REPORT OF THE INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL BOARD FOR 1999

E/INCB/1999/1 UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No. E.00.XI.1 ISBN 92-1-148123-6 ISSN 0257-3717

Contents

Foreword

Chapter

1. Freedom from pain and suffering (PDF)
   1. Ensuring an adequate supply of controlled drugs for medical purposes: a principal objective of the international drug control treaties
   2. Progress and constraints
   3. Concern over the continuing excessive availability of psychotropic substances
   4. Conclusion
      
      
2. Operation of the international drug control system (PDF)
   1. Status of adherence to the international drug control treaties
   2. Cooperation with Governments
   3. Control measures
   4. Ensuring the availability of drugs for medical purposes
   5. Measures to ensure the execution by Governments of the provisions of the 1961 Convention and the 1971 Convention
   6. Drug injection rooms
      
      
3. Analysis of the world situation (PDF)
   1. Africa
   2. Americas
   3. Asia
   4. Europe
   5. Oceania

Annexes (PDF)

1. Regional groupings used in the report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1999
2. Current membership of the International Narcotics Control Board

Table. Production of opiate raw materials, consumption of opiates and balance between the two, 1986-2000

EXPLANATORY NOTES

The following abbreviations have been used in this report:

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of anycountry, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

Countries and areas are referred to by the names that were in official use at the time the relevant data were collected.

Foreword

The International Narcotics Control Board is the successor to the drug control bodies, the first of which was established by international treaty over 70 years ago. Aseries of treaties confer on the Board specific responsibilities. TheBoardendeavours“tolimit the cultivation, production, manufacture anduse of drugs to an adequate amountrequired for medical and scientific purposes”, “to ensure their availability for such purposes” and “to prevent illicit cultivation, production and manufacture of, and illicit traffic in and use of, drugs”, in accordance with article 9 of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as amended by the 1972 Protocol. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Board acts in cooperation with Governments and maintains a continuing dialogue with them to further the aims of the treaties. That dialogue is pursued through periodic consultations and through special missions arranged in agreement with the Governments concerned.

The Board consists of 13 members whoare elected by the Economic and Social Council and who serve in their personal capacity, not as government representatives (see annex II for current membership). Three members with medical, pharmacological or pharmaceutical experience are elected from a list of persons nominated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and 10 members are elected from a list of persons nominated by the Members of the United Nations and by States parties that are not Members of the United Nations, in accordance with article 9 of the 1961 Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol. Members of the Board are persons who, by their competence, impartiality and disinterestedness, command general confidence. The Council, in consultation with the Board, makes all arrangements necessary to ensure the full technical independence of the Board in carrying out its functions. Revised administrative arrangements prepared on behalf of the Secretary-General by the Executive Director of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) in agreement with the Board were approved by the Council in its resolution 1991/48.

The Board collaborates with UNDCP, of which its secretariat forms a part, and with other international bodies concerned with drug control, including not only the Council and its Commission on Narcotic Drugs, but also the relevant specialized agencies of the United Nations, particularly WHO.It also cooperates with bodies outside the United Nations system, especially the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and the Customs Co-operation Council (also called the World Customs Organization).

The international drug control treaties require the Board to prepare an annual report on its work. The annual report contains an analysis of the drug control situation worldwide, so that Governments are kept aware of existing and potential situations that mayendanger the objectives of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, that Convention as amended by the 1972 Protocol, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances of 1971 and the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988. The Board draws the attention of Governments to gaps and weaknessesin national control and in treaty compliance; it also makessuggestions and recommendations for improvements at both the national and international levels. The conventions envisage special measures available to the Board to ensure the execution of their provisions.

The annual report of the Board is supplemented by detailed technical reports. They contain data on the licit movement of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances required for medical and scientific purposes, together with the Board’s analysis of those data. Those data are required for the proper functioning of the system of control over the licit movement of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Moreover, under the provisions of article 12 of the 1988 Convention, the Board reports annually to the Commission on Narcotic Drugs on the implementation of that article. That report is also published as a supplement to the annual report.

The Board assists national administrations in meeting their obligations under the conventions. To that end, it proposes and participates in regional training seminars and programmes for drug control administrators.

The work of the Board is continuously expanding as a result of the implementation by Governments of voluntary measures to tighten the control of psychotropic substances; the growing number of substances placed under international control; the additional responsibilities assigned to the Board under the 1988 Convention; and the imperative need to study on site situations that could endanger the attainment of the aims of the international drug control treaties and to maintain a continuous dialogue with Governments in order to promote measures to prevent illicit drug production, trafficking and abuse.

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