Establishing a list of fentanyl-related substances with no known legitimate uses and a list of synthetic non-fentanyl opioids with no known legitimate uses
In June 2018, the Board established the first-ever list of fentanyl-related substances (FRS) with no know legitimate medical or industrial uses. This followed a thorough review of fentanyl-related substances which had been reported as being encountered in illicit internet sales, trafficked or seized, in toxicology, or related incident reports. The list is a practical tool in which to inform Governments, investigators and frontline officers, and industry partners and to facilitate actions to counter their manufacture, marketing, movement and monetization.
The Board, through E/INCB/PRE/C.L. 15/2018 and subsequent circular letters, invited all relevant Government authorities, and through them, industry partners, to refrain on a voluntary basis from any manufacture, marketing, import, export or distribution of the substances on the list, beyond limited research and analytical purposes.
Building on the success of this practical tool, SINCB developed and disseminated in December 2021 through circular letter E/INCB/SI/C.L. 152/21, another list of synthetic non-fentanyl opioids (NoFOs) and related emerging substances with no known legitimate uses. Again, the Board invites all relevant Government authorities, and through them, industry partners, to refrain on a voluntary basis from any manufacture, marketing, import, export or distribution of the substances on the list, beyond limited research and analytical purposes.
In the absence of any legitimate purposes, these lists may also help Governments to launch appropriate interdiction and industry cooperation actions. In the event Governments become aware of any legitimate medical or industrial uses of those substances, for example from assessments for national controls, they are encouraged to provide all relevant information to INCB. Both lists are regularly updated to ensure that they remain current in the light of dynamic illicit markets and new information available.
Click here to download the FRS list.
Click here to download the NoFOs list.