notice to interested parties order amending part 1 of schedule vi to the controlled drugs and substances act and regulations amending the schedule to the precursor control regulations to add alpha-phenylacetoacetonitrile 2 pages available in english and french this notice provides interested stakeholders with the opportunity to comment on health canadas intent to add alphaphenylacetoacetonitrile apaan and its salts isomers and salts of isomers to part 1 of schedule vi to the emcontrolled drugs and substances act em cdsa and to the schedule to the emprecursor control regulations em pcr so that it can be controlled as a class a precursor. currently apaan is not listed on the schedules to the cdsa or the pcr. apaan is a crystalline powder used as a precursor in the illicit manufacture of p-2-p otherwise known as benzyl methyl ketone bmk . p-2-p which is already regulated as a class a precursor in canada is used as a precursor in the illicit synthesis of amphetamines primarily methamphetamines. the cdsa and its regulations provide a legislative framework for the control of substances that can alter mental processes and the precursors to these substances. both may produce harm to an individual or to society when diverted to an illicit market or use. the act and its regulations have the dual purpose of protecting public health and maintaining public safety by balancing the need for access to these substances for legitimate industrial medical or scientific purposes and mitigating the risks of trafficking and diversion to illicit markets and uses. the pcr provide a licensing and permit framework authorizing licensed dealers to conduct activities with class a or b precursors as specified on their licences. for example only licensed dealers authorized to engage in activities with a specific class a precursor can import export produce package sell or provide that class a precursor. as apaan itself is not currently known to be used for any legitimate industrial medical or scientific purpose it is proposed that it be listed on the schedule to the pcr so that it can be controlled like other class a precursors such as p-2-p. this will also ensure the control of activities with this substance in canada in the future.