SAP Note 17927 - ME25 ME51 Copy reference

Symptom:

When creating a purchase order with 'Vendor unknown', you can copy with reference. In this case, you copy from a purchase requisition. If the purchase requisition is released, the newly created purchase order item is nevertheless subject to the release procedure.

Cause and prerequisites

This is correct.

Solution
This is a new order transaction which is subject to the release procedure. When copying the purchase requisition, the purchase requisition is not 'completed' but only the important data is copied. This also applies when copying a purchase requisition into a new purchase requisition.