Is Phenibut legal in France?
- Legal status
- Phenibut (acide 4-amino-3-phenylbutanoique) was added to the national list of psychotropic substances by the arrete of 9 September 2020 amending the arrete of 22 February 1990; France controls phenibut as a psychotrope (mechanism: substance named on the psychotropes list) under the Code de la sante publique.
- Consequences if caught
- As a listed psychotrope, the production, sale or transfer, acquisition and use of phenibut are prohibited, and online purchase of the 'nootropic' is captured by the ban.
- If prescribed or medical
- Phenibut has no marketed medicinal specialty in France; the ANSM flags its anxiolytic/supplement claims as unfounded, so it is not an authorised medicine despite its psychotrope classification.
- Documentation
- The ANSM states purchase and use of phenibut are now illegal, so travellers cannot treat it as a lawful supplement; any authorised scientific use is left to confirmation.
Drug laws and enforcement change and vary within a country. This is not legal advice. Always confirm with France’s embassy or official drug authority before traveling; penalties can be severe, including imprisonment.
Before you travel
Verify current rules with the destination country’s official drug authority and your own country’s embassy before traveling. Find the destination’s U.S. embassy & official country guidance →
Non-U.S. travelers: check your own government’s travel advisory and embassy.
If you’re detained or arrested abroad
Contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in the destination immediately — not the destination’s authorities. U.S. citizens: contact the nearest U.S. embassy/consulate and the U.S. State Department at +1-202-501-4444 (from abroad). If a U.S. citizen is arrested or detained abroad →