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  • Precursor chemicals

    Topics:
    • Pharmacy, 
    • Regulation of medicines

    There are 23 precursor chemicals under EU intra-community and third country control.

    Legislation surrounding precursor chemicals

    • Main legislation
    • Domestic arrangements and penalties

    Guidance


    All domestic licensing, registration, import and export licensing is administered by Drugs Licensing at the Home Office.

    Please telephone them on 020 7035 0480 for further guidance.

    The Chemical Control Team has issued a useful summary of the main requirements.

    There are Chemical Liaison Officers in the Police Service for Northern Ireland.

    Contact: stephen.dick@psni.pnn.police.uk or michael.lewis@psni.pnn.police.uk

    The Control of Explosives Precursors Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2014 came into force on 2 September 2014.

    The Regulations were introduced to ensure that Northern Ireland complies with Regulation (EU) 98/2013 on the marketing and use of explosives precursors, while maintaining the existing explosives precursors controls that have been in place since the 1970s.

    Some of the substances being controlled have legitimate uses and it is important that this legislation permits this while protecting against misuse.

    In general terms, the legislation introduces a licensing scheme, requires additional labelling, and mandates reporting of suspicious activity with regards to certain named substances.

    The Northern Ireland Office has provided detailed guidance on this legislation.

    Contact details for queries on precursor chemical legislation

    • Contact should be made in writing

    Related content

    • Accountable Officer
    • Controlled drugs
    • Counterfeit medicines
    • Incidents involving robbery at pharmacies
    • Legislation covering veterinary medicines
    • Letters and advice on the regulation of medicines
    • Medicines Regulatory Group
    • Medicines Regulatory Group enforcement actions
    • Medicines Regulatory Group press releases
    • Pharmacy inspector newsletters
    • Responsible pharmacist regulations and rebalancing project
    • Use and control of medicines
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