Precursor Control Authority
In general terms, Precursor chemicals are defined as the compounds required in synthetic or extraction processes of drug production, and incorporated into drug molecules. Because many legitimate precursor chemicals are also necessary in the processing and synthesis of most illicitly produced drugs such as cocaine and heroin, preventing the diversion of these chemicals from legitimate commerce to illicit drug manufacturing is identified as a major duty of any responsible government. Often the governments place restrictions on the purchase of large quantities of chemicals that can be used in the production of illicit drugs. Since numerous chemicals listed as illicit drug precursors are manufactured throughout the globe, International cooperation in conjunction with a comprehensive chemical control strategy is essential for chemical control policies to succeed.
Objective behind the establishment of the PCA
In the Sri Lankan context, Precursor chemicals are widely used in the manufacture of a variety of daily necessacities such as Chemicals, Paints, Dyes, Perfumes, Cosmetics, Medicine and Explosives apart from their utilization in the manufacturing process of industry based products such as Plastic, Rubber and even in Agriculture.
It has been identified that these precursor chemicals which make an immense contribution towards the economic development is being utilized illegitimately for the production of illicit drugs and this trend appears to be developing at an alarming rate throughout the country and the world as well. Consequently the present government has taken measures to establish an Authority of this sort with the intention of preventing and restricting such illicit activities.
Duties of the Precursor Control Authority
The duties of the Authority are cited in the *Section 19 of the Act No .1 of 2008 and are primarily as follows.
1. Monitoring to ensure proper transport, distribution, storage, safeguarding and usage of aforementioned chemicals and supervision of the premises where such activities are carried out.
2. Registration and issue of licenses for the individuals / institutions and premises where foregoing activities are carried out upon proper supervision.
- Forms
- Chemicals
- Regulations
- Charges
| Form I | Obtaining a Licence | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
| Form II | Amendment to the Licence | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
| Form III | Renewal of a Licence | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
| Form IV | Registration of the Premises | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
| Form V | Quarterly Returns | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
| Form VI | Registration as a Dealer | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
| Form VII | Amendment to the Registration as a Dealer | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
| Form VIII | Renewal of the Registration as a Dealer | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
| Form IX | Registration as an End User | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
| Form X | Amendment to the Registration as an End User | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
| Form XI | Renewal of the Registration as an End User | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
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.
| Download PDF Files | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
| 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 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 04 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 05 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 06 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 07 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 08 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 09 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 10 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 11 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 12 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 13 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 14 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| Download PDF Files | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
| 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 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 04 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 05 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 06 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 07 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 08 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
| 09 | Acetic Anhydride | 2915.24 | 108-24-7 |
Regulations
| Download PDF Files | English | Sinhala | Tamil |
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.
Chargers
Import & Export
| Form I | Obtaining a Licence for Import & Export | Rs. 5,000.00 |
| Form I | Ammendment of a Licence for Import & Export | Rs. 2,000.00 |
| Form I | Renewal of a Licence for Import & Export | Rs. 4,500.00 |
Premises
| Form I | Registration of Premises | Rs. 5,000.00 |
| Form I | Submission of quarterly returns | -- |
Dealers
| Form I | Registration of Dealers | Rs. 4,000.00 |
| Form I | Ammendment of a Dealer certificate | Rs. 1,500.00 |
| Form I | Renewal of a Dealer certificate | Rs. 3,500.00 |
Endusers
| Form I | Obtaining a Licence for Enduser | Rs. 1,500.00 |
| Form I | Ammendment of a Licence for Enduser | Rs. 500.00 |
| Form I | Renewal of a Licence for Enduser | Rs. 1,000.00 |