Federal Register #DEA1282

DEA Proposes Regulation of Phenethyl Halides as List I Chemicals

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), part of the Department of Justice, is proposing new regulations to control phenethyl halides as List I chemicals under the Controlled Substances Act. - Government Buyer: - Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) - OEMs and Vendors: - No specific OEMs or commercial vendors are named; regulation applies to all manufacturers, distributors, importers, and exporters of phenethyl halides - Products/Services Requested: - Regulatory compliance and registration for handling phenethyl halides (phenethyl bromide, phenethyl chloride, phenethyl iodide, phenethyl fluoride) - Affects all chemical mixtures containing these substances, regardless of concentration or transaction size - Unique or Notable Requirements: - Mandatory DEA registration for all entities handling these chemicals - No minimum threshold for regulated transactions; all quantities are covered - No exemptions for chemical mixtures at any concentration - Entities must comply with recordkeeping, reporting, and security requirements - DEA identified 120 domestic suppliers, with only 13 currently registered for List I chemicals - Public comments are requested on legitimate uses and industry impact - Purpose: - To address the use of phenethyl halides in illicit fentanyl and fentanyl analogue production

Description

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is proposing to control phenethyl halides as List I chemicals under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). These chemicals are important in the illicit manufacture of fentanyl, fentanyl analogues, and related substances, and the proposed rule would subject all handlers of phenethyl halides to chemical regulatory provisions without any transaction size threshold. The rule aims to regulate all transactions of phenethyl halides and chemical mixtures containing them, regardless of concentration, to prevent their misuse in drug manufacturing. Comments on the proposal are due by August 10, 2026.

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