Service Standard for Issuance of an Amendment to a Dealer’s Licence for Class A Chemical Precursors

Disclaimer: Information on this webpage is provided for illustrative purposes only. The Precursor Control Regulations made under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act should be relied upon for specific requirements, including if there are discrepancies between this page and the regulations.

Service Description:

Health Canada posts service standards and performance information in accordance with applicable Applications Management Policy (AMP) for services with over 100 regulatory authorizations, such as permits or licences, issued each year (high-volume regulatory transactions).

This service is a high-volume regulatory transaction used by applicants requesting amendments to their dealer's licence which do not require an on-site-inspection, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Add or remove activities the licensed dealer proposes to conduct;
  • Add or remove Class A precursor that the licensed dealer proposes for use in carrying out regulated activities;
  • Revise the legal name of the licensed dealer; and
  • Amend the licensed dealer's address without a change in site location.

The diversion of controlled substances and chemical precursors frequently used in the production of illegal drugs is a worldwide problem that requires a global solution. Health Canada is an active team player in the fight against the illegal use of these controlled substances and chemical precursors.

As a signatory of the Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Canada enacted the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). The CDSA prohibits activities with controlled substances and precursors (i.e. possession, production, trafficking, importation and exportation) except as authorized by regulations or exempted in accordance with the CDSA. Developed under the CDSA in 2002, the PrecursorControl Regulations (PCR) set out a framework within which activities with precursors are regulated. Under the PCR, a licence is required for any person to produce, package, sell, provide, import, export, and possess for the purpose of exporting Class A precursors, and a registration is required for any person to produce for the purpose of sale, import and export of Class B.

The Office of Controlled Substances (OCS) within Health Canada works in collaboration with Canadian and international stakeholders in the public and private sectors to ensure that chemical precursors and controlled substances remains within the Domestic Supply Chain for the legitimate commercial, medical and research activities. This is accomplished by controlling the access and the monitoring of the movement of Controlled Substances and Chemical Precursors within the supply chain.

Service Standard:

The Office of Controlled Substances (OCS) commits to a service delivery standard as per the applicable AMP of 30 calendar days for the issuance of a decision on an application for an amendment to a Class A Precursor Licence, from the receipt of a complete application.

This service delivery standard applies only to amendments to a Class A Precursor Licence under the Precursor Control Regulations (PCR), and not a notice of change of information for a Class B Precursor Registration.

Performance Target:

The target for achieving this standard is set at 90%.

Performance result for fiscal year 2017 to 2018:

The Office of Controlled Substances processed 77% of applications within its service standard.

Departmental Contact:

Please contact the Office of Controlled Substances to make any general inquiries or comments:

Chemical Precursors Section
Office of Controlled Substances
Health Canada
AL 0300B
Ottawa ON K1A 0K9
Email: hc.precursors-precurseurs.sc@canada.ca

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