PURPOSE: to subject 4-methylamphetamine to control
measures.
PROPOSED ACT: Implementing Council
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: in compliance with Council
Decision 2005/387/JHA on the information exchange,
risk-assessment and control of new psychoactive substances, the
Scientific Committee of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs
and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) assessed the risks on the new
psychoactive substance 4-methylamphetamine. The risk
assessment report was subsequently submitted to the Commission and
to the Council on 29 November 2012.
4-methylamphetamine is a synthetic ring-methylated
derivative of amphetamine. It has emerged on the illicit
amphetamine market where it is sold and used as the controlled
drug, amphetamine.
There has been one report of the substance being
detected in a commercial product sold on the internet.
According to the limited data sources available, the
acute toxicity of 4-methylamphetamine is similar to that of other
stimulants. There have been a total of 21 fatalities
registered in four Member States where 4-methylamphetamine alone,
or in combination with one or more substances, especially
amphetamine, has been detected in post-mortem samples.
4-methylamphetamine has been detected in 15 Member
States, while one Member State has reported the manufacture of the
substance on its territory. Eight Member States control the
substance under drug control legislation. The information available
suggests that 4-methylamphetamine is produced and distributed by
the same organised crime groups that are involved in the
manufacture and trafficking of amphetamine.
The Risk Assessment Report reveals that there is limited scientific evidence
available on the characteristics and risks of 4-methylamphetamine
and points out that further studies are required on the overall
health and social risks associated with the substance.
However, the evidence available provides sufficient
grounds for subjecting 4-methylamphetamine to control measures
across the Union. As a result of the health risks it poses, as
documented by its detection in several reported fatalities,
especially when used in combination with other substances, of its
strong resemblance in terms of appearance and effects with
amphetamine, of the fact that users may unknowingly consume the
substance, and of its limited medical value or use,
4-methylamphetamine should be subjected to control measures across
the Union.
CONTENT: this proposal aims to invite the Member
States to subject the new psychoactive substance
4-methylamphetamine to control measures across the
Union.
Decision
2013/129/EU ceases to produce effects from the date of entry
into force of this Decision, without prejudice to the obligations
of the Member States relating to the time limit for subjecting
4-methylamphetamine to control measures and criminal penalties in
their national laws.
The United Kingdom shall not take part in the adoption
of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its
application.