Health Canada publishes proposed changes to increase oversight for precursor chemicals and drug equipment

The proposed changes would strengthen Canada's current regulatory framework

OTTAWA, ON, Jan. 30, 2025 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is concerned with the impact of fentanyl, and other illegal synthetic drugs on the overdose crisis and on public safety, including security challenges associated with their illegal production, importation, trafficking, and related crimes. Health Canada plays a critical role in supporting Canadian law and border enforcement in their activities to counter the global synthetic drug threat and is taking concrete action to keep communities safe on both sides of the border.

Today, the Honourable Ya'ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, announced that we are expediting a consultation on proposed amendments to the Precursor Control Regulations (PCR) and Schedule IX of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) in the Canada Gazette, Part I. This consultation will open for public comment on January 31, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. EST.

This consultation is linked to Canada's border plan that sets out a commitment from Health Canada to launch a new Precursor Chemical Risk Management Unit, to provide better insight into precursor chemicals, distribution channels and enhance monitoring and surveillance to enable timely law enforcement action. Canada's border plan is committed to accelerate the regulatory process for banning precursors, enabling border and law enforcement to take swift action to prevent their illegal importation and use.

Canada is a world leader in the control of chemicals used to produce synthetic drugs and has one of the most robust and modern regulatory regimes. These amendments will further strengthen our ability to take action by increasing oversight of precursor chemicals and tools used in illegal drug production. For example, making it mandatory for licensed and registered companies to report suspicious transactions to Health Canada. The amendments will be an important step in providing law and border enforcement and Health Canada with additional resources to respond to Canadian public health or public safety risks in a more agile and timely manner.

Our government will continue to support a full continuum of evidence-based actions and innovative strategies to stem the flow of illegal drugs in our country and at the border, including by strengthening law enforcement capacity to address illegal drug production and trafficking.

Quotes

"Our government is committed to combatting the overdose crisis, and the threat posed by illegal synthetic drugs. We are investing in tools and resources aimed at enhancing law enforcement and border control capabilities, improving regulatory measures, and boosting drug analysis and intelligence efforts. Strengthening public safety and protecting communities from the devasting impact of illegal drug distribution and overdose deaths is of the utmost importance to our government."

The Honourable Ya'ara Saks
Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health

Quick Facts

• Under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), the Precursor Control Regulations (PCR) provide a framework for the regulation of certain legitimate activities with precursors. While some precursor chemicals have legitimate uses, they can also be used in the illegal production of controlled substances, like fentanyl and fentanyl analogues. In Canada, precursors are controlled under Schedule VI of the CDSA and subject to the PCR.
• Canada and the US have one of the closest and most respected relationships in the world and we continue to work together to protect the security of our shared border while facilitating the secure transfer of services and goods.
• To ensure that law and border enforcement have the tools they need to detect and address fentanyl and its precursors, the federal government is investing $78.7 million to expand Health Canada's laboratory and regulatory capabilities.
• Specifically, Health Canada will create a new Canadian Drug Profiling Centre to expand its laboratory-based drug testing capabilities. The creation of the CDPC will allow for more specialized forensic analysis of seized illegal synthetic drug samples. The analysis will go beyond identifying the components of a sample and look at markers to help determine how and where these substances were manufactured. Such intelligence could then be used by law enforcement and public safety partners to more strategically target actions to address the synthetic drug threat.
• Health Canada will launch a new Precursor Chemical Risk Management Unit to provide greater insight into precursor chemicals and distribution channels, and enhance monitoring and surveillance to enable timely law enforcement action.

Associated Links

• Consultation: Proposal to Amend the Regulations for Precursors and Designated Devices
• Strengthening Border Security
• Controlled substances and precursor chemicals

SOURCE Health Canada (HC)

Contacts: Callum Haney, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Ya'ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, 343-576-4407; Media Relations, Health Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected]; Public Inquiries, 613-957-2991, 1-866-225-0709