G/LIC/N/2/GBR/8  
 
24 February  2021 
(21-1597) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Import Licensing  Original: English   
 
 
  
AGREEMENT ON IMPORT LICENSING PROCEDURES  
NOTIFICATION UNDER ARTICLE 5.1 TO 5.4 OF THE AGREEMENT1 
UNITED KINGDOM  
The following notification dated  2 February  2021, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of the United Kingdom . 
 
 Category  Notification details  
1 Notifying Member  United Kingdom  
2 Title of new 
legislation/procedure  Retained EU law2: 
1.  Regulation (EC) 273/2004 of the European Parliament and 
Council of 11 February 2004 on drug precursors .    
2.  Council Regulation (EC) 111/2005 of 22 December 2004 laying 
down rules for the monitoring of trade between the Community 
and third countries in drug precursors .    
3.  Commission Delegat ed Regulation (EU) 2015/1011 of 
24 April 2015 supplementing Regulation (EC) No 273/2004 of 
the European Parliament and of the Council on drug precursors 
and Council Regulation (EC) No . 111/2005 laying down rules 
for the monitoring of trade between the Unio n and third 
countries in drug precursors, and repealing Commission 
Regulation (EC) No . 1277/2005 .    
4.  Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1013 of 
25 June 2015 laying down rules in respect of Regulation (EC) 
No. 273/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council on 
drug precursors and of Council Regulation (EC) No . 111/2005 
laying down rules for the monitoring of trade between the 
Union and third countries in drug precursors .    
UK legislation:  
5.  The Controlled Drugs (Drug Precursor s) (Intra -Community 
Trade) Regulations 2008 . 
6.  The Controlled Drugs (Drug Precursors) (Community External 
Trade) Regulations 2008 . 
7.  Law Enforcement and Security (Amendment) (EU Exit) 
Regulations 2019 – Part 5, Chapter 1, Drug Precursors.  
3 Date of Publication  
 1. 26 June 2018  
2. 26 June 2018  
3. 26 June 2018  
4. 26 June 2018  
5. 12 February 2008  
6. 11 February 2008  
7. 28 March 2019  
 
1 It is understood that the notifying Member has also completed its notification obligations under 
Article  1.4(a) and Article 8.2(b) regarding the relevant law/regulation/procedure notified for by filling this form 
in a full and complete manner.  
2 Some European Union law was retained in UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 
2018 and the Europe an Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020, with minor modifications to ensure 
operability.  G/LIC/N/2/GBR/8  
 
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   Category  Notification details  
4 Date of entry into force  
 1. 31 December 2020  
2. 31 December 2020  
3. 31 December 2020  
4. 31 December 2020  
5. 7 March 2008  
6. 7 March 2008 
7. 31 December 2020  
5 Website link/Official 
publication of the new 
regulation/procedure  1. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2004/273/contents  
2. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2005/111/contents  
3. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2015/1011/contents  
4. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/eur/2015/1013/2015 -06-25 
5. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/295/contents/made  
6. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/296/contents /made  
7. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/742/made  
6 Have you attached a copy 
of the regulation (PDF) to 
the Secretariat  [  ] Yes. ( Please attach a copy of the regulation to the notification. ) 
 
[X] No.  
7 Type of notification  [X] (a) New licensing regulation/procedure3; (please answer 
question 8 to 14)  
 
[  ] (b) Changes to a regulation/procedure which has been 
previously notified in document: ______________ ; (please answer 
question 15 and 16 ) 
8 List of products subject to 
licensing  Full list in the annex and can be found in the following link:  
 
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/precursor -chemical -
import -and-export -authorisation -wallchart  
9 Nature of licensing  Automatic:  [  ] 
 
Non-Automatic: [X] 
10 Administrative 
purpose/measure being 
implemented  (a)  Protect public morals;  
(b)  Protect human, animal or plant life and health; protect 
environment;  
(c)  Collect trade statistics or market surveillance;  
(d)  Protection of patents, trademarks and copyrights, and 
the prevention of deceptive practices;  
(e)  Pursue obligations under the UN Charter and other 
international treaties ( i.e. CITES, Basel Convention, 
Rotterdam Convention, UNSC Resolutions etc.)  
(f)  Quota (including TRQ) administration;  
(g)  Regulate imports of arms, ammunition or fissionable 
materials and safeguard national security;  
(h)  Other: ______________ (please specify)  
11 Administrative body(ies) 
for submission of 
applications   
 Ministry/authority and Department: Drugs and Firearms Licensing 
Unit 
Address:  2 Marsham St, LONDON, SW1P 4DF, UK   
Website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/precursor -chemical -licensing   
Telephone: 020 7035 6330  
E-Mail: dflu.ie@homeoffice.gov.uk    
12 Contact point for 
information on eligibility  Ministry/authority and Department: Drugs and Firearms Licensing 
Unit 
Address: 2 Marsham St, LONDON, SW1P 4DF, UK   
Website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/precursor -chemical -licensing   
Telephone: 020 7035 6330  
E-Mail: dflu.ie@homeoffice.gov.uk    
13 Expected duration of 
licensing procedure  Ongoing.  
 
 
3 "New licensing regulation/procedure" is understood to refer to any newly introduced law, regulation or 
procedure, and those which are in force but being notified fo r the first time to the Committee.  
 G/LIC/N/2/GBR/8  
 
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   Category  Notification details  
14 A summary of the 
notification in one of the 
WTO official languages   The Drug Precursors Licensing regime  is an established regime 
which derives from the requirements of wider international 
obligations under the  United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic 
in Narcotic Drugs  and Psychotropic Substances 1988 . 
This will mean that companies trading in drug precursors will be 
required to apply to the Home Office  Drugs and Firearms Licensing 
Unit for:  
• Domestic Licences and Registrations – when possessing certain 
categories of drug precursor chemicals.   
• Import and Export Licences – when trading in certain categories 
of chemicals.  
• Pre-export notification – when trading in certain categories of 
chemicals . 
The full licensing requirements and processes can be found at the 
following link:  
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/precursor -chemical -licensing   
15 In the case of 7(b), please 
indicate the type of new 
change(s)  (a)  Termination  
(b)  Suspension  
(c)  Modification of specific details in existing  
procedures:  
 Product coverage;  
 Administrative purpose;  
 Automatic or Non -automatic;  
 Duration of licensing;  
 Change the nature of quantity/value restriction;  
 Eligibility of applicants;  
 Contact information on eligibility;  
 Administrative body(ies) for submission of application;  
 Documentation requirements (including application form);  
 Period for Application;  
 Administrative body(ies) to issue licence;  
 Processing time for issuing licence;  
 Licence fee/administrative charge;  
 Deposit/advance payment and relevant conditions;  
 Appeal regulations/procedures;  
 Validity of licence;  
 Other conditions of licence (extension, transferability, 
penalty of non -use etc.);  
 Foreign exchange requirements;  
 Other: __________ (please specify).  
 
16  Please elaborate the 
changes in detail (in one of 
the WTO official 
languages)   
 
 
 
__________