Licit trade monitoring for precursors is accomplished through a system of pre-export notifications (PENs). It is important to ensure that the authorities of your country are informed of planned shipments of chemicals in Table I and Table II of the 1988 Convention destined for import into your country. It is equally important to ensure the legitimacy of each transaction, the company(ies) involved and the intended end-uses. Suspicious transactions in legitimate trade and attempted diversions should be investigated.
The Pre-Export Notification Online (PEN Online) system is the secure, automated online system for exchanging pre-export notifications, i.e., information about planned shipments of chemicals in Table I and Table II of the 1988 Convention. PEN Online is made available to Governments by INCB at no cost. If your Government is not yet registered to use PEN Online or would like to replace or add additional users, please request an account at: https://pen.incb.org/ (registration is limited to officials from Competent National Authorities under article 12 of the 1988 Convention which are responsible for the sending/receiving of pre-export notifications)
Governments can invoke article 12, subparagraph 10 (a), of the 1988 Convention to request the authorities of exporting countries to send pre-export notifications (PENs) for all proposed shipments of chemicals in Table I and/or Table II of the 1988 Convention.
Yes! In October 2022 INCB launched a twin system, PEN Online Light, to assist governments to address the proliferation of non-scheduled chemicals, including designer precursors. PEN Online Light allows national competent authorities to send pre-export notifications for shipments of chemicals not included in Table I or Table II of the 1988 Convention. PEN Online Light operates on a voluntary basis only. It responds to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 65/3 of March 2022 which calls on countries to intensify their efforts to address the diversion of non-scheduled chemicals frequently used in the illicit manufacture of drugs.
The Pre-Export Notification Online Light system, also known as PEN Online Light, provides for the submission of pre-export notifications (PENs) for internationally non-scheduled substances. All users registered to PEN Online have automatic access to the “Light” version. Additional requests for access may be made at: https://pen.incb.org/.
INCB has pre-populated PEN Online Light with non-scheduled chemicals known to be used in the illicit manufacture of drugs, including substances on the INCB International Special Surveillance List as well as some frequently seized substances communicated through the Precursors Incidents Communication System (PICS). Many of those chemicals may be controlled nationally in some countries. The list of chemicals can be updated based on government request.
Further information about non-scheduled chemicals and designer precursors is available in the INCB compendium of tools and resources
Tools and resources to support countries to prevent the diversion of controlled substances used in the illicit manufacture of drugs
