EU controls nine drug precursors following first EUDA assessments

The European Commission has introduced new controls on nine high-risk chemical precursors used in illicit drug production under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/314. Most of these substances are linked to synthetic cathinones, while one is used in amphetamine production.

This measure responds to the growing scale of synthetic drug production in Europe, with dozens of production sites dismantled in recent years. The regulation is based on updated risk assessments that improve understanding of how precursor chemicals are sourced and diverted into illegal markets.

Overall, the new controls aim to limit access to key substances used in drug manufacturing, while still allowing their legitimate industrial use.