New Synthetic Drugs Added to Psychotropic Substances and Narcotic Treaties

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs promulgated Ministry of Foreign Affairs Notice No. 281 and No. 282 in the Official Gazette dated September 9, 2026, amending the schedules of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. As a result, new synthetic drugs with expanding international abuse are added to the scope of regulation, and contracting parties are required to strengthen enforcement based on domestic laws.

Both notices were signed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi, and both serve to notify the domestic public of decisions based on a letter from the Secretary-General of the United Nations (dated May 29, 2026). The Convention on Psychotropic Substances was drafted in Vienna in 1971, and the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs was drafted in New York in 1961; both are treaties that form the foundation of international drug control.

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

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Notice No. 282, in accordance with the provisions of Article 2 of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, adds MDMB-FUBINACA (methyl…fluorobenzyl…indazole…carbonyl…amino…dimethylbutanoate) to Schedule II of said Convention. The numbering of Schedule II was reorganized by changing “65” to “66,” shifting “44” through “64” down by one, and adding the new substance after “43.”

In accordance with the provisions of Article 7, this decision shall enter into force on November 25, 2026. MDMB-FUBINACA is a synthetic cannabinoid drug, with reports of abuse occurring frequently in Europe, North America, and Asia in recent years.

Addition of New Substances to Schedule I of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs Notice No. 281, in accordance with the provisions of Article 3 of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, adds the following two substances to Schedule I of said Convention:

• N-desethyletonitazene (2…ethoxyphenyl…methyl…N-ethyl…5-nitro…1H-benzimidazole…1-ethanamine) — added after cyclopropylfentanyl
• N-pyrrolidinoisotonitazene (5-nitro…2…4…2-propoxy…benzyl…1…2…pyrrolidin…1-yl…ethyl…1H-benzo…d…imidazole) — added after protonitazene

In accordance with the provisions of Article 7, this decision entered into force on May 29, 2026. Both are potent synthetic opioids of the nitazene class, and along with fentanyl analogues, death cases due to overdose have been reported internationally.

Significance and Impact of Strengthened Regulation

The addition to the schedules creates an obligation for contracting parties to designate these substances as subject to regulation under domestic narcotics and psychotropic substances control laws. The pharmaceutical and chemical industries must tighten the management of imports, exports, manufacturing, and distribution, and regulatory authorities will begin monitoring based on the new enforcement standards.

• The addition of controlled substances means that unauthorized manufacture, import/export, and possession will be subject to punishment.
• Strict permits and record-keeping are required for handling substances for medical or research purposes.
• International information sharing and joint enforcement will be strengthened.

This amendment is part of a movement by the international community to expand regulatory networks through treaty frameworks in response to the proliferation of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), such as synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic opioids. Within Japan, it is expected that the control of these substances will be strictly implemented based on the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Notification No. 281 and No. 282 (published in the Official Gazette on September 9, 2026, signed by Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi). Convention on Psychotropic Substances (1971 Vienna), Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 (1961 New York).