License for precursors / narcotics

Who Needs a License for Precursors and Narcotic Drugs

A license for precursors is required for business entities whose activities involve operations with substances included in the state-approved List of Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors. This List is established by Resolution No. 770 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated May 6, 2000, while the licensing requirements are set out in Resolution No. 282 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dated April 6, 2016, as amended.

The permit is required not only for pharmacies or healthcare institutions. The scope is much broader. Licensing may apply to operations related to:

• purchase and storage of controlled substances;
• production and manufacturing;
• sale and dispensing;
• transportation;
• use in manufacturing or laboratory processes;
• import into Ukraine and export from Ukraine;
• destruction;
• cultivation of plants specified by law;

The specific range of permitted operations is determined during the licensing process. Therefore, if a company only needs to use precursors in a technological process, it should not automatically apply for production, trade or other activities.

A license for narcotic drugs may be required by medical centers, hospitals, veterinary institutions, pharmacies, laboratories, manufacturers, carriers, research institutions and other entities. The State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs separately identifies laboratory testing, quality control, veterinary practice, educational and scientific activities, expert examinations, production of chemical compounds, fertilizers and paints, water treatment and a number of other areas among the possible purposes.

Which Authority Issues the License

The licensing authority is the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs. It reviews applications, makes licensing decisions and enters the relevant information into the license register.

As of 2026, decisions to issue such licenses are regularly formalized by orders of the State Service. For example, Order No. 1126-26 dated July 20, 2026 granted licenses to 18 business entities, including healthcare institutions, enterprises and companies using precursors.

What Is Required to Obtain a Precursor License

The licensing procedure does not begin with filing an application. First, the company needs to identify the substances, operations and places of business, and then bring its activities into compliance with the licensing conditions.

A practical procedure looks as follows:

1. Identify the substances and the relevant lists with which the company will work.
2. Determine the types of operations – purchase, storage, use, transportation, sale, production, destruction or others.
3. Prepare the premises and material and technical facilities.
4. Obtain the required permit from the National Police for the relevant facilities and premises.
5. Arrange the necessary personnel and prepare documents for employees who will have access to controlled substances.
6. Complete the current application and information forms.
7. Submit the package of documents to the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs.
8. After a positive decision, pay the statutory license issuance fee.

This sequence reduces the risk of having the documents ready while the premises, personnel or declared operations still fail to comply with the Licensing Conditions.

Material and Technical Facilities and Premises Requirements

The material and technical facilities must allow the company to safely perform the exact operations declared for licensing. Requirements for facilities and premises used for narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors are established by the applicable regulations, while certain facilities also require a permit from the National Police.

The information on the material and technical facilities generally includes:

• address of each place where the licensed activity will be carried out;
• details of documents confirming ownership or the right to use the premises;
• name and intended purpose of the relevant facilities;
• types of operations to be carried out at the specific location;
• details of the National Police permit;
• information about personnel and their qualifications;

These details must be consistent. If a company declares storage at one address while its permit documents relate to another premises, such a discrepancy may prevent the license from being issued.

Personnel Requirements

Following amendments to the Licensing Conditions, a license holder must employ a sufficient number of qualified personnel to perform the required duties, but no fewer than two persons. This requirement is established in the current wording of paragraph 30 of the Licensing Conditions.

Employees who have or will have direct access to narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors are also checked for restrictions established by law. In particular, the documents contain information confirming the absence of relevant unexpunged or outstanding convictions, while certain employees must also provide medical documentation.

List of Documents Required for a License

The current list of documents depends on the type of activity and the applicant’s legal status. The rules were substantially updated in 2025: Resolution No. 996 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine entered into force on October 18, 2025 and amended the application forms, information forms and supporting documents.

The basic package may include:

• an application for a license completed using the current form;
• information on the material and technical facilities and personnel;
• certified copies of medical certificates required by law for employees;
• information and documents concerning the National Police permit;
• documents confirming professional suitability where such a requirement applies;
• criminal record information for persons who will have access to controlled substances;
• documents relating to the premises in cases specified by the Licensing Conditions;
• information under Annex 10 confirming the absence of relationships prohibited by law with residents of aggressor states;
• an inventory of submitted documents where required by the chosen submission method;

Following the 2025 amendments, an extract from the information and analytical system concerning criminal prosecution and criminal records must be generated no more than three months before the application date.

