This page sets out the rules for the destruction of scheduled substances.
The procedure depends on the category of the substance and on your status: operator, holder of a special licence or special registration, pharmacy or depot.
1. Which rules apply?
Category 3 and 4
Category 3 scheduled substances and Category 4 medicinal products are not subject to specific destruction requirements such as those applicable to Category 1 and 2 substances.
The substances and medicinal products must be destroyed in accordance with the applicable waste legislation. They must be collected by an authorised waste collector and processed at a licensed treatment facility. The destruction must be carried out at the expense and under the responsibility of the relevant holder.
Category 1 and 2
Category 1 and 2 scheduled substances are subject to the provisions of Articles 16 to 21 of the Royal Decree of 20 January 2025. There is no quantity threshold below which an exemption applies.
Please contact the following service in advance:
FPS Finance - Customs and Excise, Precursors Unit
da.investigation.precursors@minfin.fed.be
This notification requirement applies to:
- raw materials;
- pharmaceutical raw materials;
- semi-finished products;
- rejected batches;
- mixtures, solutions and natural products containing the scheduled substance from which that substance can still be used or extracted.
At the time of notification, the product’s safety data sheet (SDS) must also be provided.
2. Procedure for operators with a licence or registration
Step 1 - Notification of destruction
Notify the planned destruction to the competent officer via da.investigation.precursors@minfin.fed.be.
Within 10 working days, the officer decides whether his or her presence is required for inventory and/or destruction.
Step 2 - Inventory and sealing
If the officer’s presence is required:
- an inventory is drawn up;
- the packaging is sealed;
- a report is drawn up in triplicate:
- for the officer;
- for the operator;
- for the authorised collector.
Step 3 - Collection and destruction
Collection and destruction are carried out by a licenced collector, in accordance with waste legislation.
Destruction must take place no later than in the quarter following the report or the officer’s decision.
Note: if the officer’s presence is required at the time of destruction, notify him or her at least 5 working days in advance.
If the officer’s presence is not required, keep a copy of the decision and pass it on to the collector.
Step 4 - Certificate of destruction
The licenced collector issues a certificate of destruction.
A copy of that certificate must be sent to the competent officer.
3. Procedure for holders of a special licence or special registration
Holders of a special licence or special registration follow a simplified procedure:
- they arrange collection by a licenced collector;
- the licenced collector is responsible for the final destruction.
No prior notification or inventory is required for this procedure.
Responsibility lies entirely with the collector.
Important for pharmacies and depots
- For the destruction of drug precursors, pharmacies and depots are subject to a specific procedure via centralised collection.
- For activities outside their official remit, they are considered operators and must follow the procedure applicable to operators holding a licence or registration.
4. Procedure for pharmacies and depots via centralised collection
Centralised collection
In order to reduce the costs associated with destruction, a centralised collection system is available for pharmacies, in accordance with Article 18 of the Royal Decree of 20 January 2025.
Certain firms also hold a licence for the temporary storage of substances pending destruction. They may temporarily bring together several sealed packages and submit them as a grouped consignment to the firm that carries out the final destruction.
This approach makes destruction more practical without undermining the traceability and safety of the substances.
Step 1 - Delivery
The products must be provided in sealed packaging.
Include an inventory in triplicate specifying:
- description of the products and their quantity;
- address and licence or depot number;
- name and date of the responsible pharmacist or depot holder.
Step 2 - Receipt and centralisation
The organiser of the centralised collection provides a dated receipt to the responsible pharmacist or depot holder.
The organiser then notifies the competent officer via da.investigation.precursors@minfin.fed.be.
Step 3 - Sealing and report
The competent officer:
- seals the package;
- draws up a report in triplicate:
- for the officer;
- for the collector;
- for the organiser.
Step 4 - Destruction
Destruction must take place no later than in the quarter following the report.
Step 5 - Proof for the pharmacy or depot
The pharmacy or depot receives a dated and stamped inventory list as proof.
A copy of the certificate of destruction is also sent to the competent officer.
5. Licenced firms
| Role | Firm | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Collection and temporary storage | Sarpi EcoServices BE nv | Steenbakkersdam 43-44, 2340 Beerse Zoning de Jumet, 3ième rue, 6040 Jumet |
| Collection and temporary storage | SGS EWACS nv | Keetberglaan 4, 9120 Beveren-Kruibeke-Zwijndrecht Rue Jules Poskin 2, 5032 Gembloux |
| Collection and temporary storage | VANHEEDE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES bv | Pildersweg 10, 8800 Roeselare |
| Final destruction | Indaver nv | Poldervlietweg 5, haven 550, 2030 Antwerpen |
Obligations of licenced collectors
- upon receipt, check that the seal has not been broken and that the number of sealed containers matches the report or the officer’s decision;
- arrange for the final destruction, with or without temporary storage, within the required period;
- issue a certificate of destruction stating the date of destruction and, where applicable, the report number.
6. Why these rules exist
These rules are intended to ensure that scheduled substances never leave the legal circuit and remain traceable from manufacture through to destruction or use.