China to regulate entire class of orphine analogues

China will place an entire class of orphine analogues under national control from Oct 1, according to a joint announcement issued by the Ministry of Public Security, the National Health Commission and the National Medical Products Administration on Wednesday.

The substances will be added to China's list of non-medical narcotic and psychotropic substances.

Orphine-class substances are novel synthetic psychoactive substances distinct from traditional opioids. Brorphine and spirobrorphine are representative parent compounds of the group.

Rather than scheduling individual compounds one by one, the new measure adopts a class-wide approach, covering substances derived from brorphine or spirobrorphine that meet specified structural criteria.

Authorities said the control measures can be adjusted if any of the listed substances are later found to have legitimate medical, industrial, scientific research or other lawful uses.

The announcement will take effect on Oct 1, 2026.