VZCZCXRO2476
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV
DE RUEHLO #8144 3331717
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291717Z NOV 06  ZDS
FM AMEMBASSY LONDON
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0688
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS LONDON 008144 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T I V E D  C O P Y   (ADDING COLLECTIVE) 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR UK
SUBJECT: INCSR PART III FOR UK 
 
REF STATE 155254 
 
¶1.  Following is part III of the INCSR for the UK.  As previously 
notified to the Dept, the UK agency responsible for precursor 
monitoring, the Home Office Drugs Branch, has declined to supply the 
embassy with specific information about precursor production and 
exports.  An official at the Home Office explained that EU member 
states were collectively deciding on how to respond to the US 
request in reftel. Information below concerning licensing and 
control procedures is from the Home Office's website 
(http://www.drugs.gov.uk/drugs-laws/licensing /). 
 
¶2.  Begin Text: 
 
Volume III: Methamphetamine Precursors 
 
United Kingdom 
 
The United Kingdom has a multilayered system for ensuring the 
production of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine is not diverted for 
illicit uses.  The system is administered and implemented by the 
Home Office's Drugs Branch and follows guidelines set out by the 
European Parliament and the European Council (EC No 273/2004). The 
system consists of domestic possession/supply licenses, 
import/export licenses, inspections, and the use of compliance 
officers to meet the mandate set by the EC regulation. 
 
According to the EC regulation both ephedrine and pseudoephedrine 
are category I drugs. Domestic entities, whether wholesalers, 
manufacturers or suppliers, are required to hold domestic licenses 
before they can import or export ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. This 
requirement does not apply, however, to freight carriers as long as 
they are shipping the chemicals in the course of their normal 
business. For companies with affiliates in other EU countries, it is 
sufficient to provide the Home Office with the details of the sister 
company to which the item is being sent and to receive a customer 
declaration from the receiving company. The Home Office requires 
that all companies keep all documentation for a period of three 
years readily available for inspection upon request. 
 
The Home Office's Drugs Branch conducts surprise inspections on 
companies that are known to use, supply or create precursor 
chemicals. In addition to inspections, the UK, following EC 
regulations, requires each entity to designate compliance officers. 
These officers are tasked with ensuring the entity's compliance with 
UK and relevant international laws. The only requirement for a 
compliance officer is that he or she should be empowered to 
represent the operator and take decisions necessary for ensuring 
that the trade is in compliance with the Regulation. 
 
The Drugs Branch also requires chemicals to be labeled 
appropriately, to make it more difficult to divert them to illicit 
uses. Labels must name the substance, state that it is a "drug 
precursor" and be affixed prior to supply. This requirement excludes 
mixtures as long as they are compounded in a way to prevent the 
extraction of the precursor. 
 
According to the Home Office, contraventions of the law and/or 
conditions of a license may result in the institution of criminal 
proceedings and/or revocation of the license, although minor and/or 
inadvertent contraventions will normally result in a verbal or 
written warning. In addition, there are provisions to seize any 
material that is being diverted for illicit purposes. 
 
Once precursors reach the retail end of the production chain, 
however, there is less control. Ephedrine is treated as a 
prescription drug, but pseudoephedrine hydrochloride and other 
precursors, such as red phosphorous and crystal iodine, can be 
purchased without controls by UK consumers. 
 
In November 2006, police in West London conducted one of the largest 
raids to date on a suspected supplier of meth precursors.  Members 
of the Serious Organized Crime Agency seized 16 kg of red phosphorus 
and unspecified amounts of crystal iodine and ammonia.  A chemist 
was arrested on suspicion of aiding and abetting production of a 
controlled drug through his online chemical supply business. 
 
The Home Office reports annually to the International Narcotics 
Control Board on the manufacture, supply, importation, exportation 
and destruction of all controlled drugs and precursor chemicals 
within the UK. 
 
End Text. 
 
 
TUTTLE