46 CFR 16.101: Purpose of drug and alcohol testing regulations

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section states why the regulations in this part exist: to minimize the use of intoxicants by merchant marine personnel and promote a drug free and safe work environment. It sets minimum standards for dangerous drug testing. It also limits when employers may test for additional drugs in a reasonable cause program.

Applies toThe text applies to merchant marine personnel and to employers running a reasonable cause drug testing program under this part.

What it says

  1. The regulations in this part provide a means to minimize the use of intoxicants by merchant marine personnel and to promote a drug free and safe work environment.

    46 CFR 16.101(a)“provide a means to minimize the use of intoxicants by merchant marine personnel and to promote a drug free and safe work environment”

  2. These regulations prescribe the minimum standards, procedures, and means to be used to test for the use of dangerous drugs.

    46 CFR 16.101(b)“These regulations prescribe the minimum standards, procedures, and means to be used to test for the use of dangerous drugs.”

  3. In a reasonable cause drug testing program established pursuant to this part, employers may test for additional drugs only with approval granted by the Coast Guard under 49 CFR part 40.

    46 CFR 16.101(c)“employers may test for drugs in addition to those specified in this part only with approval granted by the Coast Guard under 49 CFR part 40”

  4. Employers may test for additional drugs only for substances for which the Department of Health and Human Services has established an approved testing protocol and positive threshold.

    46 CFR 16.101(c)“for substances for which the Department of Health and Human Services has established an approved testing protocol and positive threshold”

Common questions

What is the purpose of the drug testing regulations in 46 CFR part 16?

They provide a means to minimize the use of intoxicants by merchant marine personnel and to promote a drug free and safe work environment.

“The regulations in this part provide a means to minimize the use of intoxicants by merchant marine personnel and to promote a drug free and safe work environment.”

Can an employer test for drugs beyond those listed in this part?

Employers in a reasonable cause program may do so only with Coast Guard approval under 49 CFR part 40. The substances must also have a Department of Health and Human Services approved testing protocol and positive threshold.

“employers may test for drugs in addition to those specified in this part only with approval granted by the Coast Guard under 49 CFR part 40”

What do these regulations set for dangerous drug testing?

They set the minimum standards, procedures, and means to be used to test for the use of dangerous drugs.

“These regulations prescribe the minimum standards, procedures, and means to be used to test for the use of dangerous drugs.”

The text of 46 CFR 16.101

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Purpose of regulations

(a) The regulations in this part provide a means to minimize the use of intoxicants by merchant marine personnel and to promote a drug free and safe work environment.

(b) These regulations prescribe the minimum standards, procedures, and means to be used to test for the use of dangerous drugs.

(c) As part of a reasonable cause drug testing program established pursuant to this part, employers may test for drugs in addition to those specified in this part only with approval granted by the Coast Guard under 49 CFR part 40 and for substances for which the Department of Health and Human Services has established an approved testing protocol and positive threshold.

Sections it refers to

  • 49 CFR part 40

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.