Proposal for a Council Decision on subjecting 4-iodo-2,5-dimethoxy-N-(2-methoxybenzyl)phenethylamine (25I-NBOMe), 3,4-dichloro-N-[[1-(dimethylamino)cyclohexyl]methyl]benzamide (AH-7921), 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and 2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2-(ethylamino)cyclohexanone (methoxetamine) to control measures

The Council Decision 2005/387/JHA on the information exchange, risk-assessment and control of new psychoactive substances provides for a three-step procedure that may lead to the submission of a new psychoactive substance to control measures across the Union.

On 28 January 2014, pursuant to Article 6(1) of the above-mentioned Council Decision, the Council requested an assessment of the risks caused by the use, manufacture and trafficking of the new psychoactive substances 25I-NBOMe, AH-7921, MDPV and methoxetamine, the involvement of organised crime and the possible consequences of control measures introduced on these substances.

The risks of 25I-NBOMe, AH-7921, MDPV and methoxetamine were assessed by the Scientific Committee of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), acting in compliance with the provisions of Article 6(2), (3) and (4) of the Council Decision. The Chair of the Scientific Committee submitted the risk assessment report to the Commission and to the Council on 23 April 2014.

Pursuant to Article 8(1) of Council Decision 2005/387/JHA, within six week from the date of receipt of the risk assessment report, the Commission shall present to the Council either an initiative to subject the new psychoactive substances to control measures across the Union, or a report explaining its views on why such an initiative is not deemed necessary.

Although the scientific evidence concerning the overall risks of 25I-NBOMe, AH-7921, MDPV and methoxetamine is limited at this stage, the Commission considers that there are grounds for subjecting these substances to control measures across the Union. The main reason is that, according to the information available from the risk assessment reports, the acute toxicity of 25I-NBOMe, AH-7921, MDPV and methoxetamine is such that it can cause severe harms to the health of individuals. Moreover, the risks are heightened by the fact that these substances have been reported, in some cases, to be consumed unknowingly by certain users together with or instead of other stimulant substances.

• Primary Source

EUR-Lex: COM(2014)362: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2014:362:FIN

ESO: Background information: Drugs: MEPs back rules to take harmful 'legal highs' off the market faster http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-drugs-meps-back-rules-to-take-harmful-legal-highs-off-the-market-faster/

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