MFDS Designates 17 New Narcotics and Psychotropic Drugs Including 'Isotonitazene'

[Asia Economy Reporter Chunhee Lee] Substances such as 'RTI-111' and 'Isotonitazene' are expected to be newly designated as narcotics.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 16th that it has issued a legislative notice for the amendment of the Enforcement Decree of the "Narcotics Control Act," which includes newly designating drugs confirmed to be addictive as narcotics and psychotropic substances, and will accept opinions until the 25th of next month.

The amendment includes ▲ the new designation of 17 types of narcotics and psychotropic substances ▲ strengthening the grounds for restricting handlers of narcotics recognized as needing abuse prevention ▲ strengthening the criteria for imposing fines and concurrently listing the full chemical names of narcotic raw materials.

The Ministry plans to newly designate 15 substances currently classified as temporary narcotics that have confirmed or potential addictive properties, and 2 substances regulated as narcotics overseas, as narcotics or psychotropic substances.

As narcotics, three substances with potential addictive properties?RTI-111, Isotonitazene, and 'U-48800'?will be designated. As psychotropic substances, a total of 14 substances will be designated, including 12 domestic temporary narcotics with confirmed addiction or potential for addiction such as 'W-15,' and 2 substances regulated as narcotics overseas with confirmed addiction such as 'Zaleplon.' Among these, Isotonitazene designated as a narcotic, and Diphenidine and Diclazepam designated as psychotropic substances, are also substances controlled by the UN.

Additionally, based on the review results of the Narcotics Safety Management Committee and others, if the necessity to prevent abuse of narcotics is recognized, the amendment clarifies the legal grounds to prohibit or restrict import, export, manufacture, sale, and use by narcotics handlers or to take other necessary measures.

Furthermore, for seven raw material substances, the amendment requires listing the full chemical names such as 'alpha-phenylacetoacetonitrile' alongside abbreviations like 'APAAN' to make it easier to identify regulated substances, and includes strengthening the criteria for imposing fines in case of violations of related laws.

Detailed information can be found on the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety’s official website or the National Law Information Center of the Ministry of Government Legislation.