The Drug Enforcement Administration's Office of Diversion Control has a temporary backlog in processing renewal applications for registration under the Controlled Substance Act of 1970, Form 224A. Veterinarians are among the health practitioners affected.

Specifically, the backlog affects registrants whose DEA registration expired in March or April 2004, and possibly May 2004. Individuals whose registration has expired and have not yet received their new certificate of registration should contact the Registration and Program Support Section at (800) 882-9539 to receive a 90-day extension letter.

The DEA Form 224A may be completed and submitted electronically at www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov. When submitting this form electronically, registrants must pay the reregistration application fee via a credit card. DEA registrants who have already submitted a paper copy of the form should not submit an interactive electronic application because they will be billed twice for the same renewal.

The DEA outsources certain aspects of application processing, and the renewal backlog is caused by problems with a commercial vendor. The agency is taking corrective action to resolve the issue.