PCA Division

Precursor Control Authority (PCA) is the national competent authority in Sri Lanka established in terms of the Conventions against Illicit traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act no. 01 of 2008 to regulate and enforce national controls over precursors.
In the Sri Lanka context, Drug precursors are primarily used for the legitimate production of a wide range of products including daily necessities like perfumes, cosmetics, paints and dyes, pharmaceuticals, plastics etc. However, they can also be misused for the illicit manufacture of drugs such as methamphetamines, heroin, cocaine etc. Preventing the diversion of these chemicals from legitimate commerce to illicit drug manufacturing is identified as a major duty of Precursor Control Authority.

Functions of the PCA

As the competent National Authority, the PCA discharges the following functions with the aim of effective monitoring of imports, exports and distribution of precursor chemicals control which is important in eradicating drug menace from Sri Lanka.

I. Issuing of Licenses

Every person who intends to import or export any of the substances specified in the Table I and Table II of the First Schedule of the Act No. 1 of 2008 are required to obtain a license from the PCA.

II. Registration of Premises

Every licensee has to register their premises where the activities relating to the import or export of the substances specified in the Table I and Table II of the First Schedule to the Act.

III. Monitoring and Examination

The registered premises of the Licensee has to be periodically examined and the activities carried on by using substances specified in the Table I and Table II of the First Schedule to the Act has to be monitored by the PCA.

The inspections are conducted, prior to grant of registration/licenses. These inspections are conducted for inspecting the records and materials at the companies/firms who have filed an application in the PCA for registration.

The information stated in the application is verified prior to carrying out the inspection, the background information about the business verifying the firm authorization is obtained and the type of activities (chemicals handled etc.) as identified prior to the inspection.

International Activities

In addition, the following functions are carried out by the PCA at International level in order to maintain the regional and international cooperation.
Provision of Pre-Export Notification (PEN) to importing countries
Conducting inquiries with respect to PEN
Real-time interface with International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and competent Authorities of other countries
Assistance in investigations
Furnishing of reports and returns to the INCB (form D)

Involvement in Precursor Chemical Control over International Trade

To help prevent trafficking in Precursor chemicals under international control, it has been recommended by the International Narcotic Control Board that the Government of all countries exporting scheduling chemicals to notify the authority of the importing country about the shipment of export prior to the departure of the shipments.
As such Pre Export Notifications (PEN) have been received by the PCA during the period and PCA has actively reviewed PENs and has communicated with the competent national authorities of exporting countries the information of these chemicals has been shared with these authorities through PEN system so that the flow of legitimate trade in chemicals can be maintained. Moreover, this information assists the PCA in identifying and confirming the legitimacy of individual shipments of precursors and enables suspicious shipment to be suspended or stopped in an efficient and timely manner.

List of Precursor Chemicals

Table I	Table II
1- Acetic Anhydride 2- N-Acetylanthranilic acid 3- Ephedrine 4- Ergometrine 5- Ergotamine 6- Isosafrole 7- Lysergic acid 8- 3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl-2 propanone 9- Norephedrine 10- 1-Phenyl-2-propanone 11- Piperonal 12- Potassium permanganate 13- Pseudoephedrine 14- Safrole	1- Acetone 2-Anthranilic acid 3- Ethyl ether 4- Hydrochloric acid 5- Methyl ethyl ketone 6- Phenylacetic acid 7- Piperidine 8- Sulphuric acid 9- Toluene

SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL LICENSES/ REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE HOLDERS OF PRECURSOR CONTROL AUTHORITY!
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Online Application submission for new licenses/ registration certificates
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Online Appoinment booking form of Precursor Control Authority
Submission of Applications for Obtaining Licenses / Registration - Click Here

Public Notice-Issuance of Licenses/ Registration Certificates
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Precursor chemicals
The chemicals listed in the *table I and II of the first schedule to the Conventions Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act No. 1 of 2008, are defined as such.

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Ser No	Chemical Name	HS Code	CAS No
01	Acetic Anhydride	2915.24	108-24-7
02	N-Acetylanthranillic acid	292423	89-52-1
03	Ephedrine	2939.41	299-42-3
04	Ergometrine	2939.61	60-79-7
05	Ergotamine	2939.62	113-15-5
06	Isosafrole	2932.91	120-58-1
07	Lysergic acid	2939.63	82-58-6
08	3,4-Methylenediosyphenyl	2932.92	4676-39-5
09	Norephedrine	2939.49	154-41-6
10	1-Pheny1-2-propanone	2914.31	103-79-7
11	Piperonal	2932.93	120-57-0
12	Potassium permanganate	2941.61	7722-64-7
13	Pseudoephedrine	2939.42	90-82-4
14	Safrole	2932.94	94-59-7

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Ser No	Chemical Name	HS Code	CAS No
01	Acetone	2914.11	67-64-1
02	Anthranillic acid	2922.43	118-92-3
03	Ethyl ether	2909.11	60-29-7
04	Hydrochloric acid	2806.10	7647-01-0
05	Methyl ethyl ketone	2914.12	78-93.3
06	Phenylacetic acid	2916.34	103-82-2
07	Piperidine	2933.32	110-89.4
08	Sulphuric acid	2807.00	7664-93-9
09	Toluene	2902.30	108-88-3

Regulations

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Expansion of the Act No. 1 of 2008

United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 and Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 can be inferred as major outcomes of the attempt made at the international level to prevent the illicit traffic and consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The United Nations Convention against illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic substances, 1988, which was signed at Vienna on 10th December 1988 can be considered as an extension of the foregoing conventions.

Furthermore Sri Lanka being a partyto the aforementioned 1988 UN Convention and South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1990, imposed the Act No. 1 of 2008 in order to empower the aforesaid international law as domestic law.

Apart from that it has been published precisely under “the Establishment of Precursor Control Authority Regulations, No. 1 of 2010”, the types of licences and registration certificates issued by the Authority and the procedure to be followed in order to apply for these.

Section 18 of the Act No. 1 of 2008

The minister shall appoint a person or a body of persons as the Precursor Control Authority (herein after referred to as “the Authority”) who shall be charged with the responsibility of administering the provisions of this part of this Act. The Authority shall implement within Sri Lanka, in respect of the substances specified in Table I and Table II of the first schedule to the Act, such measures as are required for monitoring the manufacture and distribution of the aforesaid substances as required by the provisions of the 1988 United Nations Convention in such manner as shall be prescribed by regulations made under the Act.

*Precursor Control Authority Regulations, No.1 of 2010

Regulations made by the President under Section 31 read with Sections 18 and 19 of the Conventions Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, Act, No. 1 of 2008 read with paragraph (2) of Article 44 of the Constitution, which was published by an Extraordinary Gazette dated 04th May 2010.

*The member composition of Precursor Control Authority

The Precursor Control Authority shall consist of -

(i) The Chairman of the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board ;

(ii) The Attorney- General or his nominee ;

(iii) The Inspector General of Police or his nominee ;

(iv) The Director of the Police Narcotic Bureau or his nominee ;

(v) The Director - General, Sri Lanka Customs or his nominee ;

(vi) The Commissioner- General of Excise or his nominee ;

(vii) Government Analyst or his nominee ;

(viii) The Director of Medical Supplies Division of Ministry of Health or his nominee ;

(ix) The Director of Medical Technology and Supplies or his nominee ;

(x) The Director - General of Board of Investment of Sri Lanka or his nominee ;

(xi) The Director - General of Central Environmental Authority or his nominee ;

(xii) The Secretary of Ministry of Industrial Development (currently Ministry of Industry and Commerce) or his nominee ;

(xiii) The Controller of Imports and Exports or his nominee ;

(xiv) The Commissioner for Ayurveda or his nominee ;

(xv) The Chairman of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka or his nominee ;

(xvi) The President of Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry or his nominee ;

(xvii) The Chairman of the State Pharmaceutical Corporation of Sri Lanka or his nominee.

Fees

Import/Export

Form 1	Application for obtaining a licenset	Rs. 5,000.00
Form 2	Application for amendment to the license	Rs. 2,000.00
Form 3	Application for renewal of a license	Rs. 4,500.00

Premises

Form 4

Application for registration of premises

Rs. 5,000.00

Dealers

Form 6	Application for registration as Dealer	Rs. 4,000.00
Form 7	Application for amendment to the registration as a Dealer	Rs. 1,500.00
Form 8	Application for renewal of the registration as a Dealer	Rs. 3,500.00

End User

Form 09	Application for registration as an End User	Rs. 1,500.00
Form 10	Application for amendments to the registration as an End User	Rs. 500.00
Form 11	Application for renewal of the registration as an End User	Rs. 1,000.00