2018 US Code
Title 21 - Food and Drugs
Chapter 13 - Drug Abuse Prevention and Control
Subchapter II - Import and Export
Sec. 952 - Importation of controlled substances

It shall be unlawful to import into the customs territory of the United States from any place outside thereof (but within the United States), or to import into the United States from any place outside thereof, any controlled substance in schedule I or II of subchapter I, or any narcotic drug in schedule III, IV, or V of subchapter I, or ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, except that—

may be so imported under such regulations as the Attorney General shall prescribe. No crude opium may be so imported for the purpose of manufacturing heroin or smoking opium.

It shall be unlawful to import into the customs territory of the United States from any place outside thereof (but within the United States), or to import into the United States from  any  place  outside  thereof,  any  nonnarcotic controlled substance in schedule III, IV, or V, unless such nonnarcotic controlled substance—

In addition to the amount of coca leaves authorized to be imported into the United States under subsection (a), the Attorney General may permit the importation of additional amounts of coca leaves. All cocaine and ecgonine (and all salts, derivatives, and preparations from which cocaine or ecgonine may be synthesized or made) contained in such additional amounts of coca leaves imported under this subsection shall be destroyed under the supervision of an authorized representative of the Attorney General.

(1) With respect to a registrant under section 958 of this title who is authorized under subsection (a)(1) to import ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine, at any time during the year the registrant may apply for an increase in the amount of such chemical that the registrant is authorized to import, and the Attorney General may approve the application if the Attorney General determines that the approval is necessary to provide for medical, scientific, or other legitimate purposes regarding the chemical.

(2) With respect to the application under paragraph (1):

Each reference in this section to ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine includes each of the salts, optical isomers, and salts of optical isomers of such chemical.

(Pub. L. 91–513, title III, §1002, Oct. 27, 1970, 84 Stat. 1285; Pub. L. 95–633, title I, §105, Nov. 10, 1978, 92 Stat. 3772; Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §§519–521, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2075; Pub. L. 109–177, title VII, §715, Mar. 9, 2006, 120 Stat. 264.)

Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (b), are set out in section 812(c) of this title.

2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–177, §715(1)(A), inserted "or ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine," after "schedule III, IV, or V of subchapter I," in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–177, §715(1)(B), inserted ", and of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine," after "coca leaves".

Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 109–177, §715(2), added subsecs. (d) and (e).

1984—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 98–473, §519, amended par. (1) generally, inserting references to poppy straw and concentrate of poppy straw.

Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 98–473, §520, added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 98–473, §521, substituted "is imported pursuant to such notification, or declaration, or in the case of any nonnarcotic controlled substance in schedule III, such import permit, notification, or declaration, as the Attorney General may by regulation prescribe, except that if a nonnarcotic controlled substance in schedule IV or V is also listed in schedule I or II of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances it shall be imported pursuant to such import permit requirements, prescribed by regulation of the Attorney General, as are required by the Convention" for "is imported pursuant to such notification or declaration requirements as the Attorney General may by regulation prescribe, except that if a nonnarcotic controlled substance in schedule III, IV, or V is also listed in schedule I or II of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances it shall be imported pursuant to such import permit requirements, prescribed by regulation of the Attorney General, as are required by the Convention".

1978—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 95–633 inserted provision relating to exception for nonnarcotic controlled substances listed in schedule I or II of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–633 effective on date the Convention on Psychotropic Substances enters into force in the United States [July 15, 1980], see section 112 of Pub. L. 95–633, set out as an Effective Date note under section 801a of this title.

Section effective on first day of seventh calendar month that begins after Oct. 26, 1970, see 1105(a) of Pub. L. 91–513, set out as a under section 951 of this title.