Crews of international airliners are now allowed to transport psychotropic substances without a license.

According to the amendments, the storage, transportation, acquisition, and medical use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances on international flights will be permitted without a license, provided that this is provided for by international treaties of the Russian Federation and other regulatory legal acts. This measure also applies to foreign vessels calling at Russian ports, navigating inland waterways, or engaging in international travel (airplanes, trains).

The import (export) of substances, as well as substances in the form of medicinal products for personal use for medical indications (subject to the availability of supporting documents), included in Lists II and III of the list of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and their precursors subject to control in the Russian Federation, will be carried out in accordance with the law of the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as the legislation of the Russian Federation.

Furthermore, paragraph 8 of Article 31, which stipulated that a permit for the medical use of psychotropic and narcotic substances must specify a specific person, as well as the conditions for obtaining, registering, storing, dispensing, and submitting reports on use, was removed from the law. Roszdravnadzor and agencies responsible for combating the illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances will oversee the use of such substances, as is the case under the current legislation.

The explanatory note noted that the initiative was developed following an analysis by the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy of the drafting of bylaws necessary for the implementation of Federal Law No. 135-FZ "On Amendments to Article 31 of the Federal Law 'On the Fundamentals of Health Protection of Citizens in the Russian Federation' (regarding first aid)." It was determined that it was impossible to approve requirements for first aid kits on board ships without amending the Law on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. A first aid kit must contain medications such as morphine and diazepam, which, according to the provisions of this law, requires a license.

In 2024, adjustments were made to the contents of first aid kits for drivers , police officers, and FSIN officials, as well as kits for providing first aid in the workplace and for preventing parenteral infections in medical workers.

In February 2025, Roszdravnadzor summarized the results of its 2024 regulatory and supervisory activities in the area of ​​narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their precursors, as well as the cultivation of narcotic plants. The agency reported 530 inspections (528 of which were on-site and two were documentary) involving 434 organizations involved in the circulation of these products. Ultimately, the regulator identified 491 violations of established circulation requirements.

UPDATE: The March 13, 2025, news report about Federation Council senators submitting a bill amending the law "On Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances" to the State Duma was amended on October 28, 2025, following the law's approval .