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28 Aug 2025
1. Etomidate and its analogues will be listed in the First Schedule of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1973 (“MDA”) as Class C controlled drugs from 1 September 2025, for a period of six months. This will allow the Government to impose stiffer, more deterrent penalties for possession, use, importation and trafficking of etomidate-laced e-vaporisers, while the Ministry of Health develops new legislation to more effectively address this scourge.
2. Under the MDA, offenders will face more severe penalties (please see Annex for the penalties). Individuals who are repeat abusers1 of etomidate can be subject to mandatory supervision, as well as rehabilitation and treatment in the Drug Rehabilitation Centre. Those who import, sell or distribute etomidate-laced e-vaporisers will face prosecution.
3. To address the situation more comprehensively, in addition to etomidate, the listing will also include several analogues which have been detected in e-vaporisers in foreign jurisdictions. The full list of drugs to be listed in the First Schedule are:
a) Butyl 1-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (also known as butomidate) and its butyl structural isomers (namely isobutomidate, sec-butomidate and tert-butomidate)
b) Etomidate
c) Isopropyl 1-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (also known as isopropoxate)
d) Metomidate
e) Propyl 1-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (also known as propoxate)
f) 2,2,2-Trifluoroethyl 1-(1-phenylethyl)-1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate (also known as trifluoro-etomidate or TF-etomidate)
1 First time etomidate e-vaporiser abusers will be given mandatory rehabilitation under the Tobacco (Control of Advertisements and Sale) Act.
CENTRAL NARCOTICS BUREAU
28 August 2025
Annex
Penalties under the MDA
| Offence | Penalties |
| Trafficking in a Class C controlled drug | Minimum 2 years and 2 strokes Maximum 10 years and 5 strokes |
| Importation/Exportation of a Class C controlled drug | Minimum 3 years and 5 strokes Maximum 20 years and 15 strokes |
| Possession of a Class C controlled drug | Maximum 10 years or $20,000 or both |
| Consumption* | Minimum 1 year Maximum 10 years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding $20,000 |
| Trafficking of a Class C controlled drug to a young person or vulnerable person | Minimum 4 years and 4 strokes Maximum 20 years and 15 strokes |
| Causing or procuring young person or vulnerable person to commit certain offences | Minimum 4 years and 4 strokes Maximum 20 years and 15 strokes |
| Arranging or planning drug gatherings where a young person or vulnerable person is present | Minimum 5 years and 3 strokes Maximum 20 years and 10 strokes |
*Abusers who deny consumption or have concurrent offences may face prosecution in lieu of rehabilitation.