Council and Parliament agree on new mechanism to better protect Europeans from new psychoactive substances

On 29 May, the Council and the Parliament reached a political agreement on a package reforming the legislation on new psychoactive substances (NPS) used as alternatives to illicit drugs. The proposal to subject the new psychoactive substance to control measures was put forward by the Commission on 6 April 2017. The need for an amendment to the legislation on psychoactive substance was the result of the rapid and massive expansion of new psychoactive substances, at global level and in Europe. These can cause hallucinations, alterations in thinking, behaviour, perception, awareness or mood and other undesired effects. In fact, they are often marketed as legal alternatives to illicit drugs, hence the name of so-called 'legal highs'.

ESO: Background information: Competitiveness Council, 29-30 May 2017 http://www.europeansources.info/record/competitiveness-council-29-30-may-2017/

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