Fill Out DEA Form 41 in 2026
Record your DEA number, list each substance destroyed with batch and quantity, note the method used, then sign and download your copy for inspection records.
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How to fill out a DEA Form 41
Follow the steps below and you'll finish with confidence.
Open the form
Open the pre-loaded form in the editor - no upload needed - and review Section A.
Fill in your details
Fill in registrant details, drug inventory, and destruction method for accuracy.
Download as PDF
Save your completed form as a PDF, ready to keep for your compliance records.
What is a DEA Form 41?
DEA Form 41 is the official record used by pharmacies, hospitals, and other DEA-registered handlers of controlled substances whenever they destroy expired or unused supplies. Any registrant holding controlled substances that need removal from inventory must document the destruction on this form. It matters because it prevents diversion and keeps handling safe and accountable. Two authorized employees must sign under penalty of perjury, confirming they personally witnessed the destruction.
Key Takeaways
- DEA registrants file Form 41 for destruction
- Form 41 documents each destruction event
- Two witnesses must sign under penalty of perjury
What is a DEA Form 41 used for?
This form gives registrants a clear paper trail when controlled substances are destroyed. It covers:
- Registrant details: the DEA number, name, address, and contact information for the entity destroying the substances
- Substance inventory: the NDC/DEA code, batch number, name, strength, form, and quantity of each item destroyed
- Destruction method: the date, location, and method used, confirming the substances can't be recovered
- Witness statements: two authorized employees confirm under penalty of perjury that they saw the destruction happen
What information is required on a DEA Form 41?
Registrant Information (Section A)
Enter your DEA registration number, registered name and address, phone number, and contact name if different.
NDC/Batch Number (Section B(1))
Enter the NDC or DEA Controlled Substances Code Number, plus batch number for bulk substances.
Name, Strength, Form, and Quantity (Section B(1))
List the substance's name, strength, form, and the count per full package.
Collected Substances (Section B(2))
Record ID numbers, mail-back package details, liner size, and quantity for take-back program disposals.
Method of Destruction (Section C)
State the date, location, and method used to destroy the substances beyond retrieval.
First Witness (Section D)
Print the name and obtain the signature of the first employee who witnessed the destruction.
Second Witness (Section D)
Print the name and obtain the signature of the second employee who witnessed the destruction.
Retention Notice
Keep the completed form on file for at least two years instead of submitting it to DEA.
When is a DEA Form 41 due?
DEA Form 41 has no fixed filing deadline, since registrants do not submit it to the DEA unless asked. Instead, complete the form at the time you destroy controlled substances, then keep it on file for at least two years under 21 U.S.C. 827, ready for inspection whenever the DEA requests it.
Ready to log your destruction
Open DEA Form 41 here, fill in each field, and download your completed copy ready for your records.
When is a DEA Form 41 not required?
You don't need to send DEA Form 41 anywhere unless the DEA asks for it, since it's normally a record you keep on file. Leftover doses from a dose already given at your registered location fall under standard continuing records instead. Transfers to a reverse distributor under Form 222 skip Form 41 too, since that distributor files it after destruction.
What does a DEA Form 41 form look like
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