THE PRECURSOR  CHEMICALS ACT

REGULATIONS 

(under section 40)

 

 

Part I  Preliminary 

 

 

 

Part II - Licensing and  Permits

 

 

 

Part III-  Additional  Particulars and  Reporting  Procedures 

 

 

 

 

Part IV - General Provisions

 

 

 

 

Go to top

THE PRECURSOR  CHEMICALS ACT

REGULATIONS

(under section 40)

 

THE  PRECURSOR CHEMICALS  REGULATIONS

(Made by the Minister on the 3rd day of December,  2013)

 

 

 

PART I. Preliminary  

 

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the   Precursor    Chemicals   Regulations, 2013.

 

2.  In these Regulations-

 

 "Act" means the Precursor Chemicals Act No. 33 of 1999
 
 
 "appointed   day"  means  the  date  of  coming  into  operation   of  these  Regulations
 
 "disposal"   means  the  act  or  process  as  approved  by  the   competent authority,  of getting  rid of chemicals,  chemical  waste,  containers, and  other  materials  associated  with the  manufacture  of precursor chemicals;

                                                         
 "extract"  means in respect of a precursor, to isolate the precursor from  a preparation   or  mixture   by  any  physical   or  chemical   process, including distillation;
 
"Harmonized  System  Code"  means  the  numeric  identifier  set  out  for goods   in  the  Harmonized   Commodity   Description  and   Coding System published by the World Customs Organization;
 
"International   Maritime   Dangerous   Drugs   Code"   means   the   Code adapted  in 1965 at the Safety of Life at Sea Convention  (SOLAS) which provides for the safe transportation  of hazardous materials by vessel,  the  protection   of crew  members,   and  the  prevention   of marine pollution
 
"manufacturer"  means  a person  who manufactures  precursor  chemicals for his own use or for the use of others, whether for profit or not;

 

 

 

"records"  includes documents kept in electronic form;
"responsible officer" means the person designated by a licensee under regulation  5(2), with the responsibility for supervising prescribed activities carried out on the premises of the licensee.
 

PART II.  Licensing and Permits 

 

 

 

3.-(1)  Pursuant  to section  6 of the Act, an application  for a licence to engage in a prescribed activity shall be made in the form set out as Form 1    in the First Schedule  and shall be accompanied  by the appropriate fee specified in the Second Schedule.

    (2)  A person who is  carrying on a prescribed  activity on the appointed day shall,  within thirty days after the appointed day,  make an application  for a licence,  in the manner provided  for in paragraph ( 1).

 

   (3)  Where an application  is made by a company, the application shall be accompanied  by the documents  of incorporation of the company

   (4)  Upon  receipt  of an  application,  the  competent  authority  may,  by notice in writing, request the applicant to furnish, within the time specified  in the  notice,  further additional information as the competent authority considers necessary,  within the time specified in the notice.

4.-  (1)  Pursuant  to section 6(3) of the Act, the competent  authority  shall cause an inspection of the premises on which the applicant engages or intends to engage in a prescribed  activity, to be carried out by an authorized  officer

      (2)  In carrying out an inspection of the premises, the authorized  officer shall ascertain whether

(a)  the  conditions  under  which  the  specified  chemical  substance  to be used  in relation  to the prescribed  activity  is  or is  to be stored,  meet the standards approved by the competent authority;

(b)  there   is   compliance   with   safety   standards   as   required   by   any enactment relating to factories;

(c)  the measures taken to provide security for the premises  are adequate;

(d)  provision   is  made   for  the  limited  access  to  any  area   in  which specified chemical substances are stored; and

(e)  any  other  condition  which  the  competent  authority  may  require  is

satisfied.

(3)  In  addition  to  carrying  out  an  inspection  of  the  premises  under paragraph  (I), the  competent  authority  may cause  an authorized  officer  to carry  out  such  investigation   as  may  be  necessary,   in  order  to  ascertain whether  the  applicant   is  a  fit  and  proper  person  to  be  engaged   in  the prescribed  activity to which his application relates

5.-     (1)  Subject  to  paragraph  (2),  the  competent  authority  shall  grant  a licence to an applicant  in the form set out as Form 2 in the First Schedule if it is satisfied that the applicant

(a)  has met the requirements specified in regulation 4; and

(b)  has paid the appropriate licence fee specified in the Second Schedule. (2)  It shall be a condition of every licence that

(2) It shall be a condition of every licence that-

(a)  the licensee  designates  a responsible officer to work on the premises on which  the prescribed  activity  is  carried  out,  who  shall  have the responsibility   for   supervising,   on   behalf   of   the   licensee,   any prescribed   activity   that  is   carried   out  on   the  premises,   and  for ensuring  that  such  prescribed  activity  is  carried  out  in  compliance with the Act and these Regulations

(b)  an employee of the licensee shall not have control of specified chemical substances at-

(i)  more   than   one  premises   owned   or  controlled   by   the licensee; or

(ii)  the premises of any other licensee.

