Ministry of Health Order No. 527 dated April 22, 2026 (as amended by Order No. 617) is aimed at updating the standards that define the quantitative limits of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and precursors in illicit circulation. This document directly affects the qualification of offenses, as it establishes threshold weight values for substances to distinguish between administrative and criminal liability. In particular, oxycodone was officially included in the list of narcotic drugs, with the definition of its small, large, and especially large quantities.
Structurally, the Order consists of a regulatory section approving amendments to the basic Ministry of Health Order No. 188 of 2000, and annexes containing updated tables of limit quantities for substances. The main change consists in supplementing Table 1 with a new row for oxycodone, where the following is established: small quantity β up to 0.075 g, large β from 7.5 to 75 g, especially large β 75 g and more. This update brings subordinate legislation into compliance with the current requirements of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses.
For legal practice and law enforcement activities, the establishment of clear weight criteria for oxycodone is of the utmost importance. These indicators are key for investigators and courts when determining the severity of a crime or offense related to the illicit circulation of the specified substance. The Order entered into force from the moment of its official publication, which makes these norms mandatory for application in all relevant proceedings.
