[Federal Register: June 27, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 124)]
[Notices]               
[Page 38582]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27jn03-145]                         



[[Page 38582]]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Drug Enforcement Administration

[DEA-217N]
RIN 1117-AA60

 
Electronic Orders for Controlled Substances: Notice of Meeting

AGENCY: Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Justice.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will hold a public 
meeting to provide technical details regarding the use of digital 
signatures and Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology within DEA's 
proposed system for electronic orders for Schedule I and II controlled 
substances.

DATES: Thursday, July 24, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Marriott Residence Inn, 550 Army-Navy Drive, Arlington, 
Virginia 22202. The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.
    Persons wishing to attend this meeting, space permitting, must 
provide attendee information to the Liaison and Policy Section, Office 
of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, via facsimile at 
(202) 307-8570 as specified below. Persons wishing to attend the 
meeting must provide this information to the Liaison and Policy Section 
no later than July 21, 2003.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patricia M. Good, Chief, Liaison and 
Policy Section, Office of Diversion Control, Drug Enforcement 
Administration, Washington, DC 20537, Telephone (202) 307-7297.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    In a separate Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in today's 
Federal Register, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is 
proposing regulations regarding the electronic transmission of Schedule 
I and II controlled substances orders from purchasers (DEA-registered 
distributors, pharmacies and practitioners) to suppliers (DEA-
registered manufacturers and distributors) and the electronic retention 
of records pertaining to those orders. DEA is proposing that these 
electronic orders be conducted using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) 
technology, including the use of digital certificates provided by the 
DEA root Certification Authority.
    This meeting is being held to provide information to interested 
persons including systems vendors and developers regarding industry's 
development of electronic systems which conform to the standards and 
regulations DEA is proposing. Persons interested in learning about the 
development of such PKI-based systems using DEA's standards may attend 
this meeting, so long as space permits.

Background and Supporting Documents

    Supporting documents regarding DEA's system to permit the 
electronic transmission of Schedule I and II controlled substances 
orders and the electronic retention of records pertaining to those 
orders, including the Certificate Policy, Certificate Profile, 
enrollment documents, PKI test suite and other pertinent materials may 
be found within the Electronic Commerce Initiatives/CSOS section on the 
Diversion Control Program Web site: http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/ecomm/index.html
.

Meeting Registration

    Persons wishing to attend this meeting must provide the following 
information to the Liaison and Policy Section, Office of Diversion 
Control, Drug Enforcement Administration, via facsimile at the number 
listed above:

Name:------------------------------------------------------------------
Title:-----------------------------------------------------------------
Company/Organization:--------------------------------------------------
Address:---------------------------------------------------------------
Telephone:-------------------------------------------------------------
E-mail address:--------------------------------------------------------

    Dated: June 20, 2003.
Laura M. Nagel,
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Diversion Control.
[FR Doc. 03-16083 Filed 6-26-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4410-09-P