Guidance
Domestic precursor licence and registration requirements
Updated 29 June 2026
| Legislation | Category | Chemical | Domestic use only- each operator and/or premise requires a separate licence/ registration | Exporters- including brokers | Importers- including brokers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Table 1 UN (Vienna) 1988 Convention | Category 1 | Category 1 Drug Precursor Chemicals - all substances | Domestic licence required | Domestic licence required | Domestic licence required |
| Table 1 UN (Vienna) 1988 Convention | Category 2A | Acetic Anhydride | Registration required for use and supply of more than 100 litres per calendar year | Domestic registration required | Registration required |
| Table 1 UN (Vienna) 1988 Convention | Category 2A | Red Phosphorous | Registration required for use and supply of more than 0.1kg per calendar year | Domestic registration required | Registration required |
| Table 1 UN (Vienna) 1988 Convention | Category 2B | Phenylacetic Acid | No registration required for end users. Registration is required for all other users where the quantities exceed more than 1 kg per calendar year | Domestic registration required | Registration required |
| Table 1 UN (Vienna) 1988 Convention | Category 2B | Potassium Permanganate | No registration required for end users. Registration is required for all other users where the quantities exceed more than 100 kg per calendar year | Domestic registration required | Registration required |
| Table 2 UN (Vienna) 1988 Convention | Category 2B | Anthranilic Acid | No registration required for end users. Registration is required for all other users where the quantities exceed more than 1 kg per calendar year | Domestic registration required | Registration required |
| Table 2 UN (Vienna) 1988 Convention | Category 2B | Piperidine | No registration required for end users. Registration is required for all other users where the quantities exceed more than 0.5 kg per calendar year | Domestic registration required | Registration required |
| Table 2 UN (Vienna) 1988 Convention | Category 3 | Acetone | No registration required | Domestic registration is only required if exporting quantities exceed more than 50 kg per calendar year | No registration required |
| Table 2 UN (Vienna) 1988 Convention | Category 3 | Ethyl Ether | No registration required | Domestic registration is only required if exporting quantities exceed more than 20 kg per calendar year | No registration required |
| Table 2 UN (Vienna) 1988 Convention | Category 3 | Hydrochloric Acid | No registration required | Domestic registration is only required if exporting quantities exceed more than 100 kg per calendar year | No registration required |
| Table 2 UN (Vienna) 1988 Convention | Category 3 | Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) | No registration required | Domestic registration is only required if exporting quantities exceed more than 50 kg per calendar year | No registration required |
| Table 2 UN (Vienna) 1988 Convention | Category 3 | Sulphuric Acid | No registration required | Domestic registration is only required if exporting quantities exceed more than 100 kg per calendar year | No registration required |
| Table 2 UN (Vienna) 1988 Convention | Category 3 | Toluene | No registration required | Domestic registration is only required if exporting quantities exceed more than 50 kg per calendar year | No registration required |
| The licensing and registration requirements are listed in accordance with EU Regulations 273/2004 and 111/2005, as amended by the Law Enforcement and Security (LENS) Regulations 2019 (GB premises only) and the Controlled Drugs (Drug Precursors) (Amendment and Revocation) Regulations 2026 (GB premises only). They apply to the drug precursor chemical substances listed below and all mixtures and natural products containing them. It excludes: | Not set | Not set | Not set | Not set | Not set |
| a.medicinal products as de?ned by regulation 2 (medicinal products) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012; & regulation 2 of the Veterinary Medicines Regulations 2013 | Not set | Not set | Not set | Not set | Not set |
| b.pharmaceutical preparations, mixtures, natural products & other preparations containing scheduled substances that are compounded in such a way that they cannot be easily used or extracted by readily applicable or economically viable means | Not set | Not set | Not set | Not set | Not set |
| Published: June 2026.This chart is a general guide only and should not be taken as a replacement for the relevant regulations and guidelines. For enquiries please email d?u.dom@homeof?ce.gov.uk | Not set | Not set | Not set | Not set | Not set |