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Poland mulls banning fly agaric mushrooms

29.10.2024 15:30
Health authorities in Poland are considering banning the sale of fly agaric mushrooms due to health risks, as the country faces a surge in the trade of toxic fungi this season, prompting warnings from health experts.
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Fly agaric mushrooms are known for their psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties.
Fly agaric mushrooms are known for their psychoactive and hallucinogenic properties.Image: Free for use under the Pixabay Content License

The Chief Sanitary Inspectorate has argued that sales of the mushroom should be regulated similarly to new psychoactive substances, or "legal high."

It clarified that no product containing fly agaric is legally registered for sale in Poland, adding that the current trade in these mushrooms exploits a legal loophole.

"A substance contained in the mushroom, known as ibotenic acid, is not yet on the list of prohibited psychoactive substances," Chief Sanitary Inspector Paweł Grzesiowski told public broadcaster Polish Radio.

"This regulatory process is underway, and I hope that within the next two to three months, legislation will be updated to close this loophole and make the product illegal," he added.

Radio Poland's Michał Owczarek has the story.

Click on the audio player above to listen.