           (3)  Pursuant  to paragraph  (2)(a),  a licensee  shall,  in  the  absence  of the responsible   officer,   designate   an  alternate  responsible   officer,   and  such officer  shall  have  the  same  duties  and responsibilities as  the  responsible officer

           (4)  A responsible officer and an alternate responsible officer shall-

(a)  be familiar with the provisions of the Act and these Regulations and any conditions that apply to the licence held by the licensee;

(b)  be  trained  and  certified  in the  use  and handling  of  the  specified chemical substances listed in the First Schedule of the Act, including   the  risk  of  such  chemical  substances  being  diverted  to  an  illicit market for use; and

(c)  not have been convicted within the previous ten years of-

(i)    a  drug  offence  or  a  criminal   offence  designated by  the Minister by notice published in the Gazette; or

(ii)  an offence committed outside Jamaica which,  if committed in Jamaica would constitute an offence under subparagraph (i).

6.  A licensee shall,   within three months prior to the expiration of  his licence,  apply  to  the  competent authority   for  a  renewal  of the licence and regulations 3, 4 and  5 shall apply mutatis mutandi to an application for such renewal.

 

7.-(1)  Pursuant to  section   7  of  the  Act,  an  application  for  an   import permit  or an export  permit  shall be made  in  the form set out as  Form 3 in  the First  Schedule and  shall  be  made  at  least  fifteen  days  before  the  applicant proposes  to  import  or  export,   as the case may  be,  a specified chemical substance.

 

   (2)  An application under paragraph (I) shall be accompanied by the application fee specified in the Second Schedule and-

(a)  in the case of an import permit-

(i)  a copy of the purchase  order;

(ii)  a  copy  of the  original   supplier's   invoice  and  the  bill  of lading,  indicating the arrival date;

(iii)  a declaration  setting  out  in  detail measures to be taken  to meet safety standards in relation  to the storage  and handling of the specified chemical  substance;

(b)  in the case of an export permit,  a copy of the purchase order and a declaration-

(i)     setting   out   the   measures  to   be   taken   in   relation   to packaging  and  transportation  of the  specified   chemical substance to the port of exit; and

(ii)    stating that the applicant has taken the necessary steps to verify that the substances to which the application relates are in compliance with the laws of the importing country.

         (3)  The competent authority may, on receipt of an application under paragraph (I), by notice in writing, request the applicant to furnish, within the time specified in the notice, such additional information,  as the competent authority considers to be relevant to the application.

 

 

8. ( 1)  The  competent authority shall grant  a permit if it  is  satisfied  that  the applicant has complied with the provisions of regulation

 

    (2)  An  import  permit  shall  be  in  the  form  set out  as  Form  4  in  the First  Schedule  and  an export  permit shall  be in  the form  set out as Form  5 in  the First Schedule.
 
    (3)  A permit  granted  under  paragraph (1)  shall  be valid  for  a  period of six months   from  the date  of issue or if the permit  is rectified  pursuant to regulation 9, from the date of rectification
 

    (4)  The  competent authority shall,  within seven  days  of the grant of a permit  under  paragraph  (I),   forward  a  copy  of  the  permit  to  the  central authority.
 

9. ( 1)  Where  an applicant receives  a permit  which  contains an error, the applicant shall make  an application in  writing  to the competent  authority, to have the error rectified and shall return the permit  with the application

 

   (2)   On receipt of the application and permit,  the competent authority shall,   subject   to   paragraph   (3),   rectify    the   error,    stating   the   date   of rectification and return  the permit to the applicant
 
   (3)  The competent authority shall only rectify an error-
 
(a)  in  the  case  of an import  permit,  before  the  arrival  of a shipment  of the  specified chemical substance for which  the  permit  was  granted; or
 
(b)    in the case  of an export  permit,  before the departure of the  specified chemical substance for which  the permit  was granted.

   

   (4)  The    competent   authority   shall    within    seven    days    of   the rectification of the error  in form the central  authority in writing of the  nature of the rectification.
 
