DEA registration

Definition

The federal certificate a practice must hold to handle controlled substances.

Why It Matters

It is issued to one registrant at one address, and 21 CFR 1301.52(a) terminates it the moment that registrant ceases legal existence or discontinues the practice, with no action by the agency, and the registrant then owes DEA a prompt notice. Nothing signs it over either: 1301.52(b) permits a transfer only on written consent and on conditions the agency names one deal at a time. Moving the controlled substances on hand to a registered buyer takes written notice to the local DEA Special Agent in Charge at least 14 days ahead, under 1301.52(d). So the buyer's own certificate belongs on the closing checklist, and the first day nobody is registered is the first day the cabinet cannot be opened. Ask which entity holds it, whether a satellite address carries its own, and how far along the buyer's application already is.

In numbers: A buyer who applies in the closing week dispenses nothing until their own certificate issues, and on a $4M practice the payroll runs the whole time.