Reading Room Document

Importation of Morphine Sulfate for Placement in the National Defense Stockpile

The Attorney General may authorize the General Services Administration to import morphine sulfate from Turkey for placement in the National Defense Stockpile under an exception in 21 U.S.C. § 952(a)(2)(A), if he determines that acquisition by import is necessary due to an emergency in which domestic supplies are inadequate to meet a legitimate need of the United States. A reasonable argument can be made that the prohibition in 21 U.S.C. § 952(a) does not apply to the importation of drugs by the United States, notwithstanding long-standing and consistent administrative practice and interpretation to the contrary. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at www.justice.gov/file/23096/download.

July 19, 1982