# Justice Manual § 4-8.010: Introduction

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.010

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 4-8.010
- **Heading:** Introduction
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 4: Civil / 4-8.000 - Consumer Protection / Justice Manual § 4-8.010

## Text

The Consumer Protection Branch (“CPB”) handles criminal and civil litigation and related matters arising under federal statutes that protect consumers’ health, safety, economic security, and identity integrity. The Branch is responsible for criminal and civil actions under statutes administered by the Food and Drug Administration, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and under certain statutes administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
See
28 C.F.R. § 0.45(j);
JM 4-1.313
. The Branch also defends against challenges to government programs and policies in consumer-related areas, including actions of the Food and Drug Administration and the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

CPB, created in 1971, has been central in developing the caselaw under the various consumer protection statutes over which it has jurisdiction, and the Branch has considerable expertise in these areas of the law.

CPB frequently partners with U.S. Attorney's Offices ("USAOs") and other Department components to advance complex investigations and litigation. Through such collaboration, CPB is able to share substantial resources related to investigative leads, evidence review, and model pleadings. Among other things, CPB’s coordination with USAOs and others ensures that unique legal, policy, and factual concerns, as well as necessary approvals, are appropriately considered in litigation under CPB’s statutes.

[updated January 2021]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 4-8.010 Introduction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.010.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-8.100 Persons to Contact at CPB](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-8.200 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act Litigation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.200.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-8.205 Litigation Involving Drugs or Medical Devices](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.205.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-8.215 Strict Misdemeanor Liability and “Park” Misdemeanor Liability Under the FDCA](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.215.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-8.220 FDCA Seizures](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.220.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-8.225 Tobacco](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.225.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-8.230 Defensive FDCA Litigation](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.230.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-8.300 The FTC Act and Other Statutes Administered by the Federal Trade Commission](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.300.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-8.400 Elder Fraud, Servicemember Fraud, and other Mass-Marketing Fraud Schemes](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.400.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-8.500 The Consumer Product Safety Act and Other Statutes Administered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.500.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-8.600 Statutes Administered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.600.md)
- [Justice Manual § 4-8.700 Civil Penalty and Injunctive Actions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.700.md)

---

Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S4-8.010. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.