The emergence of new analogues of psychoactive substances observed since 2011 prompted the government to take countermeasures for their effective designation through generic legislation. Since March 2013, generic scheduling has been used for the control of NPS. Japanese generic scheduling clearly defines substances covered by defining positions and types of substitutes to the basic structure. The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare is committed to listing NPS as "designated substances" under the PAL with greater speed in order to rapidly re‐categorize those requiring significantly stricter control as narcotics. As of March 2013 the Japanese government has been enforcing generic scheduling controlling 770 synthetic cannabinoids. The second generic scheduling was enforced in January 2014 to control 494 synthetic cathinones. As of May 2015, 393 synthetic cannabinoids and 1334 synthetic cathinone derivatives are controlled under generic legislation and a total of 2297 substances are currently controlled as "Designated Substances". including both individual (193) and generic (2104). By May 2015, 18 designated substances have been reclassified as narcotics. In this regard, the National Institute of Health Sciences is gathering analytical data on NPS in Japan and also maintaining a database of NPS with product and compound information.