[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 223 (Wednesday, November 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 61829]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-30275]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Drug Enforcement Administration
[DEA Number 170N]


Task Force on Suspicious Orders

AGENCY: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Justice.

ACTION: Notice of establishment of Task Force on Suspicious Orders.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the provisions of the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2 (1972), and 41 CFR 101-6.1001-6.1035 
(1992), the Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 
with the concurrence of the Attorney General, is establishing a Task 
Force on Suspicious Orders for the purpose of developing proposals to 
define suspicious orders of listed chemicals which can be used by 
registrants in determining if an order is a suspicious order which must 
be reported to the DEA.
    The Task Force is authorized by Public Law 104-237, Section 504 of 
Subtitle V, Education and Research, the Comprehensive Methamphetamine 
Control Act of 1996 (the MCA). The specific provisions of the Act state 
that:
    The Task Force shall be responsible for providing the Attorney 
General with recommendations, advice, and proposals for the 
establishment of such guidelines that will adequately define suspicious 
orders of listed chemicals. The Task Force shall limit its area of 
consideration to domestic issues regarding suspicious orders.

DATES: This Task Force is effective September 3, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Leser, Program Analyst, Liaison and Policy Section, Office of 
Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, Washington, D.C. 
20537, Telephone (202) 307-4026 or Facsimile (202) 307-8570.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Scope: Regulated persons are required to report suspicious 
regulated transactions to DEA pursuant to 21 CFR 1310.05(a)(1) and 21 
U.S.C. 830(b)(1)(A). In the past, DEA has had general guidelines which 
were published in the Chemical Handlers' Manual as to what constituted 
a suspicious chemical order. The Comprehensive Methamphetamine Control 
Act of 1996 (MCA) mandated the establishment of the Suspicious Orders 
Task Force with the express purpose of developing proposals that 
further define a suspicious order. The scope of discussion of this Task 
Force shall be limited to enhancements and clarifications of what 
constitutes a suspicious chemical order that needs to be reported to 
DEA.
    Membership: In accordance with the provisions of the MCA, this Task 
Force will be composed of appropriate personnel with experience in 
investigating and prosecuting illegal transactions of listed chemicals 
and supplies, and representatives from the chemical and pharmaceutical 
industries.
    The Task Force will consist of 20 members nominated by the chairman 
of the Task Force from relevant industry/trade associations and state 
and local law enforcement agencies. The composition of the Task Force 
shall be:

Two members from the DEA investigative workforce
One member from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of 
California
One member from the International Association of Chiefs of Police
One member from The National Association of Diversion Investigators
One member from the California Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement
One member from the Missouri State Highway Patrol
One member from the Missouri Attorney General's Office
One member from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
One member from the National Association of State Controlled Substances 
Authorities
Two members from the Chemical Manufacturers Association
Two members from the National Association of Chemical Distributors
One member from the national Non-Prescription Drug Manufacturers' 
Association
Four members from the wholesale and retail pharmaceutical marketing 
associations

    The chairman of the Task Force shall reserve the right to add up to 
two additional members to the Task Force as appropriate.
    In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, all meetings 
of the Task Force shall be open to the public with notice of times and 
locations appearing in the Federal Register. Interested parties shall 
be permitted to attend meetings, appear before the Task Force and 
present limited verbal statements, and file written statements with 
Task Force members. Written statements will be taken at any time during 
the meeting and distributed to the Task Force as soon as feasible. 
Presenters of written statements are requested to provide 25 copies of 
the statement to expedite distribution to the Task Force members. If 
the presenter does not/can not provide the requested copies, the 
Designated Federal Official (DFO) will make the copies and the Task 
Force will consider the statement when the copies are available. Verbal 
comments may be limited in time by the DFO to insure adequate 
opportunity for testimony by as many presenters as possible.
    The Task Force will be advisory only and will provide its report to 
the Attorney General.

    Dated: November 10, 1997.
John H. King,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control.
[FR Doc. 97-30275 Filed 11-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-09-M