Brussels, 06/05/2013 (Agence Europe) On 1 May, MEPs from the European Parliament's civil liberties committee approved new rules aiming to ensure that chemical products used in various industrial processes - such as muanufacturing plastics, textiles, aspirin, flu and allergy remedies, dyes and perfumes - are not diverted to the illegal production of heroin, speed or crack. The rules were adopted on 2 May by the Parliament's international trade committee. Discussion is now due to begin at the Council.
The new rules oblige all companies using acetic anhydride to register with relevant authorities, although this obligation currently only affects companies producing or trading this substance. “This leaves open a loophole allowing criminals to divert large quantities of the chemical, which is the main drug precursor for heroin, from legitmate trade within the EU. In 2008, 75% of the global seizures of trafficked acetic anhydride occurred in EU countries”, the Parliament's civil liberties committee states.
The MEPs also backed the creation of a new European database on drug percursors - the objective of which is to draw up a list of licensed and registered companies in the EU, and to collate data on seizures and intercepted shipments of the substance more efficiently, the civil liberties committee continues.
The propoal also provides for stricter controls on medicine imports and for strengthening customs controls relating to the trade in medicines containing ephedrine and pseudophedrine. These substances are used in medicines against colds, flu and allergies - but they are also diverted to the illegal production of methamphetamines. (SP/transl.fl)