On May 15, 2018, the Government issued Decree No.73/2018/ND-CP regulating the list of narcotic substances and pre-substances. The Decree took effect from the date of its promulgation.

Accordingly, Decree No.73/2018/ND-CP stipulates four lists of narcotics substances and pre-substances, specifically as follows:

1. List I: Narcotics are strictly prohibited for use in medicine and social life; the use of these substances in the analysis, testing, scientific research, criminal investigation in accordance with special provisions of the competent authority.
2. List II: Narcotics are restricted to analysis, testing, scientific research, criminal investigation or health care according to regulations of the competent authority.
3. List III: Narcotics used in analysis, testing, scientific research, criminal investigation or in the field of health and veterinary according to regulations of the competent authority.
4. List IV: Pre-substances, including: Pre-substances used for national defense and security purposes, managed and licensed for export or import by the Ministry of Public Security; The pre-substances used in the veterinary field shall be managed and granted import and export permits by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

By issuing a list of narcotic substances and pre-substances, the Government has developed a legal framework for the activities related to these substances to better control and tighten State management work.