(a) Whether the Government is planning to bring large number of commonly used chemicals under the purview of Narcotics Act; and
(b) If so, the possible impact of such move on the Industry?
(a) Whether the Government is planning to bring large number of commonly used chemicals under the purview of Narcotics Act; and
(b) If so, the possible impact of such move on the Industry?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARRGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION AND
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS (SHRI SRIKANT KUMAR JENA).
(a) Apart from narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act,
1985 also covers certain precursor chemicals, called ‘controlled substances’ under the Act, which are used to manufacture certain narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Presently, only five precursor chemicals have been declared as ‘controlled substances’ under the NDPS Act, 1985, while the United Nations Convention against illicit traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988, to which India is a party, lists 23 such chemicals. Accordingly, the regulation covering such precursor chemicals is presently under review, to examine the feasibility of extending its scope to more such chemicals, with varying degrees of control.
(b) Chemical industry and trade association have been consulted and their views have been given
due consideration so that there is no adverse impact.