All entities that are registered to handle controlled substances have to abide by a set of strict security requirements to ensure that they are not mishandled or misused in any manner whatsoever. The Controlled Substances Act requires that all DEA registered healthcare providers and other organizations – be it DEA veterinary or others – should institute effective controls and procedures to safeguard against theft and diversion of controlled substances. The standards for the mandated physical security controls and operating procedures are clearly laid out in the Code of Federal Regulations. There are slight variations in the requirements for practitioners and non-practitioners with certain distinctions in what is expected in case of manufacturing and compounding areas, narcotic treatment programs, freight forwarding facilities, etc. The security prerequisites are more stringent for Schedule I and II drugs. For instance, these must be stored in a safe or steel cabinet that is equivalen