What are the latest types of precursor chemicals?

As controlled chemicals, precursor chemicals have relatively frequent updates to their controlled quantities. This is due to the intensification of global drug crime and the increasing abuse of synthetic drugs, which has led to a growing problem of precursor chemicals flowing into illegal drug production channels. Furthermore, the detection and control of precursor chemicals is plagued by inadequate legal basis, leading to the need to continuously expand the categories of precursor chemicals to strengthen control.

Compared to the frequent updates to precursor chemicals, the current "List of Dangerous Chemicals Easily Precursing to Explosives (2017 Edition)" is the first update to the "List of Dangerous Chemicals Easily Precursing to Explosives (2011 Edition)."

In recent years, while conducting training at universities, I've found that many teachers and students haven't received timely notifications of updates to the precursor chemical list. Even some prefecture-level public security department anti-drug brigades haven't used the latest list in their university lectures. Therefore, it's necessary to systematically review the changes to the list of precursor chemicals. According to the Regulations on the Administration of Precursor Chemicals, precursor chemicals can be divided into raw materials (also known as precursors) and additives based on their role in the production, processing, and manufacture of narcotics. Precursors refer to chemical raw materials whose components become the main components of narcotics during the production process; additives refer to chemicals that participate in reactions during the production process or not, but whose components do not constitute the final narcotic product. These chemicals are further divided into three categories:

The first category is direct precursors for narcotics, which can be made into narcotics in a single step, such as bromopropiophenone and ephedrine.

The second category is the main precursors or additives used to produce Category 1 precursor chemicals, such as propiophenone and bromine.

The third category is the main additives used to adjust pH or act as solvents, such as sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid.

It is important to note that precursor chemicals are not narcotics themselves, but rather have a dual nature: they are both general industrial raw materials and essential chemicals for the production of synthetic drugs.

On June 26, 2025, the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Commerce, the National Health Commission, the Ministry of Emergency Management, the General Administration of Customs, and the National Medical Products Administration decided to include 4-piperidone and 1-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-4-piperidone in the "Classification and Variety Catalog of Precursor Chemicals" appendix to the "Regulations on the Administration of Precursor Chemicals" (hereinafter referred to as the "Regulations"). This brings the classification and variety catalog of precursor chemicals to the latest 47. Both newly added 4-piperidone and 1-tert-butyloxycarbonyl-4-piperidone are now classified as Category II precursor chemicals:

Since the first edition of the "Classification and Variety Catalog of Precursor Chemicals" was published in 2005 as an appendix to the "Regulations on the Management of Precursor Chemicals," it has been added seven times in 2008, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2021, 2024, and 2025. The number of chemicals has also increased from the initial 23 in 2005 to the current 47. A detailed table of these adjustments is attached:

For example, to make 1kg of heroin, you need: 3kg of chloroform, 1kg of acetic anhydride, 12kg of ether, etc.

Of course, in addition to the well-known "Classification and Variety Catalog of Precursor Chemicals," there's also the "Variety Catalog of Pharmaceutical Precursor Chemicals" (all varieties are included in the "Classification and Variety Catalog of Precursor Chemicals"), the "Catalog of Export Precursor Chemicals," and the "Catalog of 18 Other Non-Scheduled Chemicals Used in Drug Manufacturing."

Note: This article is reprinted from the WeChat official account: Ansifu