Following discussions with Industry bodies, the Home Office revoked the proposed amendment to the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 to include gamma Butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-Butanediol (1,4 BD / BDO) into schedule 1, which was laid before Parliament on the 15 December 2015. It has been stated that ‘neat GBL and BDO will be subject to regulation and licencing and mixtures will be subject to an alternative proposal, which is being developed, with which to implement the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) requirements.

The Chemical Business Association has been gathering operational data and working on determining any potential impacts for operators and customers once the new rules are known. These include importation through UK ports, Waste management and tanker heating.

However, the substances are still controlled drugs and have been subsequently reclassified within the ‘Misuse of Drugs Act’ from class ‘C’ to class ‘B’ drugs. It is therefore still important to handle these substances carefully and considerately, to understand your supply chain and know your customers accordingly.

This short clinic is designed to:

• Recap the journey so far
• Clarify the current position
• Operational aspects to consider
• Explain ‘Know Your Customer’ principle