International control of two additional fentanyl precursors and two groups of amphetamine-type stimulant precursors enters into force

VIENNA, 3 December 2024 - The international control of eighteen additional drug precursors became fully effective as of today. This follows the unanimous decision of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in March 2024 to adopt the Board's recommendations to place two fentanyl precursors, nine amphetamine/methamphetamine precursors and seven MDMA ("ecstasy") precursors in Table I of the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Pursuant to the 1988 Convention, the decision becomes effective 180 days after it is communicated by the Secretary-General to all parties. The scheduling decision was the first-of-its-kind as it involved several closely related chemicals which could potentially be used by drug traffickers to circumvent existing controls.

The newly scheduled substances include:

  • a group of nine closely related precursors of amphetamine and methamphetamine (P-2-P methyl glycidic acid and eight of its esters), which can all be used interchangeably in the illicit manufacture of P-2-P, a chemical already listed in Table I;
  • a group of seven precursors of MDMA("ecstasy"), which are all esters of 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid, a precursor that had already been placed under international control; and
  • two precursors (4-piperidone and 1-boc-4-piperidone) that are highly suitable for the illicit manufacture of fentanyl and fentanyl analogues, which are very potent narcotic drugs that continue to result in overdose deaths.

There is limited known legitimate use of the two fentanyl precursors and no known legitimate manufacture of and trade in the sixteen precursors of amphetamine, methamphetamine and MDMA. The scheduling of these eighteen synthetic drug precursors is a reflection of the rapid expansion in illicit manufacture of synthetic drugs and the increasing sophistication of illicit drug manufacturing operations.

As of 3 December 2024, 43 precursor chemicals are included in Table I of the 1988 Convention (plus eight in Table II) . This image shows precursors of synthetic drugs included in Table 1 since 2014.

The two groups of closely related amphetamine-type stimulants designer precursors scheduled in March 2024. 

 

Actions required by Governments as of 3 December 2024

Effective 3 December 2024, States Parties are required to apply the measures in article 12 of the 1988 Convention, at both the national and international levels.

A. At the national level, Governments are required to, inter alia:

  1. Monitor the manufacture and distribution of the precursors within their territories (paragraph 8)
  2. Provide for the seizure of the substances (paragraph 9(b) of the 1988 Convention)
  3. Cooperate with relevant sectors of industry (manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers and retailers) to ensure that they inform the competent authorities of suspicious orders and transactions (paragraph 9(a)).

B. At the international level, Governments are required to, inter alia:

  1. Monitor international trade in order to facilitate the identification of suspicious orders (paragraph 9(a)), including sending pre-export notifications (PENs) (paragraph 10 (a)). Such PENs can be sent via PEN Online, an INCB electronic platform actively used by 145 countries and territories.
  2. Notify the competent authorities of the other parties concerned if there is reason to believe that an import, export or transit of the substances is destined for illicit drug manufacture (paragraph 9(c))
  3. Require the proper labelling and documentation of shipments in international trade (paragraph 9(d)) and ensure that those documents are kept for a minimum of 2 years (paragraph 9(e)).

 

Additional recommended actions for Governments to address illicit drug manufacture

In addition to the treaty obligations set out above, the International Narcotics Control Board recommends that Governments:

  1. pursuant to CND resolution 65/3 and in accordance with national legislation, when placing domestic controls on the 18 newly-scheduled substances, consider taking domestic measures on related chemicals that may readily be converted or substituted for these substances
  2. use PEN Online Light, an INCB electronic platform that allows for the voluntary sending of PENs for chemicals not under international control but that could be used by drug traffickers, for instance the substances that INCB has compiled in the International Special Surveillance List (ISSL)
  3. exchange with the authorities of other countries actionable information and intelligence related to seizures, diversions and diversion attempts involving precursor chemicals and equipment. Such information can be shared via the INCB Precursors Incident Communication System (PICS).
  4. monitor equipment used in illicit drug manufacture, which INCB has compiled in the International Monitoring List of Equipment (IMLE), including the trade of such equipment on e-commerce websites.
  1. identify national industries that manufacture, consume or in any way deal with chemicals not under control that could also be used as drug precursors, to prevent their diversion. INCB's publication Global Review of Categories of Industries Involved in the Manufacture, Trade and Distribution of Chemicals Used in the Illicit Manufacture of Drugs can guide Governments in such an endeavor

The Board and its secretariat stand ready to support Governments in implementing the above-mentioned mandatory and voluntary control measures.

 

Related resources

 

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