Food and Drug Control activities were started in 1927, a year before the first Food and Drug Act (1928). Until 1960 food control work was fragmented and exercised by various departments. Later on, the Department of Health assumed responsibility for overall food safety in the country. In 1972, Public Health Law was promulgated and successive attempts had been made to strengthen the food control work. In early 1990, as the Myanmar Government realized the need to further strengthen the food & drug control work, and attempts had been made to improve it.

As food and drug safety is concerned with a number of sectors including agriculture, fisheries, industry, trade & environment, in recognition of the need for integration, formation of Food & Drug Board of Authority was created. At the same time, in accordance with the provision of National Drug Law, Food & Drug Division has been upgraded to be a Department under a Director as Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 1995. Food &Drug Administration has two divisions; Food Division and Drug Division. Each division has Enforcement & Laboratory units. Food enforcement unit comprises of regulatory affairs, inspection, training and advisory services. Food laboratory unit has food and water microbiological and chemical laboratories.

The National Food Law has been promulgated in 1997 in line with WHO Model Food Law. Notifications regarding with National Food Law are under process. For the interim measures, FDA, Department of Health refers Codex Alimentarius Commission (CAC) as working materials. Myanmar is the long time member of WHO, FAO, CAC and WTO. Myanmar participates in ASEAN Trade Protocol and regional Sanitary & Phytosanitory Agreement (SPS) and Technical Barrier to Trade Agreement (TBT). FDA is contact point for CAC. The Myanmar Government enforces to practice Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) mandatory in food processing industries.