OTTAWA - Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, and Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada Irwin Cotler today announced that the Government of Canada is proposing to strengthen the regulation of chemicals used in clandestine laboratories to produce drugs such as gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), also known as a "date rape" drug, and methamphetamine, also known as meth or crystal meth. "The Government of Canada is concerned about the growing number of Canadians who are using and producing methamphetamine and GHB, and the huge cost to them, their families and society," said Minister Dosanjh. "This is why we are proposing regulatory changes to strengthen the controls over the chemicals used in the production of these illegal drugs." Health Canada, following consultations with key stakeholders, is proposing several amendments to the Precursor Control Regulations, including the addition of six chemicals which can be used to produce GHB and/or methamphetamine: gamma butyrolactone, 1,4 butanediol, red phosphorus, white phosphorus, hypophosphorous acid, and hydriodic acid. Under the proposed amendment, these chemicals would be classified as "Class A" precursors, which have a licence and permit requirement for import and export, as well as a licence requirement for production and distribution. The proposal for changes will be available for public consultation on the Canada Gazette, Part I, Web site as of June 11, 2005. Changes to the Schedules of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act are also being considered. "The Department of Justice is working with Health Canada and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada with a view to moving methamphetamine to a different schedule under the CDSA in order to have access to higher penalties for offences involving methamphetamine," said Minister Cotler. To support the assessment, Health Canada is conducting a comprehensive comparative analysis of the harms, from both a health and social perspective, associated with methamphetamine, GHB, and other drugs listed in Schedules I, II and III of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. This analysis will ensure that consistency is maintained with respect to the scheduling of substances that pose comparable levels of risk to the health and safety of Canadians and assist the Government of Canada in reviewing penalties for production, possession and trafficking of these drugs. Recommendations on the rescheduling are expected by the fall of 2005. Although most of the chemicals controlled under the Precursor Control Regulations have wide legitimate uses in common products, such as cough and cold preparations, fragrances, flavouring agents and paints, some of these chemicals can also be used in the illegal manufacturing of controlled substances, such as methamphetamine and GHB. The regulations strive to reduce the diversion of precursor chemicals from legal sources to clandestine laboratories, while minimizing the impact on the legitimate use and trade of these chemicals. To learn more about the harmful effects of substance use and abuse, visit Canada's Drug Strategy web site: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/hecs-sesc/cds/index.htm To learn more about the Canada Gazette and/or to review the proposed regulatory changes, visit: http://canadagazette.gc.ca/index-e.html Background information on Precursor Control Regulations: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2002/2002_30bk.htm Related News Releases: October 2002: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2002/2002_30.htm April 2002: http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2002/2002_30.htm - 30 - Ref.: Adele Blanchard Office of the Minister of Health (613) 957-0200 Media Relations Health Canada (613) 946-4250 Denise Rudnicki Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Justice (613) 992-4621 Media Relations Department of Justice Canada (613) 957-4207
