China will launch a nationwide campaign to tighten management on precursor chemicals in a bid to curb illegal manufacture of drugs, said the National Narcotics Control Commission Monday.

According to a statement, jointly issued Monday by seven central government departments including the commission and the Ministry of Public Security, the campaign will run from October 15 to December 15.

Precursor chemicals are used for legal production of narcotics and psychoactive drugs under the state supervision but they can also be used in illegal production of drugs.

The campaign aims to tighten the management on manufacture, distribution, transportation, application, export and import of precursor chemicals, the statement said.

Through the campaign, the government expects enterprises and staffs in the chemical industry will improve their self discipline so as to prevent precursor chemicals from "entering illegal drug manufacturing and cut off the source of drug production," it said.

During the campaign, the government will provide training courses for employees of chemical manufacturers and distributors.

The enterprises are also required to improve management and start an internal investigation on production and sale since 2008, the statement said.

The commission will send inspection teams to supervise the work at major enterprises and regions, it said.

China has about 130,000 producers of precursor chemicals at present, according to the commission.

In the 2005-2008 period, Chinese police cracked down on 1,083 cases of smuggling and illegal trading of precursor chemicals and seized 6,340 tonnes of chemicals. They also stopped illegal export of 5,053 tons.

(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2009)