MFA Notice on Adding New Synthetic Drugs to Narcotic Conventions

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs published two notifications in the Official Gazette dated September 9, 2026, expanding the scope of international drug controls. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Notification No. 281 adds two types of nitazene-based synthetic opioids to Schedule I of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Notification No. 282 adds the synthetic cannabinoid-like substance MDMB-FUBINACA to Schedule II of the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances. Both were signed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi.

Addition of Nitazene-based Drugs to Schedule I of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Notification No. 281 notifies that a decision has been made to add the following substances to Schedule I of the “Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961,” created in New York on March 30, 1961, in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of said Convention. In accordance with the provisions of Article 7, this decision entered into force on May 29, 2026 (Letter from the Secretary-General of the United Nations dated May 29, 2026).

The following two types of nitazene-based synthetic opioids are added to Schedule I:

• N-desethyletonitazene (2-[(4-ethoxyphenyl)methyl]-N-ethyl-5-nitro-1H-benzimidazole-1-ethanamine)
• N-pyrrolidinoisonitazene (5-nitro-2-[(4-(2-propoxy)benzyl]-1-[2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethyl]-1H-benzo[d]imidazole)

These are added to Schedule I by being inserted after the existing entries for “cyclopropylfentanyl” and “protonitazene.”

Addition of MDMB-FUBINACA to Schedule II of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Notification No. 282 adds MDMB-FUBINACA (methyl 2-[[1-(4-fluorobenzyl)indazole-3-carbonyl]amino]-3,3-dimethylbutanoate) to Schedule II of the “Convention on Psychotropic Substances,” created in Vienna on February 21, 1971, in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 of said Convention. In accordance with the provisions of Article 7, this decision shall enter into force on November 25, 2026.

In the revision of Schedule II, the existing “65” becomes “66,” entries “44” through “64” are shifted down by one, and MDMB-FUBINACA is added as a new “44” following “43.”

Domestic Control and Impact on Medical Professionals

These notifications incorporate United Nations decisions into the domestic legal order, leading to an expansion of the substances subject to regulation under the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act. Nitazene-based opioids are high-potency synthetic drugs whose abuse has been expanding overseas in recent years; domestic enforcement authorities and medical professionals will be required to identify and respond to these new controlled substances.

• The addition of controlled substances reflects international decisions based on letters from the Secretary-General of the United Nations within the domestic framework.
• The notifications were published in the Official Gazette (Extra Edition) dated September 9, 2026.
• Additions to Schedule I of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs will take effect on May 29, 2026, and additions to Schedule II of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances will take effect on November 25, 2026.

Conclusion

Through these two notifications, new dangerous drugs subject to international regulation will be formally incorporated into the domestic regulatory framework. In particular, the addition of nitazene-based synthetic opioids will directly impact domestic narcotics control and drug identification in medical settings; therefore, relevant agencies are required to take appropriate measures based on the contents of these notifications.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Notification No. 281 (Official Gazette dated September 9, 2026), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Notification No. 282 (Official Gazette dated September 9, 2026)—both signed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi.