Article 2 of this Order specifies the substances and products listed in the Schedule as drugs subject to temporary control under section 2A(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The substances specified in paragraph 1 of the Schedule are Methylphenidate related materials which are being misused as new psychoactive substances. Paragraphs 2 to 4 of the Schedule specify derivatives of the substances specified in paragraph 1.

The majority of these substances and products were made the subject of temporary control by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Temporary Class Drug) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1027). That Order was made whilst Parliament was dissolved and lapsed on the 27th June 2015 as there was insufficient Parliamentary time available for each House of Parliament to approve the Order. This Order replaces that Order and lists two additional substances in paragraph 1 of the Schedule (4-Methylmethylphenidate and Ethylnaphthidate). Additionally, this Order makes provision for the control of the salt of a substance listed in the Schedule.

Article 3 of this Order provides that the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) Regulations 1973 and the Misuse of Drugs (Safe Custody) (Northern Ireland) Regulations 1973 apply to those substances and products, and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002 apply to those substances and products as if they were specified in Schedule 1 to each of the relevant Regulations.

In accordance with subsection (6) of section 2A of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the specified substances and products will cease to be subject to temporary control after the expiry of one year or, if earlier, upon the coming into force of an Order in Council under section 2(2) of that Act listing the specified substances and products in Part 1, 2 or 3 of Schedule 2 to that Act.