Drug Enforcement Administration December 2017 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is publishing this notice of intent to issue an order temporarily scheduling fentanyl-related substances that are not currently listed in any schedule of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The temporary order will place these substances in schedule I. This action is based on a finding by the Administrator that the placement of these synthetic opioids in schedule I is necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to the public safety. When it is issued, the temporary scheduling order will impose regulatory requirements under the CSA on the manufacture, distribution, reverse distribution, possession, importation, exportation, research, and conduct of instructional activities, and chemical analysis of these synthetic opioids, as well as administrative, civil, and criminal remedies with respect to persons who fail to comply with such requirements or otherwise violate the CSA with respect to these substances.

The Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration is issuing this notice of intent to publish a temporary order to schedule seven fentanyl-related substances in schedule I. These seven substances are: N-(1-phenethylpiperidin-4-yl)- N-phenylpentanamide (valeryl fentanyl), N-(4-fluorophenyl)- N-(1-phenethylpiperidin- 4-yl)butyramide (para-fluorobutyryl fentanyl), N-(4-methoxyphenyl)- N-(1- phenethylpiperidin-4-yl)butyramide (para-methoxybutyryl fentanyl), N- (4-chlorophenyl)- N-(1-phenethylpiperidin-4-yl)isobutyramide (para- chloroisobutyryl fentanyl), N-(1-phenethylpiperidin- 4-yl)-N- phenylisobutyramide (isobutyryl fentanyl), N-(1-phenethylpiperidin-4- yl)- N-phenylcyclopentane carboxamide (cyclopentyl fentanyl), and N-(2- fluorophenyl)- 2-methoxy-N-(1-phenethylpiperidin- 4-yl)acetamide (ocfentanil). This action is based on a finding by the Administrator that the placement of these seven synthetic opioids in schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) is necessary to avoid an imminent hazard to the public safety. When it is issued, the temporary scheduling order will impose the administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions and regulatory controls applicable to schedule I controlled substances under the CSA on the manufacture, distribution, reverse distribution, possession, importation, exportation, research, and conduct of instructional activities, and chemical analysis of these synthetic opioids.