Mexico Updates Law on Chemical Precursors and Essential Chemical Products

On 3 May 2023 the Mexican government published a decree adding, amending, and repealing various provisions of the Federal Law for the Control of Chemical Precursors, Essential Chemical Products and Machines to Manufacture Capsules, Tablets and/or Pills (in short, the Law on Chemical Precursors and Essential Chemical Products). The changes went into effect the day after the publication in the Official Gazette of the federation (i.e. on 4 May 2023) but the amendment to the regulation will be published within 180 days.

Some of the changes are:

• A synthetic drug is now defined as ‘Any substance of synthetic origin with psychoactive effects available in the illicit drug market and used for non-medical purposes.’

• Chemical precursors are defined as ‘Fundamental substances for the production of synthetic drugs, which incorporate their molecular structure into the final product.’

• Essential Chemicals are defined as ‘Substances that, without being chemical precursors, can be used to produce synthetic drugs, such as solvents, reagents, and catalysts.’

• The time for submitting Annual Reports has been changed to 60 calendar days.

• Affected companies and individuals must now register each activity the involves precursor chemicals or essential chemicals in the Comprehensive System of Substances within 24 hours.

• Penalties will now be as follows: A person who diverts or makes use of chemical precursors or essential chemicals for the production of synthetic drugs, will be sentenced to ten to fifteen years in prison and a fine equivalent to ten percent of the income obtained by such activities. A person who is in possession of chemical precursors, essential chemical products or machines to make capsules, tablets or tablets in the national territory, who does not have the corresponding authorizations or permits, will be sentenced to seven to ten years. imprisonment and a fine of one thousand to five thousand times the daily value of the Measurement and Update Unit.
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The full text of the decree can be found here:

https://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5687756&fecha=03/05/2023#gsc.tab=0