THE country will add fentanyl-related substances to a supplementary list of controlled narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances with nonmedical use May 1.

The decision was announced yesterday in a joint statement by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS), the National Health Commission and the National Medical Products Administration.

Fentanyl and its analogs that were previously included in the list of controlled narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, as well as the related substances in the supplementary list, will remain controlled according to relevant regulations, the statement said.

Including all fentanyl-like substances on the control list is believed to provide a solid legal basis for the crackdown on fentanyl-related crimes, said Liu Yuejin, deputy director of the China National Narcotic Control Commission and an official with the MPS, at a press conference yesterday .

It is also expected to efficiently prevent large-scale fentanyl abuse, illicit fentanyl production and trafficking and smuggling of the illegally manufactured products, he said.

“China holds a very clear-cut and firm position on the fight against drug crimes,” Liu said, adding that China had included 25 fentanyl analogs and two precursors on its list of controlled substances earlier, though the country sees no fentanyl-abuse on a large scale.

China will continue to crack down on those violating laws and “show no mercy,” Liu said.

(Xinhua)