Regulation of HHC derivatives passed the House

The amendment is a response to the ban on the sale of products containing HHC, THCP and HHC-O, which has been in effect since March. Sellers reacted to it by replacing banned substances with derivatives. Their rapid regulation is to be ensured by this amendment, which introduces the category of psychomodulating substances. According to the proponents, these are now in the so-called gray zone and are not registered either as food or as a dietary supplement, and their regulation is difficult because they are sold as collectibles.

While their sale is now unrestricted, according to the amendment, their controlled sale should be allowed to adults in brick-and-mortar stores. A ban on advertising will also apply to these substances.

The inclusion in the list of psychomodulating substances would be decided by the government based on the proposal of the Ministry of Health and the State Health Institute (SZÚ).

Dispute over restaurant inspections

Part of the amendment is also a change regarding the control of meals in restaurants, which passes into the hands of the State Agricultural and Food Inspection (SZPI). Until now, supervision was also carried out by the hygiene department. This change was criticized by some members of the ANO movement and a larger part of the debate was devoted to it.

They were particularly bothered by the fact that the change is, like a sticker, part of the amendment on addictive substances, with which, according to them, it is not related, it is presented in the form of a parliamentary amendment proposal and they were not familiar with it. ANO and SPD therefore tried to return the material to the second reading.

On the other hand, Minister of Agriculture Marek Výborný (KDU-ČSL) drew attention to the existing duality of restaurant inspections by regional hygienists and SZPI, who reminded that so-called closed catering, such as school canteens or catering in hospitals or social institutions, will remain the responsibility of hygiene stations.

The change was also defended by the Minister of Health Vlastimil Válek (TOP 09), who reminded that the change leading to the elimination of the long-standing double-tracking of controls was already being prepared in the last election period.