(updated 06/12/11)
1. Drug Precursor Regulations
European Union regulations came into force on the 18th of August 2005 demanding tighter controls on chemicals classified as Drug Precursors. These regulations have implications for chemical manufacturers, suppliers and users. Click here for details on the regulations.
2. Categories of Drug Precursors
Drug Precursors are divided into three categories, only one of which concerns SLS.
The regulations also apply to mixtures and natural products containing any of the above substances, excluding medicinal products for human use, if the categorised substance can be easily extracted by readily applicable or economically viable means.
Click here for additional information on Category 1 (and 2 Drug Precursors), including CAS and CN numbers.
Click here for a chart of all drug precursors, Cat 1, 2 and 3.
Click here for an extensive list of Drug Precursor synonyms.
3. Policy and Procedures
The School has appointed a Responsible Officer who is charged with ensuring SLS complies with the regulations referred to above. The School Secretary currently fulfils this role. The tasks that must be carried out in order to facilitate this are delegated down to Principal Investigators and the Life Sciences Health & Safety Information Officer, as detailed below.
3.1.Procedures Relating to Category 1 Drug Precursors
Each Principal Investigator is responsible for securing a Home Office licence prior to any member of their research group attempting to obtain a Category 1 Drug Precursor. Note: failure to register with the Home Office is a criminal offence. Contact the Health & Safety Information Officer for advice on licence applications.Once the Drug Precursor is acquired, the Principal Investigator is responsible for ensuring that:
- the Drug Precursor is used only for the purpose specified on the licence application;
- the Drug Precursor is securely stored;
- only authorised users have access to the Drug Precursor;
- records pertaining to the acquisition of the Drug Precursor (i.e. purchase order form and Customer Declaration form) and its use and disposal (click to view the official use & disposal form) are completed and kept on file for 3 years after final use/disposal;
- surplus material is disposed via Safty Services, preferably after chemical destruction.
- the H&S Information Officer is notified when the Drug Precursor is no longer to be stored/used on the premises or if any discrepancies occurr.
The Health & Safety Information Officer is charged with:
- informing Principal Investigators of the School’s policy and procedures relating to Drug Precursors;
- notifying the Responsible Officer of any new licence applications;
- submitting an annual return to the Home Office for all Category 1 Precursors and acetic anhydride and potassium permanganate;
- arranging periodic inspections in labs where Drug Precursors are used to ensure School policy and procedures are being adhered to;
- reporting any problems to the Responsible Officer;
- informing the Home Office and the Police when a Drug Precursor is no longer stored/used on the premises or if any discrepancies occurr.
3.1.1. Secure Storage
Ideally, the laboratory in which a Drug Precursor is kept and used should only be accessed via key-card entry doors and locks should be active at all times. As a minimum and in all instances, the Drug Precursor must be kept in a secure store, e.g. locked cabinet, that cannot be readily removed from the lab. Note: surplus chemical being held for disposal must also be securely stored right up until the point of chemical destruction and/or hand over to Safety Services. Only authorised users who have a legitimate reason to access the the Drug Precursor will be given access to the secure store. A register of authorised users must be kept.
3.2 Category 2 Drug Precursors
A European Commission guidance document published in 2008 clearly states that Universities do not need to apply for a licence when only buying, using and/or possessing Category 2 drug precursors. Neither do they have to provide information to the authorities about their transactions.
4. Customer Declaration Form
If you place an order for any Category 1 or 2 Drug Precursor, the supplier will ask you to complete a "Customer Declaration of Specific Use" form (click to view an example form) that must be filled in and returned before the chemical is shipped. If you receive one of these forms please contact the Health & Safety Information Officer for advice on how to proceed.
5. Links to Additional Information
- Additional information on the Drug Precursor legislation and licence application forms can be found on the Home Office Web Site.