In October 2018, Congress passed the SUPPORT Act (Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment [SUPPORT] for Patients and Communities), giving the U.S. Food and Drug Administration new authorities to intercept illegal drugs through international mail. This included funds for space and equipment as well as additional Agency scientists and investigators in the International Mail Facilities (IMFs). It also opened the way for scientists at the FDA’s Forensic Chemistry Center (FCC) in Cincinnati to develop an innovative approach to bring drug detection to the points of entry.

In collaboration with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and in support of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both organizations’ commissioners, the FDA’s Medical Products and Specialty Laboratory Operations scientists conducted a pilot project at the Chicago IMF satellite laboratory. Completed in 2020, the Agency is now working to expand this effort, with satellite laboratories at IMFs opening in Miami, summer of 2023 with additional laboratories in New York/JFK, and Los Angeles/LAX.  A screening laboratory with HCFAC support also opened in Guam in July.