United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988
Legislation and Control Measures
The concerted and united efforts of Governments determined to establish measures to prevent the diversion of precursor and essential chemicals into the illicit manufacture of drugs led to the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 (1988 Convention), and today the Convention enjoys near universal adherence. The 1988 Convention contains detailed provisions and requirements relating to the control of precursors. The general requirements are summarized in paragraph 1 of article 12:
" The parties shall take the measures they deem appropriate to prevent diversion of substances in Table I and Table II used for illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, and shall co-operate with one another to this end."
Red List
The Red List is the list of precursors and chemicals frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances under international control. It contains chemical names, synonyms and trade names known to INCB, as well as chemical abstract service (CAS) numbers and harmonized system (HS) codes for the chemicals listed in Table I and Table II of the 1988 Convention.
SUBSTANCES INCLUDED IN TABLE I
| Acetic anhydride | (acetic oxide) | HS code: 2915.24 CAS number: 108-24-7 |
| N-Acetylanthranilic acid | (benzoic acid, 2-(acetylamino)-) | HS code: 2924.23 CAS number: 89-52-1 |
| 4-Anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (ANPP) | (N-phenyl-1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidin-4-amine) | HS code: 2933.39 CAS number: 21409-26-7 |
| Ephedrine | ([R-(R*,S*)]-α-[1-(methylamino)ethyl]-benzenemethanol) | HS code: 2939.41# CAS number: 299-42-3 |
| Ergometrine | (ergoline-8-carboxamide,9,10-didehydro-N-(2-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-6-methyl-,[8ß(S)]) | HS code: 2939.61 CAS number: 60-79-7 |
| Ergotamine | (ergotaman-3',6',18'-trione,12'-hydroxy-2'-methyl-5'-(phenylmethyl)-,(5α)) | HS code: 2939.62 CAS number: 113-15-5 |
| Isosafrole | (1,3-benzodioxole,5-(1-propenyl)-) | HS code: 2932.91 CAS number: 120-58-1 |
| Lysergic acid | ((8ß)-9,10-didehydro-6-methylergoline-8-carboxylic acid) | HS code: 2939.63 CAS number: 82-58-6 |
| 3,4-MDP-2-P methylglycidate (*2) | (2-oxiranecarboxylic acid, 3-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-methyl-,methyl ester) | HS code: 2932.99 CAS number: 13605-48-6 |
| 3,4-MDP-2-P methylglycidic acid (*2) | (2-oxiranecarboxylic acid, 3-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-yl)-2-methyl-) | HS code: 2932.99 CAS number: 2167189-50-4 |
| 3,4-Methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone | (2-propanone,1-[3,4(methylenedioxy)phenyl]-) | HS code: 2932.92 CAS number: 4676-39-5 |
| Methylalpha-phenylacetoacetate (MAPA) (*3) | (methyl 3-oxo-2-phenylbutanoate) | HS code: 2918.30 CAS number: 16648-44-5 |
| Norephedrine | (R*,S*)-α-(1-aminoethyl)benzenemethanol | HS code: 2939.44# CAS number: 14838-15-4 |
| N-Phenethyl-4-piperidone (NPP) | (1-(2-phenylethyl)-piperidin-4-one) | HS code: 2933.39 CAS number: 39742-60-4 |
| Phenylacetic acid | (benzeneacetic acid) | HS code: 2916.34 CAS number: 103-82-2 |
| 1-Phenyl-2-propanone | (1-phenyl-2-propanone) | HS code: 2914.31 CAS number: 103-79-7 |
| alpha-Phenylacetoacetamide(APAA) (*2) | (benzeneacetamide, α-acetyl-) | HS code: 2924.29 CAS number: 4433-77-6 |
| alpha-Phenylacetoacetonitrile (APAAN) | (3-oxo-2-phenylbutanenitrile) | HS code: 2926.40 CAS number: 4468-48-8 |
| Piperonal | (1,3-benzodioxole-5-carboxaldehyde) | HS code: 2932.93 CAS number: 120-57-0 |
| Potassium permanganate | (permanganic acid (HMnO4), potassium salt) | HS code: 2841.61 CAS number: 7722-64-7 |
| Pseudoephedrine | ([S-(R*,R*)]-α-[1-(methylamino)ethyl]-benzenemethanol) | HS code: 2939.42# CAS number: 90-82-4 |
| Safrole | (1,3-benzodioxole,5-(2-propenyl)-) | HS code: 2932.94 CAS number: 94-59-7 |
The salts of the substances listed in this Table whenever the existence of such salts is possible.
The CAS numbers for the salts of the substances listed are different from those given. Therefore, a substance with a CAS number that does not appear in the list may nevertheless be a scheduled substance.
(*2)3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid, its methyl ester, and APAA were included in Table 1 of the 1988 Convention effective 19 November2019.
(*3)MAPA was included in Table 1 of the 1988 Convention, effective 3 November 2020.
(#)
Since January 2017, the World Customs Organization’s Harmonized System (HS) Nomenclature includes new code numbers for pharmaceutical preparations containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine and norephedrine, as follows:
3003.41 –Containing ephedrine or its salts
3003.42 –Containing pseudoephedrine (INN) or its salts
3003.43 –Containing norephedrine or its salts
(Note: subheading 3003 concerns medications in bulk)
3004.41 –Containing ephedrine or its salts
3004.42 –Containing pseudoephedrine (INN) or its salts
3004.43 –Containing norephedrine or its salts
(Note: subheading 3004 concerns retail medications)
SUBSTANCES INCLUDED IN TABLE II
| Acetone | (2-propanone) | HS code: 2914.11 CAS number: 67-64-1 |
| Anthranilic acid | (2-aminobenzoic acid) | HS code: 2922.43 CAS number: 118-92-3 |
| Ethyl ether | (1,1'-oxybis[ethane]) | HS code: 2909.11 CAS number: 60-29-7 |
| Hydrochloric acid (*4) | (hydrochloric acid) | HS code: 2806.10 CAS number: 7647-01-0 |
| Methyl ethyl ketone | (2-butanone) | HS code: 2914.12 CAS number: 78-93-3 |
| Piperidine | (piperidine) | HS code: 2933.32 CAS number: 110-89-4 |
| Sulphuric acid(*4) | (sulfuric acid) | HS code: 2807.00 CAS number: 7664-93-9 |
| Toluene | (benzene, methyl-) | HS code: 2902.30 CAS number: 108-88-3 |
The salts of the substances listed in this Table whenever the existence of such salts is possible.
(*4) The salts of hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid are specifically excluded from Table II.
