ARCHIVED - Regulatory Requirements under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) Precursor Control Regulations (PCR) International

Class A Precursors

• Acetic anhydride
• N-Acetylanthranilic acid and its salts
• Anthranilic acid and its salts
• 1,4-Butanediol
• Ephedra
• Ephedrine, its salts and any plant containing ephedrine or any of its salts
• Ergometrine and its salts
• Ergotamine and its salts
• Gamma-Butyrolactone
• Hydriodic acid
• Hypophosphorous acid, its salts and derivatives
• Isosafrole
• Lysergic acid and its salts
• 3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone
• Norephedrine (Phenylpropanolamine) and its salts
• 1-Phenyl-2-propanone
• Phenylacetic acid and its salts
• Piperidine and its salts
• Piperonal
• Potassium permanganate
• Pseudoephedrine and its salts
• Red Phosphorus
• Safrole and any essential oil containing 4% or more safrole
• White Phosphrus

Class B Precursors

• Acetone
• Ethyl ether
• Hydrochloric acid
• Methyl ethyl ketone
• Sulphuric acid
• Toluene

Class A Precursors

Coming into Force Dates

• January 9, 2003 - to import, export, produce, and package
• July 7, 2003 - to sell/provide

Licence/ Registration Requirements

• a licence is required to import, export, produce, package or sell/provide
• it may take up to 150 days for processing applications, due to the criminal record check requirement

Permit Requirements

• a permit is required to import, export or transit/tranship
• only a licensed dealer may apply for an import or export permit
• permit is valid for a single shipment only; however, more than one precursor in that shipment can be authorized under the same permit.
• import/export permit application must be signed by RPIC^{Footnote 1} or A/RPIC^{Footnote 2}
• an official copy of the permit must be surrendered to a customs officer at the port of entry/exit

General Exemptions

The following are exempted from the application of the PCR:

• Schedule F Drugs
  • domestic distribution (sell/provide) of drugs in dosage form that contain a Class A precursor listed in Schedule F to the Food and Drug Regulations.
• Schedules I, III, or IV
  • domestic distribution (sell/provide) of drugs in dosage form that contain a Class A precursor and one or more controlled substances listed in Schedule I, III, or IV to the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• Fragrances or flavourings
  • containing a total concentration no more than 20% by weight or volume in the case of a solid or liquid of anthranilic acid, N-anthranilic acid, gammabutyrolactone, phenylacetic acid, piperonal or piperidine, AND is intended to be used in a food, drug cosmetic or household product.
• Formulated silicone products
  • containing 1% or less of acetic anhydride that is a sealant, adhesive, or coating.
• Gamma-butyrolactone (GLB) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO)
  • contains GLB or BDO in a total concentration equal or less than 20% by weight or volume in the case of a solid or liquid and is intended to be used for specific industrial uses including cleaning or etching preparations for electronic devices, components and parts; biofermentation for polyester production; and as ingredients in pesticides, melamine coatings, automotive coatings, and resin systems for manufacturing polyurethane.

Individual Exemptions

Section 48 provides a process to exempt preparations and mixtures where the Class A precursor cannot be readily extracted or the product itself cannot be used in the production of a controlled substance

Class B PRECURSORS

COMING INTO FORCE DATES

• January 1, 2004 - to import, export, and produce for sale

LICENCE/ REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS

• a registration is required to import, export or produce for sale
• it may take up to 75 days for processing applications, due to the criminal record check requirement

PERMIT REQUIREMENTS

• a permit is required to export to specific destinations
• no permit is required to import
• only a registered dealer may apply for an export permit
• permit is valid for a single shipment only; however, more than one precursor in that shipment can be authorized under the same permit.
• export permit application must be signed by SPIC^{Footnote 3}
• an official copy of the permit must be surrendered to a customs officer at the port of exit

General Exemptions

The following are exempted from the application of the PCR:

• Preparations or mixtures
  • Preparations or mixtures containing a total concentration of Class B precursors that does not exceed 30% by weight or volume, in the case of a solid or liquid

Individual Exemptions

Section 76 provides a process to exempt preparations and mixtures where the Class B precursor cannot be readily extracted or the product itself cannot be used in the production of a controlled substance

Information Resources

The Precursor Control Regulations and a complete list of Class A and Class B precursors can be obtained from the Canada Gazette website (under bookmarks SOR/DORS/2002-359 and 361).

The Precursor Conrtol Regulations new amendments can be obtained from the Canada Gazette Web site (pages 2743 to 2786).

A series of guidance documents written as a companion to the Precursor Control Regulations to provide guidance on meeting the regulatory requirements under these Regulations, as well as application forms can be obtained from the Health Canada Web site or by contacting the Office of Controlled Substances, Drug Strategy and Controlled Substances Programme, Health Canada, at: 613-946-1142.