US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

21 U.S.C. § 351

Adulterated drugs and devices

A drug or device shall be deemed to be adulterated—
(a)

Poisonous, insanitary, etc., ingredients; adequate controls in manufacture

(1)
section 379e(a) of this titlesection 379e(a) of this titlesection 360b of this titlesection 360b of this title If it consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance; or (2)(A) if it has been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have been contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health; or (B) if it is a drug and the methods used in, or the facilities or controls used for, its manufacture, processing, packing, or holding do not conform to or are not operated or administered in conformity with current good manufacturing practice to assure that such drug meets the requirements of this chapter as to safety and has the identity and strength, and meets the quality and purity characteristics, which it purports or is represented to possess; or (C) if it is a compounded positron emission tomography drug and the methods used in, or the facilities and controls used for, its compounding, processing, packing, or holding do not conform to or are not operated or administered in conformity with the positron emission tomography compounding standards and the official monographs of the United States Pharmacopoeia to assure that such drug meets the requirements of this chapter as to safety and has the identity and strength, and meets the quality and purity characteristics, that it purports or is represented to possess; or (3) if its container is composed, in whole or in part, of any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render the contents injurious to health; or (4) if (A) it bears or contains, for purposes of coloring only, a color additive which is unsafe within the meaning of , or (B) it is a color additive the intended use of which in or on drugs or devices is for purposes of coloring only and is unsafe within the meaning of ; or (5) if it is a new animal drug which is unsafe within the meaning of ; or (6) if it is an animal feed bearing or containing a new animal drug, and such animal feed is unsafe within the meaning of .
(b)

Strength, quality, or purity differing from official compendium

If it purports to be or is represented as a drug the name of which is recognized in an official compendium, and its strength differs from, or its quality or purity falls below, the standard set forth in such compendium. Such determination as to strength, quality, or purity shall be made in accordance with the tests or methods of assay set forth in such compendium, except that whenever tests or methods of assay have not been prescribed in such compendium, or such tests or methods of assay as are prescribed are, in the judgment of the Secretary, insufficient for the making of such determination, the Secretary shall bring such fact to the attention of the appropriate body charged with the revision of such compendium, and if such body fails within a reasonable time to prescribe tests or methods of assay which, in the judgment of the Secretary, are sufficient for purposes of this paragraph, then the Secretary shall promulgate regulations prescribing appropriate tests or methods of assay in accordance with which such determination as to strength, quality, or purity shall be made. No drug defined in an official compendium shall be deemed to be adulterated under this paragraph because it differs from the standard of strength, quality, or purity therefor set forth in such compendium, if its difference in strength, quality, or purity from such standard is plainly stated on its label. Whenever a drug is recognized in both the United States Pharmacopoeia and the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States it shall be subject to the requirements of the United States Pharmacopoeia unless it is labeled and offered for sale as a homoeopathic drug, in which case it shall be subject to the provisions of the Homoeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States and not to those of the United States Pharmacopoeia.

(c)

Misrepresentation of strength, etc., where drug is unrecognized in compendium

If it is not subject to the provisions of paragraph (b) of this section and its strength differs from, or its purity or quality falls below, that which it purports or is represented to possess.

(d)

Mixture with or substitution of another substance

If it is a drug and any substance has been (1) mixed or packed therewith so as to reduce its quality or strength or (2) substituted wholly or in part therefor.

(e)

Devices not in conformity with performance standards

(1)
section 360d of this title If it is, or purports to be or is represented as, a device which is subject to a performance standard established under unless such device is in all respects in conformity with such standard.
(2)
section 360d(c) of this title If it is declared to be, purports to be, or is represented as, a device that is in conformity with any standard recognized under unless such device is in all respects in conformity with such standard.
(f)

