The European Parliament adopted by 646 votes to 7, with 21 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on subjecting the new psychoactive substance 1-phenyl-2-(1-pyrrolidin-1-yl) pentan-1-one (α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone, α-PVP) to control measures.

In line with the recommendation made by the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, Parliament approved the draft Council decision which aims to subject the new psychoactive substance, α-PVP, a potent psychostimulant, to control measures across the Union.

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted, in the framework of a special legislative procedure (Parliament’s consultation), the report by Michał BONI (EPP, PL) on the draft Council decision on subjecting the new psychoactive substance 1phenyl-2-(1-pyrrolidin-1-yl) pentan-1-one (α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone, αPVP) to control measures.

The committee approved the draft Council decision without amendments.

To recall, the proposed Decision seeks to subject the new psychoactive substance, α-PVP, a potent psychostimulant, to control measures across the Union.

PURPOSE: to subject the new psychoactive substance 1-phenyl-2-(1-pyrrolidin-1-yl) pentan-1one (α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone, α-PVP) to control measures.

PROPOSED ACT: 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: a risk assessment report on the new psychoactive substance α-PVP was drawn up in compliance with Decision 2005/387/JHA by a special session of the extended Scientific Committee of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, and was subsequently submitted to the Commission and to the Council on 27 November 2015.

α-PVP is a potent psychostimulant, structurally related to cathinone, pyrovalerone and Methylendioxypyrovaleron (MDPV) which are controlled under the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances.

There have been a total of 115 deaths and 191 acute intoxications registered in eight Member States reported where α-PVP was detected.

α-PVP has no established or acknowledged medical use (human or veterinary).

Despite the limited scientific evidence available on α-PVP, the evidence and information on the health risks that the substance poses, as documented in its detection in fatalities and acute intoxications, provides sufficient ground for subjecting α-PVP to control measures across the Union.

CONTENT: the proposed Decision seeks to subject the new psychoactive substance 1-phenyl-2-(1-pyrrolidin-1-yl) pentan-1one (α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone, α-PVP) to control measures across the Union.

Since sixteen Member States control α-PVP under national legislation complying with the obligations of the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances and five Member States use other legislative measures to control it, 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.

For further details, please report to the summary of the Commission’s initial legislative proposal of 18.12.2015.

PURPOSE: to subject α-PVP 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.

PROPOSED ACT: 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:  the risks of α-PVP were assessed by the Scientific Committee of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addition (EMCDDA), acting in compliance with the provisions of Council Decision 2005/387/JHA. In particular, the Council requested an assessment of the risks caused by the use, manufacture and trafficking of the new psychoactive substance α-PVP. The Chair of the Scientific Committee submitted the risk assessment report to the Commission and to the Council on 27 November 2015.

α-PVP is a potent psychostimulant. The substance detected in all 28 Member States as well as in Turkey and Norway, is mainly imported into the EU drug market from China and then distributed across Europe.

There have been a total of 115 deaths and 191 acute intoxications registered in eight Member States reported where α-PVP was detected.

There is no available information or published studies assessing in a comprehensive way the health risks associated with α-PVP, namely chronic and acute toxicity, but observations in animals suggest similar effects with those observed with other stimulants.

According to the risk assessment report, the acute toxicity of α-PVP is such that it can cause severe harms to the health of individuals. Therefore, the Commission considered that there are grounds for subjecting this substance to control measures across the Union.

CONTENT: the objective of this proposal for a Council Decision is to call upon the Member States to subject α-PVP 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.

Currently, sixteen Member States control α-PVP under national legislation complying with the obligations of the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances and five Member States use other legislative measures to control it. 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.

PURPOSE: to subject α-PVP 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.

PROPOSED ACT: 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:  the risks of α-PVP were assessed by the Scientific Committee of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addition (EMCDDA), acting in compliance with the provisions of Council Decision 2005/387/JHA. In particular, the Council requested an assessment of the risks caused by the use, manufacture and trafficking of the new psychoactive substance α-PVP. The Chair of the Scientific Committee submitted the risk assessment report to the Commission and to the Council on 27 November 2015.

α-PVP is a potent psychostimulant. The substance detected in all 28 Member States as well as in Turkey and Norway, is mainly imported into the EU drug market from China and then distributed across Europe.

There have been a total of 115 deaths and 191 acute intoxications registered in eight Member States reported where α-PVP was detected.

There is no available information or published studies assessing in a comprehensive way the health risks associated with α-PVP, namely chronic and acute toxicity, but observations in animals suggest similar effects with those observed with other stimulants.

According to the risk assessment report, the acute toxicity of α-PVP is such that it can cause severe harms to the health of individuals. Therefore, the Commission considered that there are grounds for subjecting this substance to control measures across the Union.

CONTENT: the objective of this proposal for a Council Decision is to call upon the Member States to subject α-PVP 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.

Currently, sixteen Member States control α-PVP under national legislation complying with the obligations of the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances and five Member States use other legislative measures to control it. 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.