In September 2016, the EMCDDA and Europol examined the available information on the new psychoactive substance N-(1-phenethylpiperidin-4-yl)-N-phenylacrylamide, commonly known as acryloylfentanyl, through a joint assessment based upon the following criteria:

1. the amount of the material seized;

2. evidence of organised crime involvement;

3. evidence of international trafficking;

4. analogy with better-studied compounds;

5. evidence of the potential for further (rapid) spread; and,

6. evidence of cases of serious intoxication or fatalities.

The EMCDDA and Europol agreed that the information collected on acryloylfentanyl satisfied criteria 4 and 6. The two agencies therefore concluded that sufficient information had been accumulated to merit the production of a Joint Report on acryloylfentanyl as stipulated by Article 5.1 of the Council Decision.