On September 19, 2025, the Executive Yuan of China's Taiwan region issued an announcement proposing amendments to Schedules II and IV of Article 2 of the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, initiating a public comment period. If you have opinions or suggestions regarding the announced content, please provide written feedback to the competent authority via the contact method indicated on the official website within 14 days of the announcement's release.
Background
Based on the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act, the Controlled Narcotics Review Committee of the Taiwan Ministry of Justice held its 7th meeting of the 11th term on August 22, 2025. The meeting reviewed and approved the addition of several chemicals as Category II controlled narcotics and Category IV controlled narcotic precursor chemicals. To strengthen control, Schedules II and IV of Article 2 of this Act are being amended.
Amendment Details
Schedule II of Article 2
- Unified Control of Propyl Ester Substances
The chemical structures of Isopropyl Ester and n-Propyl Ester are similar to those of Etomidate and Metomidate, possessing analogous pharmacological and toxic effects. To prevent social harm arising from abuse due to displacement effects, they were listed as items 228 and 229 under Category II controlled narcotics on November 27, 2024, and May 14, 2025, respectively. Given that they are carbon chain isomers and do not require separate control, and to facilitate testing and analysis, item 229 is now amended to be named Propyl Ester, while the content of item 228 is deleted, with its serial number retained.
- Addition of Eight Category II Controlled Narcotics
The substances Etonitazene, Metonitazene, Protonitazene, Etonitazepyne, N-Desethylisotonitazene, Metonitazepyne, Protonitazepyne, and Etonitazepip are all central nervous system depressants belonging to the benzimidazole class of synthetic opioids and have no medical use in the Taiwan region. Their chemical structures are similar to existing Category II controlled narcotics, and they have already been controlled under relevant UN conventions, conferences, and by countries such as the United States and Japan. To prevent abuse, these eight substances are added as items 233 to 240, explicitly listed as Category II controlled narcotics.
Schedule IV of Article 2
- Addition of Cathinone Precursor Chemicals as Category IV Controlled Narcotic Precursors
4-Methylphenylpentanone and 2-Bromo-4-methylphenylpentanone are precursors for synthesizing cathinone analogues such as the Category III controlled narcotic α-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone (α-PVP) and have been detected in the Taiwan region. To prevent abuse, items 59 and 60 are added to the controlled narcotic precursor chemicals list, designating 4-Methylphenylpentanone and 2-Bromo-4-methylphenylpentanone as Category IV controlled narcotic precursors.
- Expanded Control of Chlorophenylpropanone Precursor Chemicals
1-Chlorophenyl-1-propanone is a precursor to the existing Category IV precursor 2-Bromo-1-chlorophenylpropanone and can be chemically synthesized into the Category III controlled narcotic Chloromethcathinone or the Category IV controlled narcotic Chlorodimethylcathinone. It has been detected in the Taiwan region. To prevent harm from abuse, item 61 is added to the controlled narcotic precursor chemicals list, designating 1-Chlorophenyl-1-propanone as a Category IV controlled narcotic precursor.
