The FDA is responsible for overseeing direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising (ad) of prescription drugs, which includes TV, magazines, and the Internet. If FDA identifies a violation of laws or reg¿s. in a DTC ad material, the agency may issue a regulatory letter (RL) asking the drug co. to take specific actions. In 2002, there were delays in FDA¿s issuance of these RL. This testimony discusses trends in FDA¿s oversight of DTC ad and the actions FDA has taken when it identifies violations. This statement discusses the: (1) DTC ad materials FDA reviews; (2) FDA¿s process for issuing RL citing DTC ad materials and the number of RL issued; and (3) the effectiveness of FDA¿s RL at limiting the dissemination of false or misleading DTC ad. Charts and tables.