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 nitazene 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:

1. Replacement of the 5-nitro-1H-benzimidazole group with substituted/unsubstituted 1H-benzimidazole group;
2. Replacement of the methylene group between 1H-benzimidazole group and phenyl group with side-chain-substituted/unsubstituted C1-C2 alkyl group;
3. Replacement of the 4-ethoxyphenyl group with substituted/unsubstituted aromatic group;
4. Replacement of the N,N-diethylamino group with substituted/unsubstituted amino group.

These control measures are effective as of 1st of July 2025.

On 23 September 2026, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Regulations on Administration of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the Measures for Administration of Non-pharmaceutical Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, the Ministry of Public Security, the National Health Commission, and the National Medical Products Administration have decided to place orphine analogues under class-wide control in the Catalogue of Nonmedical Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, using a generic definition as follows (unofficial translation): 

“Orphine analogues” refer to substances whose chemical structure, when compared to brorphine (1-{1-[1-(4-bromophenyl)ethyl]piperidin-4-yl}-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one), meets one or more of the conditions (1), (2), and (3); or, when compared to spirobrorphine (8-[1-(4-bromophenyl)ethyl]-1-phenyl-1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decan-4-one), meets one or more of the conditions (4), (5), and (6):

1. Replacing any number of hydrogen atoms in the 1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one group with groups containing no more than five carbon atoms;
2. Replacing the 1-(4-bromophenyl)ethyl group with any group other than hydrogen;
3. Replacing any number of hydrogen atoms in the piperidine ring with groups containing no more than five carbon atoms;
4. Replacing the phenyl group connected to the nitrogen atom with a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group;
5. Replacing the 1-(4-bromophenyl)ethyl group with any group other than hydrogen;
6. Replacing any number of hydrogen atoms in the 1,3,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decan-4-one group with groups containing no more than five carbon atoms.

Where possible uses for medicine, industry, scientific research or other legitimate purposes are found, corresponding adjustments will be made as per the Article 3.2 of Measures for Administration of Non-pharmaceutical Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

These control measures are effective as of 1 October 2026.