DEA greenlights increased production, importation of controlled substances amid COVID-19 shortages

Apr 07, 2020 - 04:15 PM

The Drug Enforcement Agency today said it is increasing annual caps for controlled substances whose supplies are in high demand due the COVID-19 crisis. DEA said it will increase the 2020 Aggregate Production Quotas by 15% for certain substances needed for the treatment of COVID-19, including fentanyl, morphine, hydromorphone, codeine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and certain controlled substance intermediates which are essential to their production. The agency also is increasing the authorized amounts of certain schedule III and IV controlled substances needed to treat patients on ventilators that may be imported into the United States, including ketamine, diazepam, midazolam, lorazepam, and phenobarbital.

DEA said it will reevaluate demand and adjust APQ levels as needed after the health emergency recedes.

In a letter sent April 1, the AHA, American Medical Association, American Society of Anesthesiologists, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and Association for Clinical Oncology urged DEA to allow drug manufacturers and 503B outsourcing facilities to receive increased APQ controlled-substance allocations during the COVID-19 crisis.

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