EU approves new precursor controls

The EU Council of Ministers has approved new drug precursor controls to take account of the EU's emergence as a centre for the manufacture of illicit synthetic drugs such as Ecstasy.

These reforms amend existing rules that mainly prevented the export of chemicals used to make cocaine and heroin to manufacturing centres for these drugs in Asia and Latin America. But with Europe's booming manufacture of synthetic drugs requiring imported chemicals that are also used for legitimate purposes, ministers have struck political agreement to a regulation:

• Introducing import authorisation requirements for listed drug precursors;

• Requiring importers to document and label these drug precursors;

• Insisting that all importers be licensed;

• Ensuring that all consignments of drug precursors are monitored within the EU; and

• Imposing EU-wide controls where there are increased risks of diversion, such as trans-shipment and duty-free zones.

Details can be found at link 1