China will put the whole category of nitazene-related substances, as well as 12 new psychoactive substances, into its controlled list starting July 1.

Nitazenes are strong synthetic opioids.

The move was announced by the Office of China National Narcotics Control Commission on Thursday.

Shan Yehua, deputy head of the office, said the decision came as it has detected emergence and abuse of new substitutes for the substances the country regulated a year ago.

China placed 46 psychoactive substances under regulation on July 1, 2024.

The scheduling of the entire class of nitazene-related substances this time is another innovative step China has taken, after its regulation of the whole category of fentanyl-related substances in 2019 and the whole category of synthetic cannabinoids in 2021, Shan said.