INCB AT A GLANCE

The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) was established by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961 as an independent, quasi-judicial expert body. Its mandates were expanded by the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances and the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988 .

Members of the Board are elected by the Economic and Social Council. INCB members serve impartially in their personal capac­ity, independently of governments. The INCB President is elected by the Board for a period of one year.

The mandate of INCB is to endeavour to limit the cultivation, production, manufacture and use of drugs to an adequate amount required for medical and scientific purposes, to ensure their availability for such purposes and to prevent illicit cultivation, production and manufacture of, and illicit trafficking in and use of, drugs.

The Conventions recognize there are psychoactive substances with legitimate scientific and medicinal uses that must be protected, but that the abuse of such substances gives rise to public health, social and economic problems. About 250 substances are controlled under the conventions.

States that become parties to the conventions are obliged to adopt appropriate legis­lation, introduce the necessary administrative and enforcement measures and cooperate with international drug control agencies and with other states parties to the conventions.

The INCB holds three sessions every year . It publishes an annual report and reports on narcotic drugs , psychotropic substances and precursors .

INCB's core activities are: analyzing treaty-mandated reports and other information provided by governments, evaluating and supporting national drug control efforts, dialogue with governments. For more details of the INCB mandate, see http://www.incb/mandate.html or download the latest INCB Brochure .