Control of Ergocristine, a Chemical Precursor Used in the Illicit Manufacture of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, as a List I Chemical

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is proposing to control the chemical precursor ergocristine as a List I chemical under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Clandestine laboratories are using this chemical as a substitute for the List I chemicals ergotamine and ergonovine to illicitly manufacture the schedule I controlled substance lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). If finalized as proposed, handlers of ergocristine would be subject to the chemical regulatory provisions of the CSA and its implementing regulations, including 21 CFR parts 1309, 1310, 1313, and 1316. This rulemaking does not propose the establishment of a threshold for domestic and international transactions of ergocristine. As such, all transactions involving ergocristine, regardless of size, would be regulated. This rulemaking also proposes to specify that chemical mixtures containing ergocristine will not be exempt from regulatory requirements at any concentration. Therefore, all transactions of chemical mixtures containing any quantity of ergocristine would be regulated and subject to control under the CSA if this rule is finalized as proposed.