On May 1st, 2019, the decision of the Government of China to add fentanyl-related substances to the Supplementary List of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances without Medical-use Purposes came into effect. According to the announcement, substances structurally related to fentanyl by one or more of the following modifications will be scheduled:
- Replacement of the N-propionyl group by another acyl group;
- Replacement of the N-phenyl group with any aromatic monocycle whether or not further substituted in or on the aromatic monocycle;
- Substitution in or on the piperidine ring with alkyl, alkenyl, alkoxyl, ester, ether, hydroxyl, Halo, haloalkyl, amino or nitro groups; and/or
- Replacement of the phenethyl group with another group, excluding hydrogen atom.
On 11 May 2021, the National Narcotics Control Office in China (NNCA) announced to place synthetic cannabinoids under national control using a generic definition as well as additional 18 substances using an individual listing approach. The control measure is effective as of 1st of July 2021.
On 6 June 2025, China’s Ministry of Public Security, National Health Commission, and National Medical Products Administration announced a class scheduling of nitazenes analogues, using a generic definition as follows (unofficial translation):
“Nitazene Analogues" refer to derivatives of etonitazene (2-(2-((4-ethoxyphenyl) methyl)-5-nitro-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl)-N,N-diethylethan-1-amine), meeting one or more of the following structural modifications:
- Replacement of the 5-nitro-1H-benzimidazole group with substituted/unsubstituted 1H-benzimidazole group;
- Replacement of the methylene group between 1H-benzimidazole group and phenyl group with side-chain-substituted/unsubstituted C1-C2 alkyl group;
- Replacement of the 4-ethoxyphenyl group with substituted/unsubstituted aromatic group;
- Replacement of the N,N-diethylamino group with substituted/unsubstituted amino group.
These control measures are effective as of 1st of July 2025.