Federal Government to introduce short-term ban on synthetic drugs

Selling some synthetic drugs will be illegal around Australia, under a plan announced by the Federal Government today.

Assistant Treasurer David Bradbury says 19 drugs have been banned for up to 120 days, under consumer law.

But Mr Bradbury says New South Wales and the Northern Territory need to update laws to make the drugs illegal substances.

He says if the national poisons schedule was adopted it would allow provide criminal sanctions to be imposed.

"The most effective way is that these drugs be treated as illicit drugs and be subject to law enforcement by proper agencies," he said.

"Of course people involved in their sale and distribution should be the subject of the same criminal sanctions as involved in the sale of cannabis or cocaine."

The substances, which mimic the highs of their illegal counterparts, have been under the spotlight after Sydney teenager Henry Kwan jumped to his death earlier this month after reportedly taking a drug with effects similar to LSD.

Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare says he will introduce legislation to ban the drugs' importation.

Mr Clare says new drugs coming onto the market will be presumed to be illegal until authorities know what they are and clear them as safe and legal.

Mr Clare says he will work with the states to create similar laws for the sale, manufacture and advertising of synthetic drugs, so sellers are forced to get approval before putting them on the market.

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Federal Government to introduce short-term ban on synthetic drugs