The Central Government adds to the lists of controlled substances through the NDPS (Regulation of Controlled Substances) Amendment Order 2020

The Central Government has issued the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Regulation of Controlled Substances) Amendment Order, 2020 in furtherance of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Regulation of Controlled Substances) Amendment Order, 2019. This Order was issued on 26^th August 2020 and came into force from 27^th August 2020.

The Order amends the prior notification issued by the Central Government dated 26th March 2013. This prior notification notified the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Regulation of Controlled Substances) Order, 2013 which replaced the prior Order of 1993.

The Amendment Rules prescribe for the addition of new substances to Schedule A, B and C as follows:

• Schedule A Substances are those controlled substances whose manufacture, distribution, sale, purchase, possession, storage and consumption are subject to controls under the NDPS Order. The present Amendment now adds two more substances to the list of substances, namely:

1.  4-Anilino-N-phenethylpiperidine (ANPP)  and
2. N-Phenethyl-4-piperidone (NPP).

This now brings the total number of schedule A substances to seven substances.

• Schedule-B substances are those controlled substances whose export from India is subject to controls under the NDPS Order. On the other hand, Schedule-C substances are those controlled substances whose import into India is subject to controls

This Amendment adds four more substances to the list of substances in both Schedules. These substances are:

1. 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidate (PMK glycidate) (all stereoisomers)
2. 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid (PMK glycidic acid) (all stereoisomers)
3. alpha-phenylacetoacetamide (APAA) (including its optical isomers)
4. methyl alpha-phenylacetoacetate (MAPA) (including its optical isomers)

This now takes the total tally of Schedule B and Schedule C substances to twenty-three.