Misuse of Drugs Act

The Misuse of Drugs Act is the main piece of legislation covering drugs and their categorisation.

Companies and individuals in England, Wales or Scotland need to apply for Home Office licences if they wish to produce, supply, possess, import or export controlled drugs.

Who needs a licence?

The Home Office drugs licensing unit is the UK's competent authority for the purposes of the United Nations conventions on controlled drugs. They issue licenses for those who work with controlled drugs, including:

companies and other organisations that intend to work with controlled drugs and precursor chemicals

Each school should apply for a licence individually.

What is a controlled drug?

A list can be downloaded from the Home Office website. This list is periodically updated, therefore please check the website each time you wish to purchase a drug which may be covered by this legislation.

Home Office - controlled drugs list

Applying for a domestic licence

Full instructions on how to apply for a licence can be found on the Home Office website. Each School must apply for a licence individually.

Home Office - applying for a licence

Import/export licence

Companies need to complete specific forms to enable them to import or export controlled drugs.

Home Office - import/export licence

Annual returns

Each licence holder is required to submit an annual return to the Home Office

Home Office - annual returns

Licensee compliance statement

All licensees must complete a statement of compliance with The Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001.

Home Office - Licensee compliance statement

Precursor licence

Companies who deal in precursor chemicals need to be licensed or registered with the Home Office. The University has been granted the Category 1 Drug Precursors Licence by the Home Office. Please see the Drug Precursor Chemicals webpage for further details.

Drug Precursor Chemicals

This article was published on Jan 19, 2011