Tengrinews.kz — From October 27, Kazakhstan will change the procedure for removing certain medicines from special control. The changes concern medicines containing small amounts of narcotic and psychotropic substances, as well as precursors.
Which medicines will be affected
The relevant government resolution was signed by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on October 13, 2026. The document was published on the government website on October 19.
The new rules set out the conditions under which medicines containing small amounts of controlled substances may be exempted from special control and specify who will make such decisions.
The rules apply to medicines containing small quantities of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances or precursors.
The new rules establish two main conditions for removing a medicine from special control:
- The amount of the controlled substance must be low enough for the medicine not to pose a significant risk of abuse.
- It must not be possible to easily extract a dangerous amount of the controlled substance from the medicine. A low concentration alone does not mean the medicine will automatically be removed from control.
Which substances are listed in the document
The appendix to the rules lists controlled substances and the maximum permitted amounts in medicines.
The list includes:
- Codeine — a substance used in some painkillers and cough medicines.
- Dextromethorphan — a cough suppressant.
- Phenobarbital — a substance with anticonvulsant and sedative effects.
- Ephedrine and pseudoephedrine — substances used in some medicines, including those for relieving nasal congestion.
- Pholcodine — a cough suppressant.
- Ergotamine — a substance used to treat certain types of headache.
- The list also includes dextropropoxyphene and ephedra herb.
The document sets specific limits for controlled substances per single dose and per package.
For example, for measured-dose medicines, the following limits are established:
- codeine — no more than 10 milligrams per dose and 200 milligrams per package;
- phenobarbital — no more than 20 milligrams per dose and 750 milligrams per package;
- pseudoephedrine hydrochloride — no more than 15 milligrams per dose and 150 milligrams per package.
Separate limits apply to liquid dosage forms, including syrups and drops.
At the same time, the new rules do not mean that the medicines listed in the document will automatically become available for unrestricted sale.
They establish how experts and the authorized state body will determine whether a particular medicine can be removed from special control.
Even if a medicine is exempted from this regime, other legal requirements will continue to apply, including rules on registration, safety and dispensing.
Therefore, the conditions for purchasing a particular medicine will still depend on its registration status and the applicable dispensing rules.
How medicines will be assessed
Under the new rules, medicines will be assessed by the state expert organization responsible for the circulation of medicines.
The assessment will be carried out during state registration of a medicine, re-registration or amendments to its registration documents.
Experts will examine the medicine’s composition, the amount of controlled substances, dosage, concentration and dosage form.
They must also assess its effects on the human body, the risk of abuse and whether controlled substances can be extracted from the medicine.
The assessment will take into account recommendations from the World Health Organization, materials from the International Narcotics Control Board, information from foreign regulators and scientific publications.
How long will the decision take
After completing the assessment, the organization must submit its conclusion to the state authority within seven working days on whether the medicine may be removed from special control.
The final decision will be made by the authorized state body responsible for the circulation of medicines.
If a medicine meets the established requirements, it may be included in the list of medicines not subject to special control.
The new rules will take effect on October 27, 2026.
Context
The rules are changing amid continued controls over medicines containing psychotropic and potent substances. In 2023, Tramadol was added to the list of narcotic substances and is now dispensed only by prescription and only through licensed pharmacies. In 2025, the Interior Ministry warned about liability for selling the medicine without a prescription.
In September 2026, more than 1,500 pharmacies and medical institutions were inspected as part of Operation Dármek. According to the Interior Ministry, 249 administrative offenses were identified and the circulation of 28,000 medicines containing narcotic substances was restricted.
