MFDS Announces Preliminary Designation of Three New Temporary Narcotics Including 'HHCV'

Advance Notice of Reclassification as Temporary Narcotics for 3 Substances Including '4-EA-NBOMe'

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced on the 31st the preliminary designation of three substances, 'HHCV', 'HHCB', and 'HHC-Octyl', as temporary narcotics, and the re-designation of three substances including '4-EA-NBOMe' as temporary narcotics.

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The three newly designated substances, including 'HHCV', are synthetic cannabinoids structurally similar to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a component of cannabis. These substances have the potential to cause physical and psychological dependence, posing a risk to public health.

Additionally, the three substances '4-EA-NBOMe', 't-BOC-methamphetamine', and '3F-phenetrazine', whose temporary narcotics designation is set to expire on March 7, are substances that may act on the central nervous system. Due to concerns about hallucinations and dependence, they will be re-designated as temporary narcotics for the next three years.

The temporary narcotics designation system is a system that designates substances not currently classified as narcotics but that may be abused as narcotic substitutes or pose a risk to public health as temporary narcotics for a period of up to three years.

Once designated as temporary narcotics, these substances are treated and managed the same as narcotics from the date of the preliminary designation. Possession, ownership, use, management, import/export, manufacture, sale, brokerage, and transfer are all completely prohibited and may be subject to seizure.

Furthermore, from the date of the announcement of the temporary narcotics designation, those who import or manufacture Schedule 2 temporary narcotics face imprisonment of up to 10 years or a fine of up to 100 million won, and those who sell, broker, or transfer them face imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to 50 million won.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety expects that this preliminary designation of temporary narcotics will help block the distribution of new narcotics and benefit public health. It also stated that it will continue to cooperate with related agencies such as the prosecution, police, and customs to do its best to protect public health from new and illegal narcotics.