Report from the Commission to the Council Called for by the Joint Action on New Synthetic Drugs (97/396/JAI) concerning TMA-2
Date: 2003-05-13
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: health control, health policy, health risk, narcotic

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

Brussels, 13.5.2003
COM(2003) 258 final

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL

Called for by the Joint Action on New Synthetic Drugs (97/396/JAI) concerning TMA-2
Called for by the Joint Action on New Synthetic Drugs (97/396/JAI) concerning 2C-I
Called for by the Joint Action on New Synthetic Drugs (97/396/JAI) concerning 2C-T-2
Called for by the Joint Action on New Synthetic Drugs (97/396/JAI) concerning 2C-T-7

   
REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL

Called for by the Joint Action on New Synthetic Drugs (97/396/JAI) concerning TMA-2

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

5.1.

On the 8th of April 2003, the European Commission received from the EMCDDA the
report on the risk assessment of TMA-2 (2,4,5-trimethoxyamphetamine). The report
is called: “Report on the Risk Assessment of TMA-2 in the Framework of the Joint
Action  on  New  Synthetic  Drugs”.  The  risk  assessment  report  was  established
following  a  meeting  from  31  March  to  1  April  of  the  Scientific  Committee  of  the
EMCDDA  and  experts  nominated  by  the  Member  States,  representatives  of  the
Commission,  Europol  and  the  EMEA.  The  risk  assessment  was  requested  by  the
Horizontal Drugs Group of 12 December 2002, in the framework of the Joint Action
on New Synthetic Drugs of 16 June 1997. TMA-2 was  officially notified  as a new
synthetic drug under Article 3 of the Joint Action on New Synthetic Drugs on three
occasions: August 2001, June 2002 and September 2002.

Article  5  of  the  Joint  Action  states  that  following  the  establishment  of  the  report
there can either be an initiative presented to the Council within a month to make the
new synthetic drug subject  to  measures  of  control,  or  "if  the  Commission  deems  it
not  necessary  to  present  an  initiative  it  shall  present  a  report  to  the  Council
explaining its views".

Article  1  of  the  Joint  Action  states  that  the  Joint  Action  “aims  at  the  creation  of  a
mechanism  for  rapid  exchange  of  information  on  new  synthetic  drugs  and  the
assessment of their risks in order to permit the application of the measures of control
on  psychotropic  substances,  applicable  in  the  Member  States,  equally  to  new
synthetic drugs”.

Art 4 (1) of the Joint Action states that “at the request of one of the Member States or
the Commission, the EMCDDA shall convene a special meeting under the auspices
of the Scientific Committee extended with experts nominated by the Member States
and to which representatives of the Commission, the EDU and the European Agency
for  the  Evaluation  of  Medicinal  Products  shall  be  invited.  This  committee  shall
assess the possible risks, including the health and social risks, caused by the use of,
and traffic in, new synthetic drugs, and possible consequences of prohibition”.

The  Commission  has  considered  the  conclusions  of  the  report  and  notes  the
following:

TMA-2 is a synthetic drug which synthesis protocol was described by the American
chemist Shulgin. TMA-2 could also be produced from the active  principle  asarone,
which  is  extracted  from  the  rhizome  of  the  plant  Acorus  calamus.  Recipes  for
extracting  asarone  and  making  TMA-2  are  available  on  the  Internet  together  with
warnings  about  contra-indications.  At  present  TMA-2  has  no  medical  or  industrial
use.

5.2.

There have been no reported deaths or instances of non-fatal intoxication involving
TMA-2.

2

5.3.

5.4.

5.5.

5.6.

6.

No Member State  has  information that  suggests large-scale  production,  distribution
of, and/ or trafficking in TMA-2 or a role of organised crime in these activities. One
Member State reported a case of the production of a limited quantity of TMA-2 in a
small  kitchen-type  laboratory  in  1999.  Another  Member  State  reported  one  case  of
international trafficking involving one Member State.

One Member States reported on a small seizure of TMA-2. This seizure related to the
seized kitchen-type facility mentioned in 5.3. In addition TMA-2 has been identified
in four other Member States. The latest finding of TMA-2 was in 2002.

At  present  there  are  a  few  animal  and  no  human  data  concerning  general  toxicity,
reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity or the mutagenicity and carcinogenic potential of
TMA-2.

There is currently no evidence of negative social consequences nor is there specific
evidence on the consequences of the use of TMA-2 that could be linked to disorderly
conduct, acquisitive crime or violence.