Because the requirements differ for healthcare institutions, laboratories, chemical companies and carriers, the list of documents required for obtaining a license is best prepared only after the specific substances and operations have been identified.

How to Obtain a License Through the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs

Documents may be submitted in person, by postal service with an inventory of the contents, or electronically in accordance with the established procedure. The State Service separately emphasizes that a postal submission without an inventory of contents does not comply with the prescribed submission method.

The general licensing procedure can be divided into three main stages. First, the company prepares its material facilities and personnel. Next, it prepares the documents. The State Service then reviews the application and makes its decision.

The administrative service for issuing the license provides for a review period of 10 business days. The decision to grant a license takes effect after the relevant entry is made in the license register and published on the official website of the licensing authority.

License Fee in 2026

A one-time fee is charged for issuing the license. The Law of Ukraine «On Licensing of Types of Economic Activity» links the fee amount to the subsistence minimum for able-bodied persons applicable on the date the licensing decision is made.

In decisions of the State Service dated July 2026, the specified amount was UAH 3,328. It applied both to precursor licenses and to licenses covering operations with narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

License Validity Period

A special rule applies to this field. The Law of Ukraine «On Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursors» establishes a five-year validity period for a license to conduct the relevant activity.

Therefore, a precursor license is not issued indefinitely. A company must monitor its expiry date and prepare the required documents in advance to continue its activities lawfully.

License Register and License Verification

After the decision is made, the information is entered into the license register. The State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs maintains a separate register of licenses authorizing economic activities involving narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors.

Checking a license is especially relevant before entering into agreements with suppliers, carriers or other counterparties when the nature of the operations requires the appropriate authorization.

Reasons for Refusal or Leaving an Application Without Consideration

Even a small discrepancy in the documents can delay the licensing process. The practice of the State Service includes cases where applications were left without consideration due to an incomplete package, inconsistency between the stated legal form and information in the Unified State Register, a missing required document or incorrect completion of the application.

Before submission, the company should separately check:

• whether all document forms are current;
• whether the company name and details are correct;
• the declared types of activity;
• addresses of the places where the activity will be carried out;
• whether the National Police permit corresponds to the declared premises;
• information about employees;
• validity periods of certificates and other supporting documents;

A formal review of the package before filing can be just as important as preparing the material and technical facilities themselves.

Legal Assistance with Obtaining a License

On Poshuk.info, you can view a list of professional law firms and bar associations that provide consultations on licensing activities involving narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and precursors in Ukraine. Their services may include analysis of the company’s activities, identification of the required permits, review of the material and technical facilities, preparation of the application package and submission of documents.

There is also another option. You can create a single consultation request, which will be received by verified companies that meet the professional criteria for this category of legal services.

There is no need to visit multiple law firm websites, call each company separately or describe the same situation several times. One request allows you to receive several offers, compare procedures, timeframes and legal service fees, and choose the terms that best suit your business.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a License Required Only for the Sale of Precursors?

No. Licensing may apply to the purchase, storage, use, transportation, production, sale, import, export and destruction of controlled substances. The specific requirement depends on the substance, the list in which it is included and the nature of the operations.

Can a Company Obtain a License Only for the Use of Precursors?

Yes, if its actual activities are limited to the relevant operations. Decisions of the State Service in 2026 include licenses specifically covering the purchase, storage and use of precursors included in List 2 of Table IV.

How Many Employees Are Required?

The current Licensing Conditions require a sufficient number of qualified personnel depending on the scale and nature of the activity, but no fewer than two persons.

Is a National Police Permit Mandatory?

For facilities and premises intended for activities involving controlled substances, the Licensing Conditions require a National Police permit and the inclusion of the relevant permit information in the documents submitted to the State Service.

Can Documents Be Submitted by Mail?

Yes. They may be submitted in person, by mail with an inventory of the contents, or electronically in accordance with the established procedure.