Temporary control of spirochlorphine, spirobrorphine, R 29676

Summary#

This Order temporarily adds the chemical R 29676 and the synthetic opioids spirochlorphine and spirobrorphine to Schedule V of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. The controls run from June 5, 2026 to June 4, 2027 and mean imports, production or sale of these substances generally require licences or permits.

What it does#

• Adds spirochlorphine and spirobrorphine to Part 1 of Schedule V (as controlled substances) from June 5, 2026 to June 4, 2027.
• Adds R 29676 to Part 2, Table 1 of Schedule V as a Class A precursor for the same period. It also adds any preparation or mixture that contains R 29676 to Table 3 for that period.
• Makes those activities (import, export, production, trafficking, sale) illegal without the proper authorizations. People or companies wanting to work with them for legitimate purposes must apply to Health Canada for licences or permits.
• Links the two opioids to drug-regulation lists so they are treated as restricted drugs while the temporary control is in effect. When the new Controlled Substances Regulations take effect on October 1, 2026, the listings will move there.
• The temporary control period is one year (with a possible extension), and offences under the Act can carry penalties up to 10 years (indictable) or up to 18 months (summary conviction).

Who's affected#

• Health Canada and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) — responsible for licences, permits and border enforcement.
• Law enforcement agencies that investigate illegal drug importation and trafficking.
• Researchers, forensic labs and any companies that import or use small amounts of these chemicals as analytical or reference standards. Health Canada’s consultation found a small number of legitimate users — including two companies identified as currently working with these substances.
• Suppliers and importers of chemical shipments that may now need permits and extra record-keeping.
• People involved in illegal production or trafficking — the controls give authorities tools to stop imports and shipments.

Why it matters#

• These measures are aimed at stopping a chemical (R 29676) that can be used to make powerful benzimidazole opioids, and two synthetic opioids (spirochlorphine and spirobrorphine) from entering the illegal market. That can reduce risks of overdoses and wider harms from a changing illegal drug supply.
• For legitimate users (research labs, forensic services, a few companies), the change mostly means extra paperwork: licence and permit applications, record-keeping and possible minor security costs.
• The change is temporary (from June 5, 2026 to June 4, 2027) so Health Canada can gather more information before deciding on longer-term controls.