Basing  itself  solely  on  the  risk  assessment  report  on  TMA-2  and  the  principle  of
proportionality,  the  Commission  concludes  that  it  is  not  appropriate  to  present  an
initiative to the Council to propose that TMA-2 be submitted to control measures at
the EU level, as provided for by  Article 5(1) of the Joint Action on  New Synthetic
Drugs. But the Commission will encourage the EMCDDA and Europol to continue
monitoring trends in recreational use of TMA-2 as part of the early warning system
provided for in the Joint Action, and  to  inform the Horizontal  Drugs Group should
they find new elements, particularly evidence of a threat to public health or a social
risk.

3

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL

Called for by the Joint Action on New Synthetic Drugs (97/396/JAI) concerning 2C-I

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

5.1.

5.2.

5.3.

On the 8th of April 2003 the European Commission received from the EMCDDA the
report  on  the  risk  assessment  of  2C-I  (2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenethylamine).  The
report  is  called:  “Report  on  the  Risk  Assessment  of  2C-I  in  the  Framework  of  the
Joint  Action on  New  Synthetic  Drugs”.  The  risk  assessment  report  was  established
following  a  meeting  from  31  March  2003  to  1  April  2003  of  the  Scientific
Committee  of  the  EMCDDA  and  experts  nominated  by  the  Member  States,
representatives of the Commission, Europol and the EMEA. The risk assessment was
requested by the Horizontal Drugs Group of 12 December 2002, in the framework of
the  Joint  Action  on  New  Synthetic  Drugs  of  16  June  1997.  2C-I  was  officially
notified as a new synthetic drug under Article 3 of the Joint Action on New Synthetic
Drugs in May 2002.

Article  5  of  the  Joint  Action  states  that  following  the  establishment  of  the  report
there can either be an initiative presented to the Council within a month to make the
new synthetic drug subject  to  measures  of  control,  or  "if  the  Commission  deems  it
not  necessary  to  present  an  initiative  it  shall  present  a  report  to  the  Council
explaining its views".

Article  1  of  the  Joint  Action  states  that  the  Joint  Action  “aims  at  the  creation  of  a
mechanism  for  rapid  exchange  of  information  on  new  synthetic  drugs  and  the
assessment of their risks in order to permit the application of the measures of control
on  psychotropic  substances,  applicable  in  the  Member  States,  equally  to  new
synthetic drugs”.

Art 4 (1) of the Joint Action states that “at the request of one of the Member States or
the Commission, the EMCDDA shall convene a special meeting under the auspices
of the Scientific Committee extended with experts nominated by the Member States
and to which representatives of the Commission, the EDU and the European Agency
for  the  Evaluation  of  Medicinal  Products  shall  be  invited.  This  committee  shall
assess the possible risks, including the health and social risks, caused by the use of,
and traffic in, new synthetic drugs, and possible consequences of prohibition”.

The  Commission  has  considered  the  conclusions  of  the  report  and  notes  the
following:

The synthesis of 2C-I is described in the book “PIHKAL” by the American chemist
Shulgin. The method is extensive, requiring specialist equipment and an appropriate
environment. At present 2C-I has no medical or industrial use.

There have been no reported deaths or instances of non-fatal intoxication involving
2C-I.

There  is  no  information  available  that  would  suggest  large-scale  production,
distribution  of,  and/  or  trafficking  in  2C-I  or  a  role  of  organised  crime  in  these
activities. Two Member States reported both on one case in 1999 of the production of
limited quantities of 2C-I in small kitchen-type laboratories.

4

5.4.

5.5.

5.6.

6.

Four  Member  States  reported  on  seizures  of  2C-I,  which  were  very  small,  both  in
terms of numbers and seized quantities.  Two  of these seizures related to the seized
kitchen-type facilities referred to in 5.4. The last seizure took place in 2002.

At  present  there  are  no  animal  or  human  data  concerning  general  toxicity,
reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity or the mutagenicity and carcinogenic potential of
2C-I.

There is currently no evidence of negative social consequences nor is there specific
evidence  on the  consequences  of the use  of 2C-I  that could be  linked  to  disorderly
conduct, acquisitive crime or violence.

Basing  itself  solely  on  the  risk  assessment  report  on  2C-I  and  the  principle  of
proportionality,  the  Commission  concludes  that  it  is  not  appropriate  to  present  an
initiative to the Council to propose that 2C-I be submitted to control measures at the
EU  level,  as  provided  for  by  Article  5(1)  of  the  Joint  Action  on  New  Synthetic
Drugs. But the Commission will encourage the EMCDDA and Europol to continue
monitoring  trends  in  recreational  use  of  2C-I  as  part  of  the  early  warning  system
provided for in the Joint Action, and  to  inform the Horizontal  Drugs Group should
they  find  new  elements,  particularly  evidence  of  a  threat  to  public  health  or  of  a
social risk.

