· A public comment period was launched on September 19, 2025, when the Executive Yuan of China's Taiwan area released a statement suggesting changes to Schedules II and IV of Article 2 of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.
· Within 14 days after the announcement's release, please send written feedback to the appropriate authorities using the contact information listed on the official website if you have any comments or ideas about the content that has been announced.
Context
· The Taiwan Ministry of Justice's Controlled Narcotics Review Committee met for the seventh time of its eleventh term on August 22, 2025, in accordance with the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act.
· The addition of several compounds as Category II restricted substances and Category IV controlled substance precursors was examined and accepted by the conference.
· Schedules II and IV of Article 2 of this Act are being modified to improve control.
Details of the Amendment
Schedule II of Article 2
Integrated Regulation of Propyl Ester Compounds
· Isopropyl Ester and n-Propyl Ester have chemical structures with Etomidate and Metomidate, and they have comparable toxicological and pharmacological properties.
· On November 27, 2024, and May 14, 2025, respectively, they were designated as items 228 and 229 under Category II prohibited drugs to minimize societal harm resulting from abuse due to displacement effects.
· Since they are carbon chain isomers and don't need independent control, item 229 has been changed to Propyl Ester to make testing and analysis easier.
· The content of item 228 has been removed, but its serial number has been kept.
Eight Category II Controlled Narcotics Are Added
· Among the benzimidazole class of synthetic opioids, Etonitazene, Metonitazene, Protonitazene, Etonitazene, N-Desethylisotonitazene, Etonitazepyne, and Etonitazepip are all central nervous system depressants that are not used medicinally in Taiwan.
· Their molecular structures are comparable to those of currently used Category II banned substances, and nations like the US and Japan have already placed restrictions on them in accordance with pertinent UN treaties and conferences.
· These eight drugs are introduced as items 233 to 240, specifically designated as Category II controlled narcotics, to prevent abuse.
Schedule IV of Article 2
Precursor Chemicals for Cathinones Added as Category IV Controlled Narcotic Precursors
· Taiwan has found 4-methylphenylpentanone and 2-bromo-4-methylphenylpentanone.
· Which are precursors for the synthesis of cathinone analogues, including the Category III prohibited narcotic α-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP).
· To prevent misuse, 4-Methylphenylpentanone and 2-Bromo-4-methylphenylpentanone are designated as Category IV controlled narcotic precursors by adding items 59 and 60 to the list of controlled narcotic precursor substances.
Increased Regulation of Precursor Chemicals for Chlorophenyl propanone
· The current Category IV precursor is derived from 1-chlorophenyl-1-propanone.
· It is possible to chemically synthesis 2-Bromo-1-chlorophenylpropanone into either Category IV controlled narcotic Chlorodimethylcathinone or Category III controlled narcotic Chloromethcathinone.
· In the Taiwan area, it has been found. Item 61, which designates 1-Chlorophenyl-1-propanone as a Category IV controlled narcotic precursor, is added to the list of controlled narcotic precursor chemicals to protect against abuse.
