Section 27: Provisions applicable to Fourth Schedule substances (precursors)

27. Provisions applicable to Fourth Schedule substances (precursors) (1) The manufacture, wholesale trading or distribution except for distribution by retail, and international trading of substances listed in the Fourth Schedule shall be subject to the provisions of sections 8 and 12. (2) An export or import authorisation shall not be granted for a substance listed in the Fourth Schedule if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the consignment is destined for the illicit manufacture of dangerous drugs. (3) Any manufacturer, importer, exporter, wholesaler and retailer shall enter in a register any acquisition or transfer of substances listed in the Fourth Schedule, at the time of acquisition or transfer without blank spaces, erasures or overwriting, so as to indicate the date of the operation, the name and the quantity of the product acquired or transferred, and the name, address and profession of both the purchaser and the vendor, except that retailers need not enter the name of the purchaser in the register. (4) The registers maintained under this section shall be kept for 5 years after the last entry, for presentation, whenever requested, to the Permanent Secretary. (5) Any manufacturer, importer, exporter, wholesaler and retailer shall forthwith notify the Permanent Secretary of any suspect orders and [Issue 1] D2 – 16 Revised Laws of Mauritius operations, specifically as regards the quantity of the substance purchased or ordered, the repetition of such orders and purchases, or the modes of payment or transport used in connection therewith. (6) Where there is serious ground to warrant the suspicion that a substance listed in the Fourth Schedule is to be used in the unlawful manufacture of a dangerous drug, any police officer acting upon the written authority of the Permanent Secretary may forthwith seize and impound that substance and may detain it until a competent Court gives further directions as to its disposition.