Amid the hard-to-follow cutbacks at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a little-known but important office was eliminated — and the implications will be felt not only by drugmakers, but consumers.

The Division of Policy Development in the Office of Generic Drug Policy, which was created more than a decade ago, was responsible for a host of activities that were central to ensuring generic drugs were approved properly for the American market.

Now, though, that goal may be in jeopardy.