The Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday unanimously passed a government-initiated bill that will add various substances to the drug list of Macau’s anti-drug law, including seven analogues of etomidate*.
Etomidate is the primary active ingredient in a new illicit substance known by the street name “space oil”.
The law is officially titled the Law on the Prohibition of the Illicit Production, Trafficking and Consumption of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
Secretary for Security Chan Tsz King introduced the outline of the amendment bill during yesterday’s plenary session in the legislature’s hemicycle.
As the government had requested an urgent procedure for the bill’s debate and vote, it was not assigned to any of the legislature’s standing committees for review. Consequently, once the outline was approved, lawmakers immediately proceeded to the final article-by-article debate and vote, passing the bill in full.
The amendment will take effect the day after its promulgation in the Official Gazette (BO).
During the session, Chan noted that the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) decided at a meeting last year to place an additional six substances under international control. As these six substances are not currently listed in Macau’s anti-drug law, the local government drafted the amendment bill to include them.
Furthermore, Chan pointed out that etomidate and three of its analogues – metomidate, propoxate, and isopropoxate – were added to the anti-drug law last year.
The amendment bill passed yesterday adds seven other analogues of etomidate to the law, even though they are not yet under international control, to address Macau’s specific circumstances. None of the seven substances are currently used for medical purposes, Chan said.
Chan underlined that although no cases involving these seven substances have been detected in Macau yet, preventive measures are necessary given the risks of abuse and their existing ban in the Chinese mainland. Alignment with neighbouring regions will help control abuse risks and safeguard public health and safety.
Judiciary Police (PJ) Director Sit Chong Meng added that since etomidate was listed under Macau’s anti-drug law in June last year, police had busted three cases involving the substance as of the end of June this year.
*Etomidate is a short-acting intravenous anaesthetic commonly used to induce general anaesthesia and procedural sedation due to its rapid onset and stable cardiovascular profile. – Gemini
Secretary for Security Chan Tsz King (left) speaks during yesterday’s plenary session in the Legislative Assembly’s (AL) hemicycle as Judiciary Police (PJ) Director Sit Chong Meng looks on. – Photo: GCS
