Drug precursors are substances that can be misused for the illicit production of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Since many of the raw materials required for this purpose are legally available, criminals are increasingly turning to retail outlets and pharmacies for their supply.
To combat this practice, market surveillance of certain substances by the competent authorities is essential. Such monitoring allows for the early detection of suspicious transactions and orders, thereby contributing to the prevention of illegal drug production.
In accordance with the Royal Decree of 20 January 2025 concerning the regulation of drug precursors, and with European legislation - notably Regulations (EC) No 273/2004 and No 111/2005 - there is a mandatory reporting obligation for all suspicious orders and transactions involving scheduled substances listed in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No 111/2005.
In addition to the scheduled substances, there are many other products that are misused in illegal drug laboratories for the manufacture of narcotic and psychotropic substances. The flyer "Drug Precursors", prepared by the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP) in close cooperation with the Federal Police (Drugs Unit) and the General Administration of Customs and Excise, contains a short list of these substances. As new substances are constantly emerging, the flyer cannot be considered exhaustive.
Although there is no legal reporting obligation for these non-scheduled substances, the FAMHP strongly recommends reporting any suspicious order to the central reporting point (by phone or email). All reports are handled in strict confidence.
If you wish, you may report without disclosing your identity.
Reporting helps to detect the misuse of legal trade channels in a timely manner and to prevent economic operators from inadvertently contributing to the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The FAMHP therefore encourages operators to report in cases of doubt.
The more complete the report, the more quickly the competent services can assess the situation and initiate targeted follow-up. Where possible, please include:
- the substance(s) concerned and the quantity/packaging;
- the date and nature of the order or transaction;
- any available customer details (e.g. name and contact details, if available);
- delivery and invoicing details;
- method of payment;
- relevant correspondence (e.g. emails) or any other elements supporting the suspicious nature.
Provide only the information that is relevant for the assessment of the report. The FAMHP processes personal data in accordance with the applicable data protection legislation.
The "Drug Precursors" flyer (available upon request via drugprecursor@fagg-afmps.be) provides an overview of the issue and provides practical tools for identifying suspicious orders and transactions in time. It also outlines the steps you should take to report suspicious situations and what to do in the event of theft, dumping, or loss of chemical substances. By closely following these guidelines, operators and public authorities jointly strengthen the fight against illegal drug production.
Report a suspicious transaction
Suspicious transactions can be reported in several ways:
- through a notification form that can be sent by e-mail to the Drug Precursors Unit;
- by telephone (the notification form can be used as a guide);
- by a free-form e-mail, without using the notification form.
Use our email template for this purpose.
Report a suspicious transaction by email
The Drug Precursors Unit of the FAMHP acts as the central point of contact. For additional information on drug precursors, please contact:
Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP)
DG Inspection - Authorisations Division - Drug Precursors Unit
Avenue Galilée 5/03
1210 Brussels
Belgium
Phone number: +32 2 528 40 00
E-mail: drugprecursor@fagg-afmps.be