2022/468/S
EC/EFTA
SE Schweden
  • C10C - Gefährliche Stoffe und Zubereitungen
2022-09-12
2022-07-14

The substances pagoclone, etazene, etonitazepyne, N-piperidinyl etonitazene (etonitazepipne), protonitazene, 2'-Me-alpha-PVP (2'-Me-PVP), N-ethyl-nor-pentedrone, 4-methyl pentedrone and BOH-2C-B.

Draft Ordinance amending the Narcotic Drugs Control Ordinance (1992:1554)

By virtue of the attached classification documents (see Appendices 1–11), the Swedish Medical Products Agency and the Public Health Agency of Sweden propose that the substances pagoclone, etazene, etonitazepyne, N-piperidinyl etonitazene (etonitazepipne), protonitazene, 2'-Me-alpha-PVP (2'-Me-PVP), N-ethyl-nor-pentedrone, 4-methyl pentedrone and BOH-2C-B be classified as narcotic drugs pursuant to the Narcotic Drugs Control Act (1992:860) and the Act on Penal Law on Narcotics (1968:64) and shall therefore be included in Appendix 1 to the Narcotic Drugs Control Ordinance (1992:1554).

At its meeting on 16 March 2022, the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolved to include the substance eutylone in Schedule II of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. It is therefore to be classified as a narcotic drug under the Narcotic Drugs Control Act and the Act on Penal Law on Narcotics and is therefore to be included in Appendix 1 to Narcotic Drugs Control Ordinance.

The proposal is for pagoclone to belong to the category psycholeptics. The proposal is for etazene, etonitazepyne, N-piperidinyl etonitazene (etonitazepipne) and protonitazene to belong to the group analgesics.The proposal is for 2'-Me-alpha-PVP (2'-Me-PVP), N-ethyl-nor-pentedrone and 4-methyl pentedrone to belong to the group analeptics. The proposal is for BOH-2C-B to belong to the group hallucinogens. The proposal is for eutylone to belong to the category analeptics. The proposal is for Etazene, N-ethyl-nor-pentedrone, 4-methyl pentedrone, BOH-2C-B and Eutylone to be reclassified from goods that are harmful to health to narcotic drugs.

All of these substances, except pagoclone, have been seized and identified in Sweden. The Swedish National Board of Forensic Medicine has reported deaths linked to etazene, 2'-Me-alpha-PVP (2'-Me-PVP) and 4-methyl pentedrone. The Swedish Poisons Information Centre has reported patient cases from hospitals linked to 2'-Me-alpha-PVP (2'-Me-PVP), N-ethyl-nor-pentedrone and 4-methyl pentedrone. The substances are sold through 'web shops' and discussed on 'drug forums' on the Internet. The Swedish National Forensic Centre, Swedish Customs and the Swedish Poisons Information Centre have reported that they have had cases involving pagoclone.

Since eutylone has been identified in products sold as MDMA (Ecstasy), it is reasonable to expect the prevalence of eutylone and eutylone-related intoxication to be underreported, since many individuals are notaware they are using eutylone. Available data supports the assertion that the substances have euphoric effects or addictive properties and are  harmful to health, and that abuse is occurring and may increase in Sweden. Given the ability to distribute these substances through web shops and exchange information using drug forums on the Internet, it is likely that the substances may have a negative impact on public health and pose risks to Swedish society. There is an interest in purchasing and using synthetic benzodiazepines, opioids, cathinones and arylalkylamines. Thus, there are risks to society and concerns associated with these substances and their potential for addiction and abuse, as well as with opioids' high potency and associated risk of fatal overdose.

Classification will mean, inter alia, that these substances may not be imported or possessed without special permission from the Swedish Medical Products Agency. 

Please note that only those substances listed next to a vertical line in the left margin of the draft ordinance entail amendments to the attached ordinances. The other substances are already listed therein.