These Regulations amend the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (S.I. 2001/3998) (“the 2001 Regulations”).
Regulation 2(2) removes regulation 4B of the 2001 Regulations, that made it lawful to import, export, produce, supply, offer to supply or possess Gamma–butyrolactone (GBL) and 1,4–Butanediol (1,4-BD) in certain circumstances.
Regulation 2(3) adds 1,4-Butanediol (1,4-BD) and Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) to Schedule 1 to the 2001 Regulations. The Schedule in which a controlled drug is placed affects the extent to which the drug can be lawfully imported, exported, produced, supplied or possessed. The controlled drugs placed in Schedule 1 to the 2001 Regulations are those subject to the tightest controls, requiring a Home Office licence in order to access such drugs.
Source: HMSO.