The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Temporary Class Drug) Order 2026

Explanatory note

Reproduced verbatim from the instrument as published on legislation.gov.uk (Crown Copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0). The note is prepared by the responsible government department and is not part of the instrument itself.

Article 2 of this Order specifies the substances and products listed in the Schedule as drugs subject to temporary control under section 2A(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The substances and products listed in the Schedule are types of synthetic opioids which are being misused as new psychoactive substances. Paragraphs 2 to 4 specify derivatives of the substances specified in paragraph 1 of the Schedule.

Article 3 of this Order provides that the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973 and the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1973 apply to those substances and products listed in the Schedule, and that the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 apply to the substances and products listed in the Schedule as if those substances and products were specified in Schedule 1 to each of those Regulations.

In accordance with subsection (6) of section 2A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the specified substances and products will cease to be subject to temporary control after the expiry of one year or, if earlier, upon the coming into force of an Order in Council under section 2(2) of that Act listing the specified substances and products in Part 1, 2 or 3 of Schedule 2 to that Act.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.