Austrian Narcotic Drugs Ordinance: Annex IV.2 updated with new psychoactive substances (EU Directive 2025/2062)
Austria's Narcotic Drugs Ordinance (Suchtgiftverordnung) was amended by BGBl. II Nr. 180/2026, revising Annex IV.2 to incorporate new psychoactive substances into the controlled-drug list in implementation of EU delegated Directive 2025/2062. The change took effect on the day the amending ordinance was published.
What changed
Annex IV.2 of the Ordinance — which lists substances treated as equivalent to scheduled narcotics under §2(3) of the Narcotic Substances Act (Suchtmittelgesetz) — was revised by BGBl. II Nr. 180/2026 to implement EU Commission delegated Directive 2025/2062 of 14 October 2025, which requires adding newly identified psychoactive substances to the drug definition. The updated Annex IV.2 covers substances including 4-Brommethcathinon (4-BMC), 2-Methylmethcathinon (2-MMC), N-Ethylnorpentedron (NEP), Buprenorphin, Pentazocin, and Tramadol (except preparations listed in Annex III). A minor typo in §18(1a) concerning the e-prescription system was also corrected.
Who is affected
Physicians, dentists, veterinarians, and pharmacists who prescribe or dispense medicines must verify whether substances they work with now fall under updated Annex IV.2 and are therefore subject to the special prescription, vignette-labelling, and record-keeping requirements of the Ordinance. Anyone possessing or trading substances listed in Annex IV.2 without authorisation may face criminal liability under Austrian drug law.
What to look out for
The revised Annex IV.2 entered into force on the day BGBl. II Nr. 180/2026 was published. Healthcare professionals and pharmacies should review the updated annex to confirm which substances are now subject to the controlled-drug prescription rules and documentation obligations set out in the Ordinance.