Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3998) (“the Regulations”). The Schedule of the Regulations in which a controlled drug is placed affects the extent to which the drug can be lawfully imported, exported, produced, supplied or possessed and dictates the record keeping, labelling and destruction requirements in relation to that drug.

Regulation 3 adds a synthetic opioid (known as U-47,700), several methylphenidate related materials and a number of designer benzodiazepines to Schedule 1 to the Regulations. The controlled drugs placed in Schedule 1 to the Regulations are those subject to the tightest controls.

An impact assessment will be published alongside the Explanatory Memorandum on the legislation.gov.uk website.