Certain class III devices

(1)
If it is a class III device—
(A)
(i)
section 360e of this titlesection 360e of this titlesection 360j(g) of this title which is required by an order issued under subsection (b) of to have an approval under such section of an application for premarket approval and which is not exempt from under , and
(ii)
(I)
for which an application for premarket approval or a notice of completion of a product development protocol was not filed with the Secretary within the ninety-day period beginning on the date of the issuance of such order, or
(II)
for which such an application was filed and approval of the application has been denied, suspended, or withdrawn, or such a notice was filed and has been declared not completed or the approval of the device under the protocol has been withdrawn;
(B)
(i)
section 360c(f) of this titlesection 360e(a) of this titlesection 360e of this titlesection 360j(g) of this title which was classified under into class III, which under is required to have in effect an approved application for premarket approval, and which is not exempt from under , and
(ii)
which has an application which has been suspended or is otherwise not in effect; or
(C)
lsection 360e of this title which was classified under section 360j() of this title into class III, which under such section is required to have in effect an approved application under , and which has an application which has been suspended or is otherwise not in effect.
(2)
(A)
section 360c(f) of this title1
1 So in original. Probably should be “subparagraph”.
section 360j(g)(2) of this title In the case of a device classified under into class III and intended solely for investigational use, paragraph  (1)(B) shall not apply with respect to such device during the period ending on the ninetieth day after the date of the promulgation of the regulations prescribing the procedures and conditions required by .
(B)
section 360e of this title1 In the case of a device subject to an order issued under subsection (b) of , paragraph  (1) shall not apply with respect to such device during the period ending—
(i)
section 360c of this title on the last day of the thirtieth calendar month beginning after the month in which the classification of the device in class III became effective under , or
(ii)
on the ninetieth day after the date of the issuance of such order,
whichever occurs later.
(3)
section 360e(b) of this titlesection 360e(b) of this title In the case of a device with respect to which a regulation was promulgated under prior to , a reference in this subsection to an order issued under shall be deemed to include such regulation.
(g)

Banned devices

If it is a banned device.

(h)

Manufacture, packing, storage, or installation of device not in conformity with applicable requirements or conditions

section 360j(f)(1) of this titlesection 360j(f)(2) of this titleIf it is a device and the methods used in, or the facilities or controls used for, its manufacture, packing, storage, or installation are not in conformity with applicable requirements under or an applicable condition prescribed by an order under .

(i)

Failure to comply with requirements under which device was exempted for investigational use

section 360j(g) of this titleIf it is a device for which an exemption has been granted under for investigational use and the person who was granted such exemption or any investigator who uses such device under such exemption fails to comply with a requirement prescribed by or under such section.

(j)

Delayed, denied, or limited inspection; refusal to permit entry or inspection

If it is a drug or device and it has been manufactured, processed, packed, or held in any factory, warehouse, or establishment and the owner, operator, or agent of such factory, warehouse, or establishment delays, denies, or limits an inspection, or refuses to permit entry or inspection.

For purposes of paragraph (a)(2)(B), the term “current good manufacturing practice” includes the implementation of oversight and controls over the manufacture of drugs to ensure quality, including managing the risk of and establishing the safety of raw materials, materials used in the manufacturing of drugs, and finished drug products.

June 25, 1938, ch. 675, § 50152 Stat. 1049Pub. L. 86–618, title I, § 102(b)(1)74 Stat. 398Pub. L. 87–781, title I, § 10176 Stat. 780Pub. L. 90–399, § 101(a)82 Stat. 343Pub. L. 94–29590 Stat. 576Pub. L. 101–629, § 9(b)104 Stat. 4521Pub. L. 102–571, title I, § 107(8)106 Stat. 4499Pub. L. 105–115, title I, § 121(b)(1)111 Stat. 2320Pub. L. 112–144, title VI, § 608(b)(2)126 Stat. 1058Pub. L. 115–52, title VII, § 702(c)131 Stat. 1056(, ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 3(d), 9(b)(1), , , 583; , , ; , , ; , title II, § 204(c), , , 2336; , title VII, §§ 707(a), 711, , , 1068, 1071; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 115–522017—Par. (j). inserted “or device” after “drug”.

Pub. L. 112–144, § 7112012—, inserted concluding provisions.

Pub. L. 112–144, § 608(b)(2)(A)(i)Par. (f)(1)(A)(i). , substituted “an order issued” for “a regulation promulgated”.

Pub. L. 112–144, § 608(b)(2)(A)(ii)Par. (f)(1)(A)(ii)(I). , substituted “issuance of such order” for “promulgation of such regulation”.

Pub. L. 112–144, § 608(b)(2)(B)Par. (f)(2)(B). , substituted “an order issued” for “a regulation promulgated” in introductory provisions and “issuance of such order” for “promulgation of such regulation” in subcl. (ii).

Pub. L. 112–144, § 608(b)(2)(C)Par. (f)(3). , added subpar. (3).

Pub. L. 112–144, § 707(a)Par. (j). , added par. (j).

