Originally enacted in 1953 as part of Act 197, the Arkansas Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is codified under Arkansas Code Annotated (A.C.A.) §§ 20-56-201 to 20-56-223, within Title 20: Public Health and Welfare, Chapter 56. The Act has undergone multiple amendments over the decades, with the latest version updated in May 2023. While the core framework has remained in place since the 1950s, each amendment's effective date corresponds to its respective legislative session and bill.

The Act provides the regulatory framework for food, drug, and cosmetic safety at the state level. It includes provisions related to adulterated and misbranded cosmetics, false or misleading advertising, and other prohibited practices, aligning closely with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) while allowing for localized enforcement.