New Psychoactive Substances: Evolution in the Exchange of Information and Innovative Legal Responses in the European Union
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Materials and Methods
3. Results
3.1. Evolution and Legal Responses to the Markets of New Psychoactive Substances
3.2. Exchange of Information on New Synthetic Drugs (1997)
- a description of the chemicophysical characteristics and the name of the new synthetic drug;
- information on chemical precursors.
3.3. Exchange of Information on New Synthetic Drugs (2005)
- the NPS had obtained a marketing authorization;
- the NPS was undergoing an authorization request;
- a marketing authorization granted for the NPS had been suspended.
3.4. National Laws and New Psychoactive Substances
- existing laws regarding issues unrelated to controlled drugs are used, such as consumer safety legislation;
- existing drug laws or procedures are expanded or adapted;
- new legislation is developed.
3.4.1. Countries Using Consumer Safety or Medicines Legislation
3.4.2. Modification or Extension Of Existing Laws
3.4.3. Developing New Regulations to Hinder Spread of New Substances
3.5. National Risk Assessment Procedures
3.6. Exchange of Information on New Synthetic Drugs (2013)
- In case NPS represented an immediate risk, measures could be introduced throughout the EU within a few weeks, for a period of one year, to restrict their sale to consumers (temporary measures).
- In the case of a serious risk, permanent measures could be introduced within 10 months (compared to the previous two years), which not only limited the sale of NPS, but also restricted their use in the industrial sector (permanent measures).
3.7. Exchange of Information on New Synthetic Drugs (2018)
- a regulation for the exchange of information, an early warning system, and a risk assessment procedure for new psychoactive substances amending the existing Regulation in the EMCDDA (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction);
- a directive allowing NPS to be controlled at the EU level as “drugs.”
4. Discussion
5. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Varì, M.R.; Mannocchi, G.; Tittarelli, R.; Campanozzi, L.L.; Nittari, G.; Feola, A.; Umani Ronchi, F.; Ricci, G. New Psychoactive Substances: Evolution in the Exchange of Information and Innovative Legal Responses in the European Union. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 8704. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228704
Varì MR, Mannocchi G, Tittarelli R, Campanozzi LL, Nittari G, Feola A, Umani Ronchi F, Ricci G. New Psychoactive Substances: Evolution in the Exchange of Information and Innovative Legal Responses in the European Union. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(22):8704. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228704
Chicago/Turabian StyleVarì, Maria Rosaria, Giulio Mannocchi, Roberta Tittarelli, Laura Leondina Campanozzi, Giulio Nittari, Alessandro Feola, Federica Umani Ronchi, and Giovanna Ricci. 2020. "New Psychoactive Substances: Evolution in the Exchange of Information and Innovative Legal Responses in the European Union" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 22: 8704. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17228704