21 CFR Part 211 · Current Good Manufacturing Practice for Finished Pharmaceuticals

21 CFR 211.204

Returned drug products

21 CFR 211.204 is the regulation titled “Returned drug products” in 21 CFR Part 211, Current Good Manufacturing Practice for Finished Pharmaceuticals. Since 2021, 1 FDA warning letter has cited it.

Letters citing it
1 since 2021
Jan 1 to Oct 30, 2026
0 against 0 on the same dates in 2025
Most often cited with
21 CFR 211.100, in 1 letter
Closed out
0% of these letters have a published close-out
See the letter citing 21 CFR 211.204 →

Letters citing it, by year issued

It is a drug letter. 2026 runs to Oct 30, 2026. Pick a year to see its letters.

  1. 12021
  2. 02022
  3. 02023
  4. 02024
  5. 02025
  6. 02026

What FDA writes when it cites it

The finding headings that cite 21 CFR 211.204 most often, as written in the letters.

  • 1 letterYour firm failed to ensure that returned drugs meet appropriate standards of safety, identity, strength, quality and purity prior to redistributing (21 CFR 211.204)

The regulation

Read the text of 21 CFR 211.204 (eCFR, as of Sep 1, 2026)

Returned drug products shall be identified as such and held. If the conditions under which returned drug products have been held, stored, or shipped before or during their return, or if the condition of the drug product, its container, carton, or labeling, as a result of storage or shipping, casts doubt on the safety, identity, strength, quality or purity of the drug product, the returned drug product shall be destroyed unless examination, testing, or other investigations prove the drug product meets appropriate standards of safety, identity, strength, quality, or purity. A drug product may be reprocessed provided the subsequent drug product meets appropriate standards, specifications, and characteristics. Records of returned drug products shall be maintained and shall include the name and label potency of the drug product dosage form, lot number (or control number or batch number), reason for the return, quantity returned, date of disposition, and ultimate disposition of the returned drug product. If the reason for a drug product being returned implicates associated batches, an appropriate investigation shall be conducted in accordance with the requirements of § 211.192. Procedures for the holding, testing, and reprocessing of returned drug products shall be in writing and shall be followed.

Text from eCFR as of Sep 1, 2026.

Cited alongside it

Regulations that appear in the same letters as 21 CFR 211.204.

Latest letters citing it

The letter citing 21 CFR 211.204 that FDA posted most recently.

See the letter citing 21 CFR 211.204 →
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