ABF - Australian Customs Notice No. 2025/04 Drugs and Precursors Regulation Amendments

Key Changes:

1. Expansion of Controlled Substances:

   • 54 additional substances have been added to the list of border controlled drugs and precursors.
   • Commercial and marketable quantity thresholds have been introduced for these substances.

2. Reduced Thresholds for Existing Substances:

   • The commercial and marketable quantities for clonitazene and etonitazene have been reduced to reflect their potency.

3. Newly Restricted Precursor:

   • Methylamine has been classified as a restricted border controlled precursor due to its potential for illicit drug manufacture, despite having legitimate industrial uses.

4. Import & Export Regulation Updates:

   • 33 new substances added to Schedule 4 of the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations (PI Regulations).
   • 9 substances added to Schedule 8 of the Customs (Prohibited Exports) Regulations (PE Regulations).
   • Importers/exporters must obtain permits from the Office of Drug Control to legally trade in these substances.

5. Increased Penalties & Enforcement Measures:

   • Eight new precursors have been classified as special offence tier 1 goods under the Customs Regulation 2015, carrying penalties of up to five years' imprisonment or 1,000 penalty units or both for unlawful importation.

For further details, members are encouraged to refer to the full Criminal Code Amendment (Controlled and Border Controlled Drugs and Precursors) Regulations 2025 and Customs Legislation Amendment (Drugs) Regulations 2025. Additional information can also be accessed via the ABF website: ABF Prohibited Goods.