These Regulations amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 (S.R. 2002 No. 1) (“the Regulations”).

Regulation 2(2) removes regulation 4B of the Regulations, that made it lawful to import, export, produce, supply, offer to supply or possess Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4-Butanediol (1,4-BD) in certain circumstances.

Regulation 2(3) adds 1,4-Butanediol (1,4-BD) and Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) to Schedule 1 to the Regulations. The Schedule to the Regulations in which a controlled drug is placed affects the extent to which the drug can be lawfully imported, exported, produced, supplied or possessed. The controlled drugs placed in Schedule 1 to the Regulations are those subject to the tightest controls, requiring a licence in order to access such drugs.