Search FDA drug shortage records. Returns per-product shortage status, availability, therapeutic category, dosage form, manufacturer, and dates. Use to check whether a drug is currently in shortage, find all oncology drugs with supply issues, or retrieve the openfda block (brand_name, product_ndc...
Part of the Openfda server.
Free to start. No card required.
AI agents call openfda_search_drug_shortages to retrieve information from Openfda without modifying any data. This is common in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows where the agent needs context before taking action. Because read operations don't change state, they are generally safe to allow without restrictions -- but you may still want rate limits to control API costs.
Even though openfda_search_drug_shortages only reads data, uncontrolled read access can leak sensitive information or rack up API costs. An agent caught in a retry loop could make thousands of calls per minute. A rate limit gives you a safety net without blocking legitimate use.
Read-only tools are safe to allow by default. No rate limit needed unless you want to control costs.
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"openfda_search_drug_shortages": {}
}
}See the full Openfda policy for all 12 tools.
These attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access openfda_search_drug_shortages gives an agent. Each links to the full case and the policy that stops it:
Other read tools across the catalogue. The same approach applies to each: allow, with a rate cap to control cost.
Search FDA drug shortage records. Returns per-product shortage status, availability, therapeutic category, dosage form, manufacturer, and dates. Use to check whether a drug is currently in shortage, find all oncology drugs with supply issues, or retrieve the openfda block (brand_name, product_ndc, rxcui) to chain into openfda_get_drug_label or openfda_lookup_ndc.. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Openfda MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Openfda MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for openfda_search_drug_shortages: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Openfda. Nothing to install.
openfda_search_drug_shortages is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the openfda_search_drug_shortages rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for openfda_search_drug_shortages. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
openfda_search_drug_shortages is provided by the Openfda MCP server (https://openfda.caseyjhand.com/mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 12 Openfda tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
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