News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5, 2003

Publication Of Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking To Adjust Controlled Substances Registration And Reregistration Fees

The Drug Enforcement Adminstration (DEA) has submitted to the Federal Register for publication a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) entitled "Controlled Substances Registration and Reregistration Application Fees. The DEA is publishing this NPRM to propose adjusting the current fee schedule for DEA Controlled Substances Registration to adequately recover necessary costs associated with the Diversion Control Program(DCP). The DEA published its last fee revision in 1993. Fees have remained unchanged since that time as the DEA resolved litigation regarding these fees.

Since the last published rule adjusting the fees in 1993, the DCP has experienced significant growth without any associated increase in registration fees to support the growth and increased funding needs. The DEA is required by law to collect the full costs of the DCP. The fee increases proposed in this rulemaking are required to recoup ongoing program expenses which have been affected by inflation and program activities. In addition the new fees will provide funding for congressionally approved enhancements.

The proposed fees are as follows:

Registrants are encouraged to read the proposal in the Federal Register publication dated February 17, 2003. Written comments must be submitted no later than 60 days after the Federal Register publication. Written comments should be submitted to the Administrator, Drug Enforcement Adminstration, Washington, DC 20537, Attention: DEA Federal Register Representative/CCR. For further information, contact Patricia M. Good, Chief Liaison and Policy Section, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, DC 20537; Telephone (202) 307-7297.