 
10. ( 1) Where a permit which has been granted under regulation  9 is  lost, destroyed,  defaced or stolen, the holder of the permit shall within twenty-four hours  of the  incident occurring,  or of him becoming  aware  of the  incident, make  a  report  to  the  competent   authority,  stating  all  the  relevant  details relating to the incident.
 
      (2)  On  receipt   of  a  report   under  paragraph   (1),  the  competent authority   shall  carry  out  an  investigation  of the  matter  and  shall  grant  a duplicate  permit,  only if it is  satisfied as to the facts  concerning  the incident and  upon   payment   of  the  replacement   fee  provided   for  in  the  Second Schedule.
 
     (3)  The  competent  authority  shall,  on  receipt  of a  report  of the incident  under  paragraph  (1),  immediately  inform  the central  authority and the Commissioner  of Customs of the contents of the report.
 
11.-( 1)  Any  permit  which  is  not used  within the  period  of  its  validity shall be returned by the holder of the permit to the competent authority within seven days of the expiry thereof
 
      (2)  The competent authority shall cancel a permit which is returned under paragraph  (1).

Go to top

PART III. Additional Particulars and Reporting Procedures 

12.-(1)  A licensee shall, in addition to the particulars that are required to be kept pursuant to section  16  of the Act, ensure that the following additional particulars are entered into the Register-

(a)  the name and address of the importer;

(b)  the name and address of the person to whom the specified  chemical substance is exported;

(c)  the name and amount of the specified chemical substance sold at the licensee's premises;

(d)  the name  and amount  of the specified  chemical  substance  sold to another licensee;

(e)  the name, address, and registration number of the licensee referred to in subparagraph  (d).

 (2)  Every licensee shall cause to be recorded-

(a)  the type and licence number of the motor vehicle transporting  any specified  chemical  substance  leaving or coming  into his premises; and

(b)  the name and identification of the person in charge of receiving or dispatching the specified chemical substance.

 

        (3)  A licensee shall ensure that every record kept electronically or manually is easily retrievable for examination by an authorized officer.

 

 

 

13.  Pursuant to section  15  of the  Act,  the Register to be kept by the competent authority shall contain the following information:-

(a)  the name and address of every person who makes an application  for a licence;

(b)  the grant or refusal of a licence and the reasons for such refusal; 

(c)  the number and date of the licence;

(d)  the date of renewal of a licence;

(e)  the period of suspension of a licence;

 (f)  the date of revocation of a licence;

(g)  the grounds for such suspension or revocation;

 (h)  the name and address of every person who makes an application for a permit and the type of such permit;

 (i)  the name of the specified chemical substance in respect of which the applicati_on for the permit is made;

 (j)  the grant or refusal of the permit;

(k)  the number and date of the permit;

(l)  the number and date of rectification of permit;

 (m)  the loss or destruction of permit;

 (n)  the number and date of a duplicate permit;

 (o)  the date of cancellation of a permit.

14.  Every licensee shall submit to the competent authority, a report within three months after the end of each calendar year, specifying in relation to each specified chemical substance, the use to which the substance was put.

15.-(1)  A licensee shall, within fourteen days after an accident involving a specified chemical substance or the discovery of the pilferage of a specified chemical substance takes place on his premises,  forward to the competent authority a written report of the accident or pilferage, as the case may be, giving details thereof.

(2)  The competent authority shall-

(a)  on receipt of a report under paragraph ( l ), cause an investigation to be carried out into the accident or pilferage; and

(b)  where it thinks desirable, inform the competent authority of the country of export.

 

16  (1) The competent authority may at any time in writing request a licensee to submit -

(a)  a report  regarding  the licensee's  stocks of specified  chemical  substances at a specified date; or

(b)  such other information  relating to the specified chemical  substances as the competent authority may require.

 

17.-(1)  Where   in   relation   to   a  transaction   concerning    a   specified chemical  substance,   a  licensee  has  reason  to  suspect  that,  the  chemical substance  is  being  used  in  the  extraction,  preparation  or  manufacturing of narcotic drugs, psychotropic  substances or other like substances,  the licensee shall immediately make a report thereof, to the competent authority.

      (2)  For the purposes of paragraph(1), the factors to be considered  by the licensee in assessing  whether or not a transaction gives rise to reasonable suspicion includes-

(a)  the composition and chemical  properties  of the specified  chemical substance  involved,  the  illicit  use that may be  made  of it  and the risk of its diversion to an illicit market or use having regard to those factors;

(b)  the quantity of the specified chemical substance  involved and, in the case of a preparation  or mixture, the quantity  of all precursors  and other chemical substances set out in Table I or II, respectively  of the First Schedule to the Act that it contains;

(c)  the intended use of the specified chemical substance  as stated by the other party to the transaction;

(d)  the  proposed  means  of transportation,  route  of delivery,  place  of origin or place of destination;

(e)  the method of payment involved; and

(f)  in the case of prior dealings between the licensee and the other party to the transaction, any departure which appears suspicious from the pattern of the prior dealings.

