The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) announced Monday that it would designate 2-Oxo-PCE as temporary narcotics used illegally as substitutes for drugs.

The ministry introduced “temporary narcotics designation system” in 2011 and had since made 189 types of temporary drugs, and named 96 of them as drugs, including Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), through assessing their dependency and other factors.

2-Oxo-PCE is structurally similar to ketamine and has side effects such as arousal and a sense of relief. Japan has recently prohibited the substance’s sale and possession.

The ministry also renewed its temporary narcotics list on 21 substances, including Escaline, as the drugs had reached its expiration date.

People will receive more than one year in prison for the possession of these illegal drugs, and five years’ imprisonment if they import, manufacture and sell these narcotics.

The ministry said it would help to block the distribution, misuse, and abuse of new illegal drugs through the designation, and cooperate with related agencies such as the prosecution, the police, and the customs office to prevent harms to the public health caused by illegal drugs.