Annual legitimate requirements for substances frequently used in the manufacture of amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS)

ephedrine
pseudoephedrine
3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone (3,4-MDP-2-P)
phenyl-2-propanone (P-2-P)

1. In its resolution 49/3, entitled "Strengthening systems for the control of precursor chemicals used in the manufacture of synthetic drugs", the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (in March 2006) inter alia requested Member States to provide to the International Narcotics Control Board annual estimates of their legitimate requirements for ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, 3,4‑methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone (3,4-MDP-2-P) and 1‑phenyl-2-propanone (P-2-P) and, to the extent possible, estimated requirements for imports of preparations containing those substances that could be easily used or recovered by readily applicable means.
2. Pursuant to that resolution, Governments have been requested to prepare annual estimates of licit requirements for the four precursor chemicals in question. As a result, estimates from 80 countries and territories, as reported by Governments, have, for the first time, been published in the INCB report "Precursors and chemicals frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, 2006" (Annex V), issued in March 2007.
3. Further, in its eighty-ninth session in May 2007, the Board has decided to regularly update the information received from Governments on the legitimate requirements of precursor chemicals and publish revised data on its website.
4. The table below indicates, in kilograms, latest data reported by Governments on the four precursor chemicals. Governments are invited to review their requirements as published, amend them as necessary and inform the Board of any required change.
5. It is expected that those data will provide the competent authorities of exporting countries with at least an indication of the legitimate requirements of importing countries, thus preventing diversion attempts. Any such indication should, however, not be taken as a recommendation nor as a restriction on the use of those substances.
6. It is worth noting that the introduction of publishing precursor estimates has already achieved some results, which has also been highlighted at the 50th session of the Commission on Narcotics Drugs in March 2007. The precursor estimates have been described as a useful, practical tool within the overall framework for precursor control.

Table: Annual legitimate requirements reported by Governments for four precursor chemicals