TFDA to add etomidate-like substances to controlled drugs list

Taipei, July 9 (CNA) Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) will list several substances similar to etomidate, an increasingly abused anesthetic in Asia, as controlled drugs in line with their classification as narcotics by the Ministry of Justice, a TFDA official said Wednesday.

The agency announced last Friday plans to list butomidate, trifluoroethyl, flutomidate and several substances with similar molecular formulas as "Schedule 2 controlled drugs," because they have been detected in recent cases investigated by prosecutors and the police, Chang Chih-hsu (張志旭), a deputy chief of the TFDA's controlled drugs division, told reporters.

The TFDA's new classification of the substances is expected to take effect following a 14-day public consultation period.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs under the Ministry of Justice decided on May 29 to classify these substances as Class II narcotics, as with etomidate, methamphetamine, fentanyl and cannabis, according to Chang.

Etomidate, which is known as zombie vape in Taiwan, space oil in Hong Kong and Kpod in Singapore, has caused deaths as street drugs taken by vaping.

Such developments have led to the controlled medication's subsequent designation first as a Class III narcotic under the Narcotics Hazard Prevention Act in Taiwan in June 2024, then its reclassification as a Class II drug in November last year.

However, the reclassification of etomidate as a Class II drug was only published in the Executive Yuan Gazette on June 26, also for a 14-day public consultation period before it can take effect, a justice ministry official told CNA Wednesday.

Although the newly classified etomidate-like substances are not used for medical purposes, the new TFDA classification is aimed at tightening control of substances such as butomidate, which are mainly used in scientific research, Chang said.

Researchers will be required to obtain permits if they want to use these controlled substances for academic or scientific work, and to keep a daily log on their use, quantity in stock and disposal, Chang said.

Failure to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Controlled Drugs Act carries a fine of NT$60,000-NT$300,000 (US$2,057-US$10,285), according to the TFDA.

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes categorizes butomidate on its website as "sedatives/hypnotics," which is one of the six groups of "new psychoactive substances" for which it cooperated with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in developing an "Early Warning Advisory."

The U.N. office also operates an online "Tox-Portal" to share data on toxicology and harm related to the use of new psychoactive substances around the world.