Chemical Mixtures Containing gamma-Butyrolactone

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is soliciting information on chemical mixtures that contain the List I chemical gamma-butyrolactone (GBL). Specifically, DEA is interested in learning what products contain GBL, and what concentrations of GBL and other chemicals are used in their formulations. DEA is also interested in how chemical mixtures containing GBL are packaged, distributed, used, and their availability at the retail level. DEA is seeking this information to help determine whether there are chemical mixtures (as defined in 21 U.S.C. 804(40)) containing GBL which should be exempt from the regulations governing listed chemicals, pursuant to 21 U.S.C. 802(39)(A)(v). Exempt chemical mixtures are those formulations that contain any listed chemical, but are not subject to the regulatory controls of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) that pertain to listed chemicals. On September 16, 1998, DEA published a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register (63 FR 49506) that proposed regulations to define exempt chemical mixtures. Because GBL was not then a listed chemical, regulations defining potential exempt chemical mixtures were not proposed. The information being requested in this advance notice of proposed rulemakig (ANPRM) will be used to help propose regulations to define what chemical mixtures containing GBL may be exempt.