Drug precursors: the EU updates the lists of controlled substances

The European Commission has published Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/314, updating the EU legislation on drug precursors through the inclusion of new substances used in the illicit manufacture of synthetic cathinones and amphetamines.

More specifically, the Regulation amends:

• Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 273/2004, concerning drug precursors within the internal market;
• Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 111/2005, concerning the monitoring of trade in drug precursors between the European Union and third countries.

This regulatory update forms part of the European Union’s ongoing efforts to address the increasing spread of synthetic drugs and to ensure that existing control mechanisms remain effective in light of the evolving methods used in their illicit production.

The inclusion of these new substances in the relevant annexes will result in the application of the obligations established under EU drug precursor legislation, potentially affecting manufacturers, importers, exporters, distributors and users involved in handling the substances concerned.

The amendments introduced by Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/314 will apply from 18 September 2026, providing operators with several months to assess the potential impact of the new requirements on their activities and to take any necessary measures to ensure compliance.

The update of the annexes should also be viewed in the broader context of the ongoing revision of the EU framework governing drug precursors. As previously reported by Normachem in this news article, the European Commission is currently working on a comprehensive reform of the legislation, which is expected to replace the current Regulations (EC) No 273/2004 and (EC) No 111/2005, with the aim of further strengthening the monitoring and control of substances that may be used in the illicit manufacture of drugs.