Notice to reader
Please note this is a new reporting regime and as such these pages will be kept under review.
The information on these pages is for general purposes and guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. All the information on these pages relates to circumstances prevailing at the date of publication.
If you are uncertain about any aspect of the relevant laws and procedures you should seek assistance from your representative body or legal advisor.
The Chemical Control Team (CCT) section of the SOCA website aims to give background to the legislation concerning drug precursors and the work of the Chemical Control Team and to give guidance about submitting a Chemical Suspicious Activity Report (CSAR). The following pages are contained in the CCT section:
- Welcome to the Chemical Control Team
- About the Chemical Control Team
- Legislation
- Scheduled Precursor Chemicals Wallchart
- Licensing and Regulatory Body for precursor chemicals (Home Office)
- EU Guidelines for Operators
- Should I Submit a CSAR to SOCA CCT (Flow Chart)?
- Submitting a CSAR
- Guidance on completing the CSAR Form
- Download the CSAR Form
- Chemical Liaison Officers
- CSAR Case Studies
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Contact Details
The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) is the designated UK competent authority for the notification of suspicious activity relating to drug precursor chemicals (see Article 8 of Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the Council and the European Parliament and Article 9 of Council Regulation (EC) No 111/2005). The CCT within SOCA provides this bureau function.
On March 7th 2008 The Controlled Drugs (Drug Precursors) (Intra-Community Trade) Regulations 2008 and The Controlled Drugs (Drug Precursors) (Community External Trade) Regulations 2008 came into force. These Regulations give full effect to the relevant EU Regulations in the UK. The Regulations impose licence and reporting obligations on those dealing in scheduled substances. It is a criminal offence to fail to comply with the requirements of the regulations.
Regulation (EC) No 111/2005
Article 9
Notification of the competent authorities
- Operators established in the Community shall notify the competent authorities immediately of any circumstances, such as unusual orders and transactions involving scheduled substances, which suggest that such substances intended for import, export or intermediary activities might be diverted for the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.
Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of the Council and the European Parliament
Article 8
Notification of the competent authorities
- Operators shall notify the competent authorities immediately of any circumstances, such as unusual orders or transactions involving scheduled substances to be placed on the market, which suggest that such substances might be diverted for the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances.
Further details can be found in the Legislation section.
CHEMICALS ASSOCIATED WITH POTENTIAL TERRORIST MISUSE
ANTI TERRORIST HOTLINE - 0800 789321
The SOCA Chemical Control Team and CSARs should not be viewed as a replacement for contacting the Anti Terrorist Hotline directly, in circumstances when an operator has reasonable grounds to suspect that the actual intention or potential end-uses of a substance might relate to terrorism. It is a criminal offence in the UK to facilitate or assist acts of terrorism.
Chemicals associated with licit use often have a number of other illicit end uses. SOCA recognises that it may not be possible for an operator to determine, beyond an expression of a concern, what end purpose a substance might, if sold, be diverted into. In such circumstances SOCA is able to receive notifications and, if appropriate, direct information onto the relevant authorities