Drug precursors

See EESC opinion in all languages under Related documents at the end of this page.

Key points:

The EESC:

• recognises the need for this amending regulation and strongly supports the proposal;
• supports the proposal to establish a European Database of approved operators and end-users and to improve the collection of reports from the Member States of seizures and stoppages of illicit shipments of all scheduled and unscheduled drug precursors;
• considers that end-users should be fully briefed on the purpose and benefits of registration and that competent authorities should be granted the same rights of access to the business premises of end-users as are currently provided for in the case of operators;
• recognises that the new proposals will be effective only if communicated properly and without unnecessary additional financial burdens for all those involved, and therefore strongly supports the proposal to exclude micro-enterprises from registration fees;
• looks forward to contributing to the planned proposals for controls on psychotropic substances and synthetic "designer drugs" within the framework of strong, well focused and evidence-based public health policies.

Other relevant EESC opinions:

• Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on the Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on drug precursors COM(2002) 494 final – 2002/0217 (COD)
• Opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee on theCommunication from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council – Towards a stronger European response to drugs  COM(2011) 689 final

For more information please contact the INT Section Secretariat