The Executive Yuan has announced the addition of new psychoactive substances N-Butylpentylone and N-Butylhexedrone as Category three narcotics on July 27 , 2020. The Executive Yuan further announced the listing of Methyl-3-oxo-2-phenylbutyrate, Fluorophenylacetone and Methoxyphenylacetone as precursor ingredients of Category four narcotics on November 16 , 2020. While the aforementioned narcotics have no known medical application, for scientific purposes these substances are classified and listed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) as controlled drugs via announcement of the Executive Yuan on November 16 , 2020.

N-Butylpentylone and N-Butylhexedrone are synthetic cathinones；Methyl-3-oxo-2-phenylbutyrate can be refined into P2P (precursor ingredient for making amphetamine and methamphetamine), while fluorophenylacetone and methoxyphenylacetone can be refined into amphetamine type narcotics like fluoroamphetamine and methoxymethamphetamine. Cathinones and amphetamines are central nervous system stimulants that are highly addictive, and may produce toxicological reactions such as tachycardia, hypertension, hyperpyrexia, hallucination and paranoia.

The Taiwan Food and Drug Administration(TFDA) would like to remind institutions and companies keeping such controlled drugs to apply for controlled drugs registration license as per regulations, and to maintain records of daily increase and decrease of stocks, destruction, loss and inventory of controlled drugs at their business department and report them periodically. Institutions and companies wishing to use the aforementioned substances for medical or educational research must submit an application for use of controlled drugs to the MOHW. To avoid penalties, the application must be approved before the controlled drugs can be used.