Commission cracks down on chemical supply behind illegal drugs production while facilitating legitimate business

As Europe’s drug market evolves, the proposal strengthens authorities to respond to emerging drugs and production processes.

Drug precursors are indispensable in various industries like pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, fertilizers or plastics. However, they can be diverted by criminals for the illicit production of drugs such as amphetamines, ecstasy, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin. 

The trade of drug precursors is already strictly monitored and controlled at the international, EU, and Member State levels, to prevent drug producers from getting their hands on such drug precursors. However, criminal networks increasingly circumvent existing controls by turning to designer precursors, substances with no known legitimate use (except innovation and research). This presents new challenges for the authorities in the EU.  

The Commission proposal introduces measures for faster and effective monitoring and control, significantly curbing drug- and designer precursors' availability for illegal drug manufacturing. At the same time, the initiative will simplify processes for legitimate drug precursor trade, ensuring chemical industries can thrive without excessive regulatory burdens.

Key measures of the proposal:

• Rapid response and detection: The initiative will enhance the capacity of competent authorities, such as customs and law enforcement, to detect and respond to new threats swiftly. With newly adopted urgency procedures and real-time seizure reporting, the detection time for new trends is drastically reduced by 4-18 months, allowing authorities to respond in a timelier manner.
• Better control of designer precursors: The new proposal distinguishes substances without known legal use (designer precursors) from those that are traditionally widely used by industry. Designer precursors are close chemical relatives to traditional drug precursors, used to circumvent existing controls. The proposal aims to act against this by enlarging the number of substances to be controlled by businesses and authorities, and by applying a more restrictive regime to designer precursors while maintaining the possibility for their legitimate use in research and innovation.
• Digitisation and simplified legitimate trade: A digitalised, streamlined system for legitimate trade will reduce administrative burdens and costs, making it easier for industries like pharmaceuticals, construction, food, and cosmetics to operate without unnecessary constraints.

Supporting measures:

• Enhanced awareness and education: Training, guidance, and support aimed at both national authorities and economic operators.
• Capacity building and support: Supporting customs and national authorities with state-of-the-art equipment and methods, enhanced laboratory networks to ensure rigorous testing and identification of new substances.

The Commission proposal responds to an urgent problem. Nearly 500 illegal production sites were dismantled and 541 tonnes of precursors were seized in 2023 alone. As the EU battles increasingly sophisticated criminal networks, this proposal not only strengthens the EU’s defences but also ensures that legitimate trade continues to flourish. By endowing authorities with cutting-edge tools and streamlined systems, the EU is poised to make substantial progress in reducing the availability of drug precursors for illegal trade, thus safeguarding our communities and supporting our industries.

Background 

The basis for precursor control is the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances adopted in 1988. Article 12 of the Convention specifically covers ‘substances frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances’ and requires that countries implement measures to control and monitor the legitimate trade in drug precursors as an essential way to prevent their diversion. 

The new proposal for a regulation will replace the two EU rules, implementing the 1988 UN Convention, namely Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 on trade in drug precursors within the EU and Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 on trade in drug precursors between EU and third countries. 

The proposal is a key component of the EU drug strategy, as it focuses on reducing the availability of precursors for illicit drug manufacturing. The proposal falls under the 2025 Commission Work Programme (CWP), with a security objective under ‘A new era for European Defence and Security’ and a strong simplification dimension. According to the CWP, ‘the new rules on drug precursors will reduce their availability for illicit drug manufacturing and make control measures more efficient.’ 

More information

Proposal for a REGULATION OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL on monitoring and controlling drug precursors and repealing Regulations (EC) No 273/2004 and (EC) No 111/2005

Drug Precursor Control 

Commission presents new EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan against drug trafficking

Questions and answers on the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan