Service Standard for Issuance of New Class A Chemical Precursors Licence and New Class B Chemical Precursors Registration

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 the issuance of a new class A chemical precursors licence and new class B chemical precursors registration.

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.

The Office of Controlled Substances (OCS) works in collaboration with Canadian and international stakeholders in the public and private sectors to ensure that chemical precursors and controlled substances are handled effectively and remain in legal distribution channels, and that there is no interference with valid commercial, medical and scientific activities.

The Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) prohibits certain activities with controlled substances and precursors (i.e. possession, production, trafficking, importation and exportation) except as authorized by regulation or exempted in accordance with the CDSA. The Precursor Control 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.

Service Standard:

The OCS commits as per the applicable AMP to a service delivery standard of 150 calendar days, for the issuance of a decision on an application for a new Class A Precursor Licence, and 90 calendar days, for the issuance of a decision on an application for a new Class B Precursor Registration Certificate, from the receipt of a complete application.

Performance Target:

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

Performance result in fiscal year 2020 to 2021:

The Office of Controlled Substances processed 83% of applications for licences for Class A precursors and 83% of applications for registration of Class B precursors, within its service standard.

Departmental Contact:

Please contact the OCS to make any general inquiries or comments:

Chemical Precursors Section
Office of Controlled Substances
Controlled Substances Directorate
Controlled Substances and Cannabis Branch
Health Canada
Address Locator: 0300B
Ottawa ON  K1A 0K9
Email: precursors-precurseurs@hc-sc.gc.ca

Page details

Date modified: