PURPOSE: to subject the new psychoactive substance N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidin-4yl]furan-2-carboxamide (furanylfentanyl) to control measures.

NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2017/2170 on subjecting N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidin-4-yl]furan-2-carboxamide (furanylfentanyl) to control measures.

CONTENT: the aim of the Council’s implementing decision is to subject the new psychoactive substance N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidin-4yl]furan-2-carboxamide (furanylfentanyl) to control measures .

The risk assessment report drawn up in accordance with Decision 2005/387/JHA by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and sent to the Commission and the Council on 24 May 2017 concludes that this psychoactive substance was detected in 16 Member States is a synthetic opioid whose structure is similar to fentanyl, a controlled substance commonly used in medicine as a supplement to general anaesthesia in surgery and as an analgesic. It is mainly produced in China.

Five Member States reported 22 deaths related to this substance and 11 acute furanylfentanyl-associated intoxications were reported by three Member States.

Furanylfentanyl is sold in small or wholesale quantities as a "research chemical", usually in the form of ready-to-use powder or nasal spray. It may also have been sold on the illicit opioid market. It has no recognised human or veterinary medical use.

Only ten Member States control furanylfentanyl under their national drugs control legislation, while three further Member States use other legislative measures to control it.

The evidence and information available on the health and social risks posed by this substance are sufficient grounds for subjecting furanylfentanyl to control measures throughout the Union.

The decision provides that, no later than 19 November 2018, Member States will have to submit the new psychoactive substance to the control measures and criminal penalties provided for by their legislation, in accordance with their obligations under the 1971 UN Convention on the Protection of Psychoactive Substances.

The United Kingdom is not bound by this decision.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 22.11.2017.

The European Parliament adopted by 572 votes to 54, with 36 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council implementing decision on subjecting N-phenyl-N-[1-(2phenylethyl)piperidin-4-yl]furan-2-carboxamide (furanylfentanyl) to control measures.

In line with its Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Parliament approved the Council draft.

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the report by Michal BONI (EPP, PL) on the draft Council implementing decision on subjecting N-phenyl-N-[1-(2phenylethyl)piperidin-4-yl]furan-2-carboxamide (furanylfentanyl) to control measures.

The committee recommended that Parliament approve the Council draft .

The available evidence and information on the health and social risks that the substance poses, given also its similarities with fentanyl, provide sufficient grounds for subjecting furanylfentanyl to control measures across the Union.

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the report by Michal BONI (EPP, PL) on the draft Council implementing decision on subjecting N-phenyl-N-[1-(2phenylethyl)piperidin-4-yl]furan-2-carboxamide (furanylfentanyl) to control measures.

The committee recommended that Parliament approve the Council draft .

The available evidence and information on the health and social risks that the substance poses, given also its similarities with fentanyl, provide sufficient grounds for subjecting furanylfentanyl to control measures across the Union.

PURPOSE: to subject the new psychoactive substance N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidin-4yl]furan-2-carboxamide (furanylfentanyl) to control measures.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Implementing Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.

BACKGROUND: a risk-assessment report on furanylfentanyl , drawn up by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and submitted to the Commission and to the Council on 24 May 2017 concluded that this psychoactive substance - detected in 16 Member States - is a synthetic opioid with a structure similar to that of fentanyl, a controlled substance commonly used in medicine for general anaesthesia in surgery and pain management.

The substance is sold online in small and wholesale amounts as a ‘research chemical’, typically in the form of powder and ready-to-use nasal spray. It has no recognised medical or veterinary use in the Union.

Five Member States reported 22 deaths related to furanylfentanyl. In addition, 11 acute non-fatal poisonings associated with furanylfentanyl were reported by three Member States.

The available evidence and information on the health and social risks that the substance poses, given also its similarities with fentanyl, provide sufficient grounds for subjecting furanylfentanyl to control measures across the Union.

CONTENT: the Council draft aims to subject the new psychoactive substance N-phenyl-N- [1- (2-phenylethyl) piperidin-4-yl] furan-2-carboxamide (furanylfentanyl) to control measures throughout the Union.

For further details, see the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 5.7.2017 .

PURPOSE: to subject the new psychoactive substance N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidin-4yl]furan-2-carboxamide (furanylfentanyl) to control measures.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Implementing Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.

BACKGROUND: a risk-assessment report on furanylfentanyl , drawn up by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and submitted to the Commission and to the Council on 24 May 2017 concluded that this psychoactive substance - detected in 16 Member States - is a synthetic opioid with a structure similar to that of fentanyl, a controlled substance commonly used in medicine for general anaesthesia in surgery and pain management.

The substance is sold online in small and wholesale amounts as a ‘research chemical’, typically in the form of powder and ready-to-use nasal spray. It has no recognised medical or veterinary use in the Union.

Five Member States reported 22 deaths related to furanylfentanyl. In addition, 11 acute non-fatal poisonings associated with furanylfentanyl were reported by three Member States.

The available evidence and information on the health and social risks that the substance poses, given also its similarities with fentanyl, provide sufficient grounds for subjecting furanylfentanyl to control measures across the Union.

CONTENT: the Council draft aims to subject the new psychoactive substance N-phenyl-N- [1- (2-phenylethyl) piperidin-4-yl] furan-2-carboxamide (furanylfentanyl) to control measures throughout the Union.

For further details, see the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal dated 5.7.2017 .

PURPOSE: to subject the new psychoactive substance N-phenyl-N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)piperidin-4yl]furan-2-carboxamide (furanylfentanyl) to control measures.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Implementing Decision.

ROLE OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT: the Council adopts the act after consulting the European Parliament but without being obliged to follow its opinion.

BACKGROUND: on 28 February 2017, following the request made by the Commission and 9 Member States and pursuant to Council Decision 2005/387/JHA , the Council requested an assessment of the risks caused by the use, manufacture and trafficking of the new psychoactive substance.

The main results of the risk assessment carried out by the Scientific Committee of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) are the following:

Furanylfentanyl is a synthetic opioid and is structurally similar to fentanyl, a controlled substance widely used in medicine for general anaesthesia during surgery and for pain management. It has been available in the Union since June 2015 and has been detected in 16 Member States;

23 deaths associated with furanylfentanyl have been reported by five Member States. In at least ten deaths furanylfentanyl was the cause of death or is likely to have contributed to the death. In addition, 11 acute non-fatal intoxications associated with furanylfentanyl were reported by three Member States.

Furanylfentanyl has no recognised human or veterinary medical use in the Union.

Furanylfentanyl is not listed for control under the 1961 United Nations Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs or under the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances. The substance is not currently under assessment by the United Nations system.

There is no information suggesting the involvement of organised crime in the manufacture, distribution (trafficking) and supply of furanylfentanyl within the Union.

Based on the findings of the risk assessment report, the Commission considers that there are grounds for subjecting this substance to control measures across the Union. According to the risk assessment report, the acute toxicity of furanylfentanyl is such that it can cause severe harms to the health of individuals.

CONTENT: the objective of this proposal for a Council Implementing Decision is to call upon the Member States to subject furanylfentanyl to control measures and criminal penalties as provided under their legislation by virtue of their obligations under the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

Given that ten Member States control furanylfentanyl under national drug control legislation and three Member State control furanylfentanyl under other legislation, subjecting this substance to control measures across the Union would help avoid the emergence of obstacles in cross-border law enforcement and judicial cooperation, and would help protect from the risks that its availability and use can pose.