EU Drug Precursors Control List

The EU Drug Precursors Control List is established under Regulations (EC) No 273/2004 and (EC) No 111/2005, with the aim of preventing the diversion of chemical substances that can be used for the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. These regulations respectively set out monitoring rules for the trade of drug precursors within the internal market of the EU and between the EU and third countries. Controlled substances are classified into four categories based on the risk of diversion. Category 1 substances are considered the highest risk and are subject to the strictest control and monitoring measures in both the internal market and trade with third countries. Operators must hold a license, apply for import/export authorizations for trade with third countries, complete pre-export notifications before export, obtain customer declarations prior to delivery, and maintain complete transaction records. Category 2 substances pose a lower risk, requiring registration and compliance with customer declaration obligations in the internal market, as well as registration and pre-export notifications for trade with third countries. Category 3 substances are largely unrestricted in the internal market, with pre-export notifications required only for exports to specific destination countries. Category 4 refers to medicinal products containing ephedrine/pseudoephedrine, for which only import/export activities require authorization, with no additional obligations in the internal market.