Three varieties, including methoxyetomidate, are newly added to the management of Class II psychotropic drugs for pharmaceutical use, effective from October 1.

On July 6, 2026, the National Medical Products Administration, the Ministry of Public Security, and the National Health Commission jointly issued Announcement No. 58 of 2026. In accordance with the relevant provisions of the "Regulations on the Administration of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Drugs," adjustments were made to the catalog of pharmaceutical psychotropic drugs. Methoxyethyl Etomidate, Lorotomidate, and Solriamfetol were added to the catalog of pharmaceutical psychotropic drugs, and the relevant management regulations shall be officially effective from October 1, 2026.

All newly added varieties in this batch are classified under the category of Class II pharmaceutical psychotropic drugs. The Chinese and English names, CAS numbers, and special management remarks for each variety are specified as follows:

The announcement clarifies that after the implementation of this catalog adjustment, the aforementioned three substances will be subject to full-process control in strict accordance with the laws and regulations related to Class II psychotropic drugs. Among them, exemption clauses are set for Methoxyethyl Etomidate and Lorotomidate; corresponding pharmaceutical preparations that have been approved for marketing and are legally circulated for use within the country are not subject to the newly added control requirements, ensuring that legitimate clinical medication is not affected. Solriamfetol has no relevant exemption explanation and will be fully incorporated into the Class II psychotropic drug regulatory system.

This coordinated adjustment of the catalog of pharmaceutical psychotropic drugs by the three departments is an important measure to balance clinical drug use and drug control governance. By improving the control list of psychotropic drugs, it fills the regulatory gap for relevant new psychoactive substances.

On the one hand, it regulates behaviors in the production, operation, storage, use, and transportation of relevant chemicals to prevent the risk of abuse caused by diversion into illegal channels; on the other hand, it distinguishes illegal substances from legitimate clinical drugs through preparation exemption clauses, taking into account both public safety and medical diagnosis and treatment needs.

The announcement requires that local drug supervision, public security, and health authorities subsequently implement supporting regulatory work in a synchronized manner, organize policy advocacy for pharmaceutical enterprises, medical institutions, and operating enterprises within their jurisdictions, strictly enforce the new catalog management requirements effective from October 1, 2026, and severely crack down on illegal and criminal activities such as illegal production, trading, transportation, and use of the newly added controlled varieties, so as to build a strong line of defense for the safety supervision of narcotic and psychotropic drugs.