medications and food products are safe, effective, and of high quality. The FDA has the authority to establish and enforce quality standards for pharmaceuticals as part of its mandate to protect public health. This includes regulating the manufacturing processes, labeling, and advertising of medications to ensure they meet specific safety and efficacy standards before they can be marketed and sold to the public.

While the other organizations have important roles in the healthcare and pharmaceutical landscapes, they do not specifically enforce medication quality standards to the same extent. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) encompasses a wide range of health-related matters, including oversight of the FDA but does not directly enforce medication quality standards. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) focuses primarily on the regulation of controlled substances and combating drug-related crime rather than on the manufacturing quality of medications. The United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP) establishes compendial standards for medicines and their ingredients; however, it does not have the regulatory enforcement power that the FDA possesses. Thus, the FDA stands out as the authoritative body ensuring medication quality standards are met.