       (3)  A report under paragraph (1) shall include-

(a)  the name, address and telephone number of the licensee  making the report;

(b)  the identification of the other party to the transaction; 

(c)  details of the transaction involved,  including-

(i)  the date and time of the transaction;

(ii)  the type of transaction;  and

(iii)  the name and quantity  of the precursor  and, in  the  case of a preparation  or mixture, the quantity of all precursors  set out in  Table  I    or  II  of the  First  Schedule  to  the  Act  that  it contains;  and

(4)  A licensee shall not disclose that he made a report under this regulation or the contents of the report, with the intent to prejudice any investigation,  whether or not such investigation has commenced.

       (5)  No criminal or civil proceedings shall lie against a licensee for making a report under this regulation if the report was made in good faith.

      (6)   Where the competent authority receives a report under paragraph (I), it shall cause an investigation to be carried out into the matter and shall take such action as it deems necessary.

Go to top

 

Part IV General Provisions 

18. (1)  A licensee shall not destroy a precursor chemical except in accordance with the provisions of this  Part.

(2)   Subject to paragraph  (3), the disposal of a precursor chemical-

 (a)  not greater  than  one gallon or four litres, shall  be carried  out in a laboratory;

(b)  of a greater volume than that specified in subparagraph  (a), shall be carried out at a site selected by the competent authority that is most suitable to the precursor chemical to be destroyed.

       (3)  The destruction referred to in paragraphs (I)  and  (2) may be done by using any of the procedures provided for in the Third  Schedule, taking into account the health,   safety and environmental conditions mentioned therein.

19.  (1) Where a specified chemical substance is  to be trans-shipped within or through  Jamaica,  the person responsible for the trans-shipment in Jamaica,  shall notify the competent authority and the central authority of the trans-shipment, no later than fifteen days before the date of the proposed trans-shipment.

      (2) A notification under paragraph (I) shall contain the following information-

(a) the date of trans-shipment;

(b)  the description and name of the specified chemical  substance;

(c)  the net and gross weight and volume of the specified  chemical  substance;

(d)    the name, address and telephone number of the person responsible  for the shipment;

(e)    the  name,  address  and  telephone  number  of  the  person  who  is responsible  for the trans-shipment;

          (j)   the foreign port or exportation;

(g)    an  accurate  description  of the  carrier  of  the  specified  chemical substance for identification purposes;

        (h)    the date of entry; and

(i)    the date of intended departure

20.  A licensee shall notify the competent authority of any change-

(a)     in the physical structure of the area where a specified  chemical  is stored;

(b)     in the appointment  of his responsible  officer  or any other person authorized  to carry out  functions  at the  licensee's  premises  with respect to specified chemical substances

 (c)    in the licensee's existing stock of specified chemical substances

21.  Any container  in which a specified chemical substance is shipped shall be-

(a)   properly labelled with the name, identification number, description, volume or weight and storage conditions of the specified chemical substance; and

(b)    clearly marked with the appropriate warnings in compliance with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code.

22.  The competent  authority  shall, as soon as practicable  after the receipt of new  information relating  to a specified' chemical  substance,  forward  the information  to all licensees  who engage  in  a prescribed  activity  relating  to that substance

23.  Every  person  who  imports  or any person  in charge  of a  warehouse facility  (including   a  port  of entry)  which  stores  any  specified   chemical substance shall ensure   that   the   substance   is   stored   in  accordance   with specifications  of the material  safety  data  sheets  which  are provided  by the manufacturer of the substance
24.- (1)  The competent  authority  may at any time, during the  business hours of the licensee, cause an authorized officer to carry out an inspection of the operations  of a licensee,  and such inspection  may be  carried  out, as is deemed  necessary,  in conjunction  with  any  other  agency  which  monitors specified chemical substances
      (2)  An  authorized  officer  may,  on the  directions  of the  competent authority, seize any record or stock from a licensee if, on such an inspection, discrepancies  appear in the records of the licensee
25. A person who contravenes  any of the provisions  of these Regulations, shall  be  liable  on summary  conviction  to a fine  not exceeding  one  million dollars or imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months.
 
 
 
Have you found this information useful ?
Please share your feedback below and help us improve our content.