Pub. L. 105–115, § 121(b)(1)1997—Par. (a)(2)(C). , inserted “; or (C) if it is a compounded positron emission tomography drug and the methods used in, or the facilities and controls used for, its compounding, processing, packing, or holding do not conform to or are not operated or administered in conformity with the positron emission tomography compounding standards and the official monographs of the United States Pharmacopoeia to assure that such drug meets the requirements of this chapter as to safety and has the identity and strength, and meets the quality and purity characteristics, that it purports or is represented to possess;” before “or (3)”.

Pub. L. 105–115, § 204(c)Par. (e). , designated existing provisions as subpar. (1) and added subpar. (2).

Pub. L. 102–5711992—Par. (a)(4). substituted “379e(a)” for “376(a)” in cls. (A) and (B).

Pub. L. 101–629, § 9(b)1990—Par. (f)(1). , which directed the amendment of subpars. (A) to (C) of par. (f), was executed by making the amendments in cls. (A) to (C) of subpar. (1) of par. (f) as follows to reflect the probable intent of Congress: in cl. (A)(ii)(II), substituted “, suspended, or withdrawn” for “or withdrawn”; in cl. (B)(ii), substituted “which has an application which has been suspended or is otherwise not in effect” for “which does not have such an application in effect”; and in cl. (C), substituted “which has an application which has been suspended or is otherwise not in effect” for “which does not have such an application in effect”.

Pub. L. 94–295, § 9(b)(1)1976—Par. (a). , substituted “(3) if its” for “(3) if it is a drug and its” in cl. (3), substituted “(4) if (A) it bears or contains” for “(4) if (A) it is a drug which bears or contains” in cl. (4)(A), and substituted “drugs or devices” for “drugs” in cl. (4)(B).

Pub. L. 94–295, § 3(d)Pars. (e) to (i). , added pars. (e) to (i).

Pub. L. 90–3991968—Par. (a). added cls. (5) and (6).

Pub. L. 87–7811962—Par. (a). designated existing provisions of cl. (2) as (A) and added (B).

Pub. L. 86–618section 354 of this title1960—Par. (a). substituted provisions in cl. (4) relating to unsafe color additives for provisions which related to a coal-tar color other than one from a batch that has been certified in accordance with regulations as provided by .

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective and Termination Dates of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–115, title I, § 121(b)(2)111 Stat. 2320

21 U.S.C. 351(a)(2)(C)section 121(c)(1)(B) of Pub. L. 105–115section 355 of this title“Section 501(a)(2)(C) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act () shall not apply 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act [] or 2 years after the date on which the Secretary of Health and Human Services establishes the requirements described in subsection (c)(1)(B) [, set out as a note under ], whichever is later.”
, , , provided that:

Pub. L. 105–115section 501 of Pub. L. 105–115section 321 of this titleAmendment by effective 90 days after , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as an Effective Date of 1997 Amendment note under .

Effective Date of 1968 Amendment

Pub. L. 90–399section 108(a) of Pub. L. 90–399section 360b of this titleAmendment by effective on first day of thirteenth calendar month after , see , set out as an Effective Date and Transitional Provisions note under .

Effective Date of 1962 Amendment; Exceptions

Pub. L. 87–781section 107 of Pub. L. 87–781section 321 of this titleAmendment by effective on first day of seventh calendar month following October 1962, see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1960 Amendment

Pub. L. 86–618section 203 of Pub. L. 86–618section 202 of Pub. L. 86–618section 379e of this titleAmendment by effective , subject to the provisions of , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date; Postponement

act June 23, 1939, ch. 24253 Stat. 853section 301 of this titlePar. (a)(4) effective , see , , set out as an Effective Date; Postponement in Certain Cases note under .

Approval by Regulation Prior to

Pub. L. 112–144, title VI, § 608(b)(3)126 Stat. 1059

section 360e of this title21 U.S.C. 360e“The amendments made by this subsection [amending this section and ] shall have no effect on a regulation that was promulgated prior to the date of enactment of this Act [] requiring that a device have an approval under section 515 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act () of an application for premarket approval.”
, , , provided that:

Guidance

Pub. L. 112–144, title VII, § 707(b)126 Stat. 1068

21 U.S.C. 351(j)“Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this section [], the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall issue guidance that defines the circumstances that would constitute delaying, denying, or limiting inspection, or refusing to permit entry or inspection, for purposes of section 501(j) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [] (as added by subsection (a)).”
, , , provided that:

Executive Documents

Transfer of Functions

section 321 of this titleFor transfer of functions of Federal Security Administrator to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare [now Health and Human Services], and of Food and Drug Administration in the Department of Agriculture to Federal Security Agency, see notes set out under .