Brussels, 16/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday, the European Commission will address the issue of legal euphoriants - new psychoactive substances that are used inter alia instead of cocaine or ectasy - and it will propose a specific regulation and directive aiming to accelerate the procedure for banning these substances. The Commission wants, in particular, to reduce as much as possible the length of time needed for withdrawing a dangerous substance from the market - a period which today takes nearly two years, what with impact studies and risk analyses and a Council vote by qualified majority. The Commission is also due to propose a graduated approach in accordance with the type of danger represented by the substance in question. While the number of substances tripled between 2009 and 2012, rising from 24 to 73, this is also an issue of the Commission responding to member states' demand to review the instrument currently in force, as Decision 2005/387/JHA does not permit adequate responsiveness. According to the new proposals, the Commission would directly propose that the member states implement its decision of a ban - when today a whole series of steps have to be respected. It could also take temporary measures in cases of immediate threat. The Commission's proposals will also have to answer the issue of the use of these substances by industry.
Since 1997, nine substances were put under control. The most recent measures recommended by the Commission concerned BZP in 2008, mephedrone in 2010 and 4-methylamphetamine in 2013. In June, the Commission proposed that the member states subject the 5-IT substance to control measures and criminal penalties.
Among the new psychoactive substances available on the market, and especially sold on the internet, are synthetic cannabinoids, which imitate the effects of the main active molecule in cannabis (THC) and which are sold under the name of Spice; synthetic cathinones, which include stimulants like mephedrone and MDPV and which are sold under the name Bath salts; and phenylethylamines, stimulant substances generally linked to amphetamines and methamphetamines. Piperazines are substances frequently sold as ecstasy, states a report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (SP/transl.fl)