Taipei: Two more precursors used to produce the anesthetic etomidate, commonly found in electronic cigarettes known as "zombie vapes," have been designated Category 4 controlled substances amid growing public safety concerns, an official said Wednesday.
According to Focus Taiwan, the designation of ethyl N-formyl-N-(1-phenylethyl)glycinate and etomidate acid as Category 4 controlled drug ingredients took effect Tuesday, as stated by Chang Chih-hsu, deputy head of the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration's (TFDA) Division of Controlled Drugs. Institutions possessing these substances are now required to obtain a registration license, keep daily inventory records, and submit regular reports, Chang informed CNA.
Researchers intending to use the substances must seek TFDA approval, and their import, export, manufacture, purchase, sale, and use are now under strict regulation. Previously, two other etomidate precursors, ethyl 1H-imidazole-5-carboxylate and 2-mercaptoetomidate, were already categorized as Category 4 controlled substances.
This governmental action follows a noticeable increase in the usage of etomidate-laced "zombie vapes" in Taiwan, leading to significant public health and safety concerns. The anesthetic effects of the drug, which can result in blackouts and involuntary muscle movements, pose a risk to drivers and have been implicated in multiple fatal traffic incidents.
Government data indicates that the number of illicit etomidate cases in Taiwan escalated dramatically from 22 in 2023, when the substance was initially detected locally, to 2,779 in 2024, reaching 20,727 in 2025. In the first half of 2026 alone, 13,879 cases were reported. Taiwan initially classified etomidate as a Category 4 controlled drug in 2024, later upgrading it to a Category 1 illicit drug in June 2026.