Research chemicals in Netherlands

[Didymus]

There are a lot of sites in the Netherlands that sell different types of drugs as 'research chemicals'.
Is it still legal to buy these in the Netherlands? I have read that there would be a new bill in december 2021 to make a stop to this.

 

[befree]

NL is an EU-country. So even if there will be a new policy, you can still order from another EU-country. No customs will be involved.

 

[GentleJerk]

dec 2021 last year?

Anyway. Laws regarding RC's change quickly. Do your research and make sure they are still legal in your country before ordering, and you'll be fine.

 

[Talvikki]

Many of the designer drugs are not (yet) illegal in the Netherlands.

Research chemicals and legislation
Most classic drugs are listed in the Opium Act. Therefore, it is illegal to make, have, buy or sell these drugs. Many designer drugs are not included in the Opium Act. The substances then fall under the Commodities Act. Often, therefore, only rules apply as with normal products for designer drugs, such as rules for shampoo and plant food, for example. Products that fall under the Commodities Act must, among other things, contain a clear label that also states the health risks. The labels of designer drugs therefore read "not for human consumption". In this way, the seller adheres to the Commodities Act. The government is working on a law that makes a number of designer drugs illegal at once. This law is planned for 2022.

Designer drug ban
The cabinet is currently working on a broader ban on designer drugs, also known as NPS (new psychoactive substances). When an individual designer drug is banned under the Opium Act, it is still possible for drug manufacturers to make a new drug with a slightly different composition, so that that new drug can legally be put on the market again. This will be stopped with the designer drug ban, which brings entire groups of substances with the same basic chemical structure under the Opium Act. As a result, an entire group of common designer drugs is banned in advance, regardless of the specific composition.