The Precursors Unit is an administrative unit composed of representatives from the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) and the General Administration of Customs and Excise.
The Unit was established in 1993 as a supervisory body responsible for monitoring compliance with the Royal Decree of 26 October 1993, which set out measures to prevent the misuse of certain substances for the illegal manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Important update
As of 1 May 2025, the Royal Decree of 26 October 1993 has been formally repealed. On that date, the new Royal Decree of 20 January 2025 entered into force. This new decree updates national legislation and aligns it with the evolving European framework governing the control of drug precursors.
The updated regulation provides an integrated framework for licences, registrations, mandatory notifications, and oversight, in line with, among others, Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 111/2005.
1. REGULATIONS
CONSOLIDATED VERSION OF REGULATION (EC) NO 273/2004 (original text) of the European Parliament and the Council of 11 February 2004 on drug precursors (Text with EEA relevance)
This Regulation lays down harmonised measures for control and monitoring, within the Community, of certain substances frequently used for the illicit manufacture narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances with a view to preventing the diversion of such substances
CONSOLIDATED VERSION OF COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) NO 111/2005 (original text) of 22 December 2004 laying down rules for the monitoring of trade between the Community and third countries in drug precursors.
This Regulation lays down the rules for monitoring of trade between the Community and third countries in certain substances frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances for the purpose of preventing the diversion of such substances. The Regulation applies to imports, exports and intermediary activities.
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2015/1011 of 24 April 2015 supplementing Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on drug precursors and Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 laying down rules for the monitoring of trade between the Union and third countries in drug precursors, and repealing Commission Regulation (EC) No 1277/2005.
You can find here a list of the countries referred to in Article 10 of this Regulation.
COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2015/1013 of 25 June 2015 laying down rules in respect of Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on drug precursors and of Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 laying down rules for the monitoring of trade between the Union and third countries in drug precursors.
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2016/1443 of 29 June 2016 amending Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 as regards the inclusion of certain drug precursors in the list of scheduled substances.
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2018/729 of 26 February 2018 amending Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 as regards the inclusion of certain drug precursors in the list of scheduled substances.
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2020/1737 of 14 July 2020 amending Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 as regards the inclusion of certain drug precursors in the list of scheduled substances.
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2022/1518 of 29 March 2022 amending Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 as regards the inclusion of certain drug precursors in the list of scheduled substances.
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2023/196 of 25 November 2022 amending Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 as regards the inclusion of certain drug precursors in the list of scheduled substances.
COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2024/1331 of 28 February 2024 amending Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005 as regards the inclusion of certain drug precursors in the list of scheduled substances.
2. EXPLANATORY NOTES
1. Explanatory Note on export authorisation of scheduled substances of Category 4.
3. Important information on GBL (gamma-butyrolactone) and/or 1.4-BD (1.4‑butanediol)
4. Explanatory Note on Delegated Regulation (EU) 2022/1518
5. Reminder: customer declaration
6. Explanatory Note on Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/196