Cosmic Peptides research library

Enforcement discretion

An agency's statement that it will not enforce a requirement in stated circumstances, which leaves the requirement in place and binds no one.

Last reviewed · Editorial policy

Enforcement discretion is a decision about what an agency will do, not a change in the law. On October 30, 2026 the Department of Health and Human Services published a notice that it does not intend to take enforcement action against licensed pharmacies and physicians compounding six peptides, and the notice says it does not establish any rights for any person and is not binding on HHS or the public.

Because the requirement stays in place, conduct under enforcement discretion is tolerated rather than compliant. A state law that protects only compounding in compliance with section 503A, such as Louisiana's Act 374, may not reach it, and a state board that licenses the pharmacist is not bound by a federal promise not to act.

FDA's interim categories for compounding bulk substances are also a form of enforcement discretion, as are its policies during drug shortages.

See also

Cite this page

Text

Cosmic Peptides. (2026, November 10). Enforcement discretion: glossary entry. Cosmic Peptides Research Library. Retrieved November 10, 2026, from https://cosmicpeptides.com/research/glossary/enforcement-discretion

BibTeX

@misc{cosmicpeptides_research_glossary_enforcement_discretion,
  author       = {{Cosmic Peptides}},
  title        = {Enforcement discretion: glossary entry},
  howpublished = {Cosmic Peptides Research Library},
  year         = {2026},
  month        = nov,
  url          = {https://cosmicpeptides.com/research/glossary/enforcement-discretion},
  urldate      = {2026-11-10},
  note         = {Last reviewed 2026-11-10}
}

RIS

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AU  - Cosmic Peptides
TI  - Enforcement discretion: glossary entry
T2  - Cosmic Peptides Research Library
PB  - Cosmic Peptides
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/10
UR  - https://cosmicpeptides.com/research/glossary/enforcement-discretion
Y2  - 2026/11/10
LA  - en
ER  -

Cite the date the page was last reviewed, November 10, 2026, as its version. Reference managers such as Zotero can save this page directly.

Changes to this page

  1. Published Five glossary terms for compounding

    Compounded drug, the 503A bulks list, FDA's interim bulk-substance categories (Category 1, 2 and 3), outsourcing facility and enforcement discretion: the terms the United States series' compounding pages rely on, each linked where it first appears in the library.

Changes of substance are listed here; wording changes are not. Every correction is also on the corrections log.

For in vitro laboratory research only. Not for human or veterinary use. This library describes chemistry, analytical methods and published laboratory research; it gives no guidance on use in people or animals.