China to include all fentanyl-related substances in control list

All fentanyl-related substances will be added to a supplementary list of controlled narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances with non-medical use in CHINA, the Ministry of Public Security, the National Health Commission and the National Medical Products Administration announced in a jointstatement at a press conference on Monday.

The decision will take effect on May 1.

Drugs, especially new-type ones represented by fentanyl-related substances, have been abused in some countries, resulting in a large number of deaths and serious social problems.

Liu Yuejin, deputy director of CHINA National Narcotic Control Commission, speaks at a press conference in Beijing, CHINA, April 1, 2019. /SCIO Photo

The move of the Chinese government is not only an important measure to prevent and tackle the risks and harms brought by new-type drugs, and secure physical and mental health of people, said Liu Yuejin, deputy director of CHINA National Narcotic Control Commission, but also reflects CHINA's commitment to the global drug governance and safeguarding world security and stability.

CHINA will also speed up the formulation of a series of normative documents for fentanyl-related criminal cases, as well as the construction of relevant monitoring system and research labs, to comprehensively improve the level of monitoring, early warning, on-site investigation, detection and identification, and hazard assessment of new-type drugs.

The action "will completely plug the loopholes where criminals can evade legal sanctions by simply modifying atoms, functional groups or groups to develop new varieties," added Liu.

(Cover via VCG)