‘Legal highs’ to be declared illegal in Europe, removed from the market faster
New substances with effects similar to heroin, cocaine and other illicit drugs will be declared illegal and removed from the European market more quickly under new rules. Called ‘legal highs,’ these substances are considered a major threat to health and safety, killing many young people each year.
According to a press release, under new rules backed by the Civil Liberties Committee on Thursday and already agreed with the Council, the deadlines for determining the risks posed by new psychoactive substances (NPS) will be substantially reduced, shortening the whole procedure almost by half.
“New psychoactive substances are a major threat to the health and safety of European citizens. Each year, many young people die, particularly men, after having used ´legal highs´. The proliferation of online selling of drugs, and the ease with which NPS can be developed in a laboratory, is making it difficult for the authorities to tackle the spread”, noted Teresa Jiménez-Becerril (EPP, ES), responsible for the update to the Directive laying down minimum provisions on the constituent elements of criminal acts and penalties in the field of illicit drug trafficking, as regards the definition of drug.
loading...
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA, the EU drugs agency), already in charge of monitoring all new substances reported by member states, will also have to lead the exchange of information, draw the first report on any suspicious substance and prepare risk assessments when needed.
Following an initial report by the EMCDDA, the European Commission will have two weeks to request an assessment of the potential risks posed by the new substance, which should be submitted within six weeks after the request. The Commission will then be able to adopt a decision banning the substance, without being obliged to consult the Council beforehand. Member States will have to apply the ban no later than six months after the Commission’s decision.
Legislators expect, however, that most countries will be able to apply the ban much faster than that.
Loading...