Title 21, Food and DrugsRelease 119-102
§890 Review of Federal Sales of Chemicals Usable to Manufacture Controlled Substances
Title 21 › CHAPTER 13 — DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONTROL › SUBCHAPTER I — CONTROL AND ENFORCEMENT › Part E — Administrative and Enforcement Provisions › § 890
Summary
Federal departments and agencies cannot sell chemicals from their own supplies if the DEA Administrator believes those chemicals could be used to make illegal drugs. A sale can only go ahead after the DEA Administrator gives a written certification to the head of that department or agency saying there is no reasonable cause to believe the sale would lead to illegal drug production.
Full Legal Text
Title 21, §890
Food and Drugs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A Federal department or agency may not sell from the stocks of the department or agency any chemical which, as determined by the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, could be used in the manufacture of a controlled substance unless the Administrator certifies in writing to the head of the department or agency that there is no reasonable cause to believe that the sale of the chemical would result in the illegal manufacture of a controlled substance.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
21 U.S.C. § 890
Title 21, Food and Drugs
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102