Is 6-APB legal?

One of the substances that is increasingly becoming a topic of discussion is 6-APB, also known as Benzo Fury. While this substance has long been in a grey area, the new Opium Act, which came into force on 1 July 2025, has changed that. In this blog, we take a closer look at the consequences of this Opium Act on 6-APB.

1 July 2025: 6 APB no longer legal!

We are regularly asked: ‘Is 6-APB still legal?’ The short answer is no, from 1 July 2025, 6-APB will no longer be legally available. 

What does the new Opium Act mean for 6-APB?

Because 6-APB belongs to the phenethylamine group, which is covered by List IA, it will be officially banned as of 1 July 2025. This means that the possession, distribution and production of 6-APB will be punishable by law. The “grey area” has effectively been eliminated. This new approach prevents producers from circumventing the law by making small molecular adjustments. From 1 July 2025, the possession of 6-APB will have legal consequences, ranging from a warning to a criminal record or, in the case of trade, even prison sentences.

What will change on 1 July 2025?

On 1 July 2025, an important change will be implemented: the introduction of List IA within the Dutch Opium Act. Whereas until now only specific substances were banned, this list will make it possible to ban entire groups of substances at once.

The government is focusing on groups such as:

• Phenethylamines (including 6-APB),
• Synthetic cannabinoids,
• And fentanyl-like substances.

Why does this law exist?

With this change, the government wants to respond more quickly and effectively to the emergence of new designer drugs. The old approach, which involved adding substances to the Opium Act individually, proved to be too slow. As a result, risky substances such as 3-MMC or 6-APB could be sold for a long time. The new legislation is intended to better protect people's health and combat the criminal production of these substances. Be sure to read this article on rijksoverheid.nl for more information.

What exactly is 6-APB?

6-APB is a synthetic substance that has entactogenic properties, which means that it is capable of evoking feelings of connectedness, empathy and euphoria. The effects are similar to those of MDMA, but the chemical profile is so different that for years it was not covered by the current lists of the Opium Act. This made the substance (provided it was not offered for human consumption) legally available in the Netherlands.

How does Funcaps deal with this?

At Funcaps, we take responsibility for sharing up-to-date and honest information about the substances we offer. That is why, as of 1 July 2025, we have stopped offering 6-APB and other products that will fall under the new List IA. Our focus is on legal alternatives, education and transparent communication.

The introduction of the amendment to the Opium Act on 1 July 2025 has meant a change in the availability of research chemicals in the Netherlands. 6-APB will be banned from 1 July 2025, as will many other substances in the same chemical family.