Florida company Thursday said that it will begin marketing and selling a microchip that can be implanted under the skin, after receiving the go-ahead from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The FDA advised the company, Applied Digital Solutions, that its biochip, called "VeriChip," is not considered a medical device and therefore is not subject to FDA regulation.
FDA officials said that as long as the biochip is used for identification purposes only, it will not have to meet strict FDA guidelines. The ruling saves the product from having to undergo the agency's rigorous and lengthy safety testing procedures.
"The FDA said that VeriChip has no medical function, and Applied Digital Solutions is now free to sell, market and insert the chips in individuals," company spokesperson Matthew Cossolotto told NewsFactor.
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