Cabinet to Ban Synthetic Opioids Nitazenes

Secretary of State Judith Tielen: “In the Netherlands, a large batch of nitazenes was intercepted by the police in 2024. And in the spring of 2025, someone in the Netherlands died from an online purchased painkiller that was contaminated with a nitazene. So we must do what we can against this super dangerous substance that ruins lives. Therefore, we want to ban the entire group of substances as soon as possible.”

The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the Ministry of Justice and Security are working closely together on this regulation.

Since July 1, 2025, a ban has been in place on 3 groups of new psychoactive substances, these groups are listed in List IA of the Opium Act. One of the banned groups is the group related to the synthetic opioid fentanyl, which has led to a major health crisis in the US. Nitazenes will be added to List 1A as a group through this regulation.

During the internet consultation, which is open from October 1 to October 30, 2025, everyone can make comments or suggestions for improving the proposed regulation via internetconsultatie.nl. After the consultation period ends, all responses will be reviewed and the proposal will be adjusted where necessary. The responses from the parties involved in the implementation of this regulation will also be processed. The proposal will then be submitted to the House of Representatives and the Senate.