Brussels, 28/05/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 27 May, the EU Council officially requested that the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA - European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction) place the synthetic drug mephedrone, which is closely related to the psychoactive drug ecstasy, under official scrutiny. The Council has called for a scientific investigation on the social and health risks linked to this substance known as 4-methylmethcathinone (mephedrone). Risk assessment, which will result in a report at the end of July, will be carried out by the EMCDDA scientific committee with the participation of experts from EU member states, the European Commission, Europol and the European medicines Agency (EMA). The exercise constitutes the second phase in the three-step legal procedure for scrutiny of psychoactive substances (information exchange/early warning, risk assessment and decision-making/control). The Council's decision is based on the conclusions of a joint report by Europol and the EMCDDA. Further information can be found at: http: //http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/drug-situation/new-drugs . (B.C./transl.jl)