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The Dangerous Drugs Ordinance (Amendment of First and Third Schedules) Order 2012 (the Amendment Order) will come into effect tomorrow (July 14).
A spokesperson for the Security Bureau said today (July 13) that the Amendment Order would subject "gamma-butyrolactone" (GBL), "Salvia divinorum" and its active ingredient, "salvinorin-A", to the same strict control as other dangerous drugs on their trafficking, manufacture, possession, supply, import and export.
The spokesperson said, "Those prosecuted for illicit trafficking and manufacture of these substances are liable to a maximum penalty of a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment. The import and export of these substances, as dangerous drugs, require a licence from the Director of Health.
"As GBL may be used as food flavouring agents, the Amendment Order will provide an exemption for its use at a level reasonably safe for human consumption in food," the spokesperson added.
Ends/Friday, July 13, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:00
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