5

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL

Called for by the Joint Action on New Synthetic Drugs (97/396/JAI) concerning 2C-T-2

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

5.1.

5.2.

5.3.

On the 8th of April 2003, the European Commission received from the EMCDDA the
report on the risk assessment of 2C-T-2 (2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylthiophenethylamine).
The report is called: “Report on the Risk Assessment of 2C-T-2 in the Framework of
the  Joint  Action  on  New  Synthetic  Drugs”.  The  risk  assessment  report  was
established  following  a  meeting  from  31  March  to  1  April  of  the  Scientific
Committee  of  the  EMCDDA  and  experts  nominated  by  the  Member  States,
representatives of the Commission, Europol and the EMEA. The risk assessment was
requested by the Horizontal Drugs Group of 12 December 2002, in the framework of
the  Joint  Action  on  New  Synthetic  Drugs  of  16  June  1997.  2C-T-2  was  officially
notified as a new synthetic drug under Article 3 of the Joint Action on New Synthetic
Drugs on three occasions: March 1998, January 1999 and September 2002.

Article  5  of  the  Joint  Action  states  that  following  the  establishment  of  the  report
there can either be an initiative presented to the Council within a month to make the
new synthetic drug subject  to  measures  of  control,  or  "if  the  Commission  deems  it
not  necessary  to  present  an  initiative  it  shall  present  a  report  to  the  Council
explaining its views".

Article  1  of  the  Joint  Action  states  that  the  Joint  Action  “aims  at  the  creation  of  a
mechanism  for  rapid  exchange  of  information  on  new  synthetic  drugs  and  the
assessment of their risks in order to permit the application of the measures of control
on  psychotropic  substances,  applicable  in  the  Member  States,  equally  to  new
synthetic drugs”.

Art 4 (1) of the Joint Action states that “at the request of one of the Member States or
the Commission, the EMCDDA shall convene a special meeting under the auspices
of the Scientific Committee extended with experts nominated by the Member States
and to which representatives of the Commission, the EDU and the European Agency
for  the  Evaluation  of  Medicinal  Products  shall  be  invited.  This  committee  shall
assess the possible risks, including the health and social risks, caused by the use of,
and traffic in, new synthetic drugs, and possible consequences of prohibition”.

The  Commission  has  considered  the  conclusions  of  the  report  and  notes  the
following:

The  synthesis  of  2C-T-2  is  described  in  the  book  “PIHKAL”  by  the  American
chemist  Shulgin.  The  method  requires  specialist  equipment  and  an  appropriate
environment. At present, 2C-T-2 has no medical or industrial use.

2C-T-2  has  not  been  associated  with  any  deaths  or  instances  of  non-fatal
intoxication.

No  Member  State  has  information  that  suggests  large-scale  production  and
distribution  of,  and/  or  trafficking  in  2C-T-2  or  a  role  of  organised  crime  in  these
activities.  One  Member  State  reported  incidental,  small-scale  production  of  2C-T-2

6

5.4.

5.5.

5.6.

6.

in a small kitchen-type laboratory in 1999. One Member State reported in the case of
international trafficking through the mail system.

Five Member States reported on seizures of 2C-T-2, which were small, both in terms
of numbers and in seized quantities. The last seizures took place in 2001. In addition,
2C-T-2 had been identified in one other Member State in 2002.

At  present  there  are  no  animal  or  human  data  concerning  general  toxicity,
reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity or the mutagenicity and carcinogenic potential of
2C-T-2.

There is currently no evidence of negative social consequences nor is there specific
evidence on the consequences of the use of 2C-T-2 that could be linked to disorderly
conduct, acquisitive crime or violence.

Basing  itself  solely  on  the  risk  assessment  report  on  2C-T-2  and  the  principle  of
proportionality,  the  Commission  concludes  that  it  is  not  appropriate  to  present  an
initiative to the Council to propose that 2C-T-2 be submitted to control measures at
the EU level, as provided for by  Article 5(1) of the Joint Action on  New Synthetic
Drugs. But the Commission will encourage the EMCDDA and Europol to continue
monitoring trends in recreational use of 2C-T-2 as part of the early warning system
provided for in the Joint Action, and to  inform the Horizontal Drugs Group should
they find new elements, particularly evidence of a threat to public health or a social
risks.

