The DEA has updated its process for renewals.

This change eliminates the informal grace period which the DEA had previously allowed registrants to renew their registrations.

The DEA announced that starting 1/1/17, it will only send one renewal notification for each registrant approxiamtely 65 days prior to expiration.

A failure to renew prior to expiration will result in retirement of the DEA.

Please note you will not receive multiple reminders and they will be very strict with any grace period.

REVISED ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING RENEWAL APPLICATIONS

Starting January 2017, DEA will no longer send its second renewal notification by mail. Instead, an electronic reminder to renew will be sent to the email address associated with the DEA registration.

At this time, DEA will otherwise retain its current policy and procedures with respect to renewal and reinstatement of registration. This policy is as follows:

If a renewal application is submitted in a timely manner prior to expiration, the registrant may continue operations, authorized by the registration, beyond the expiration date until final action is taken on the application.
DEA allows the reinstatement of an expired registration for one calendar month after the expiration date. If the registration is not renewed within that calendar month, an application for a new DEA registration will be required.
Regardless of whether a registration is reinstated within the calendar month after expiration, federal law prohibits the handling of controlled substances or List 1 chemicals for any period of time under an expired registration.

https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugreg/index.html