7

REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL

Called for by the Joint Action on New Synthetic Drugs (97/396/JAI) concerning 2C-T-7

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

5.1.

5.2.

5.3.

of 

on 

the 

risk 

2C-T-7 

assessment 

On the 8th of April 2003 the European Commission received from the EMCDDA the
report 
(2,5-dimethoxy-4-
propylthiophenethylamine). The report is called: “Report on the Risk Assessment of
2C-T-7  in  the  Framework  of  the  Joint  Action  on  New  Synthetic  Drugs”.  The  risk
assessment report was established following a meeting from 31 March to 1 April of
the  Scientific  Committee  of  the  EMCDDA  and  experts  nominated  by  the  Member
States,  representatives  of  the  Commission,  Europol  and  the  EMEA.  The  risk
assessment was requested by the Horizontal Drugs Group of 12 December 2002, in
the framework of the Joint Action on New Synthetic Drugs of 16 June 1997. 2C-T-7
was officially notified as a new synthetic drug under Article 3 of the Joint Action on
New Synthetic Drugs in February 2001.

Article  5  of  the  Joint  Action  states  that  following  the  establishment  of  the  report
there can either be an initiative presented to the Council within a month to make the
new synthetic drug subject  to  measures  of  control,  or  "if  the  Commission  deems  it
not  necessary  to  present  an  initiative  it  shall  present  a  report  to  the  Council
explaining its views".

Article  1  of  the  Joint  Action  states  that  the  Joint  Action  “aims  at  the  creation  of  a
mechanism  for  rapid  exchange  of  information  on  new  synthetic  drugs  and  the
assessment of their risks in order to permit the application of the measures of control
on  psychotropic  substances,  applicable  in  the  Member  States,  equally  to  new
synthetic drugs”.

Art 4 (1) of the Joint Action states that “at the request of one of the Member States or
the Commission, the EMCDDA shall convene a special meeting under the auspices
of the Scientific Committee extended with experts nominated by the Member States
and to which representatives of the Commission, the EDU and the European Agency
for  the  Evaluation  of  Medicinal  Products  shall  be  invited.  This  committee  shall
assess the possible risks, including the health and social risks, caused by the use of,
and traffic in, new synthetic drugs, and possible consequences of prohibition”.

The  Commission  has  considered  the  conclusions  of  the  report  and  notes  the
following:

2C-T-7 is thought to be first synthesised in 1986 by the American chemist Shulgin,
who  described  the  synthesis  protocol  in  the  book  “PIHKAL”.  The  method  is
extensive, requiring specialist equipment and an appropriate environment. At present
2C-T-7 has no medical or industrial use.

There has been one death in which the involvement of 2C-T-7 has been confirmed in
the  USA;  there  have  been  no  reported  fatalities  in  Europe.  There  have  been  no
confirmed cases of non-fatal intoxication.

No  Member  State  has  information  that  suggests  large-scale  production  and
distribution  of,  and/  or  trafficking  in  2C-T-7  or  a  role  of  organised  crime  in  these

8

5.4.

5.5.

5.6.

6.

activities.  One  Member  State  reported  incidental,  small-scale  production  of  2C-T-7
in a small kitchen-type laboratory in 1999.

Four Member States reported on seizures of 2C-T-7, which were very small, both in
terms of numbers and quantities seized. The seizures in one of these Member State
related  to  the  seized  kitchen-type  laboratories  referred  to  in  5.3.  The  last  seizure
recorded took place in 2001. Two other Member States identified 2C-T-7 in the year
2000.

At  present  there  are  no  animal  or  human  data  concerning  general  toxicity,
reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity or the mutagenicity and carcinogenic potential of
2C-T-7.

There is currently no evidence of negative social consequences nor is there specific
evidence on the consequences of the use of 2C-T-7 that could be linked to disorderly
conduct, acquisitive crime or violence.

Basing  itself  solely  on  the  risk  assessment  report  on  2C-T-7  and  the  principle  of
proportionality,  the  Commission  concludes  that  it  is  not  appropriate  to  present  an
initiative to the Council to propose that 2C-T-7 be submitted to control measures at
the EU level, as provided for by  Article 5(1) of the Joint Action on  New Synthetic
Drugs. But the Commission will encourage the EMCDDA and Europol to continue
monitoring trends in recreational use of 2C-T-7 as part of the early warning system
provided for in the Joint Action, and to  inform the Horizontal Drugs Group should
they find new elements, particularly evidence of a threat to public health or a social
risk.

9