Mission to India
An INCB mission visited India from 13 to 17 December 2010. The mission was conducted by Professor Sri Suryawati, Second Vice-President of INCB and Chairperson of the Board's Standing Committee on Estimates, accompanied by Mr. Pavel Pachta, Deputy Secretary of the Board. The last mission to India took place in 2003.
The purpose of the mission was to review the drug control situation in India and to discuss with the Government the experience from the implementation of the international drug control treaties to which India is a party. Deliberations focused on the control of licit production of opiate raw materials in India, measures to ensure availability of opioid analgesics for the treatment of moderate to severe pain, control of psychotropic substances including submission of statistical reports to INCB, emerging trends in the illicit traffic and abuse of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and the control of precursor chemicals.
The mission met with the Revenue Secretary, Ministry of Finance, the Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, the Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, the Director General of the Narcotics Control Bureau, the Narcotics Commissioner of India, the Drugs Controller of India, the Chief Controller of Factories as well as other senior officials of the Government of India. The mission also had meetings with the UNODC Representative for South Asia, the WHO Representative to India and met with representatives of several non-governmental organizations active in the area of palliative care and in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug addicts. In addition to meetings in Delhi, the mission visited the Headquarters of the Central Bureau of Narcotics in Gwalior and the Government Opium and Alkaloid Works in Neemuch.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its February session in 2011 and will be reflected in the 2011 INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2012.
Mission to Myanmar
An INCB mission visited Myanmar from 6 to 8 December 2010. The mission was conducted by Dr. Naidoo Lochan, member of INCB, accompanied by Mrs. Li-Qin Zhu, Chief of the Convention Evaluation Section of the INCB Secretariat. The last mission to Myanmar took place in 2006.
The objective of the mission was to review the drug control situation in Myanmar and the Government's compliance with the three international drug control conventions to which Myanmar is a party. Deliberations focused on the legislative and administrative measures and policies aimed at addressing the increasing illicit opium poppy cultivation in the country, the emerging challenges with regard to the illicit manufacture of and trafficking in amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS), and issues related to availability of controlled substances for medical purposes.
The mission met with the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, the Deputy Minister for Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs, the Deputy Attorney General, and the Joint Secretary of the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC), as well as senior Government officials from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Home Affairs, Health, Education, Progress of Border Areas and National Races and Development Affairs and Customs. The mission visited the Drug Treatment and Research Unit of the Mental Health Hospital in Yangon, the No (1) Basic Education High School in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar Pharmaceutical Factory in Yangon. The mission also had meetings with UNODC Country Office in Myanmar, the Mini Dublin Group and an NGO involved in programmes for drug abusers and people with HIV/AIDS.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its February session in 2011 and will be reflected in the 2011 INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2012.
Mission to the Czech Republic
An INCB mission visited the Czech Republic on 15, 16 and 18 November 2010 . The last mission of the Board to that country had taken place in 2003. The mission was conducted by Ambassador Melvyn Levitsky, member of the Board, accompanied by Ms. Eva Fernandez Santis, Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat.
The Czech Republic is party to all three main drug control conventions and the purpose of the mission was to review the Government's performance in carrying out its obligations under those conventions.
The mission discussed with the Czech Authorities the legislative and administrative measures and policies aimed at strengthening control for narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and the chemicals used in their illicit manufacture. Among the specific issues tackled were the abuse of cannabis, ATS and buprenorphine; the ATS manufacturing laboratories; the effectiveness of precursor legislation and the control of licit poppy cultivation. The mission also deliberated at length on the implications of the recently adopted legislation regarding the possession, abuse and trafficking of drugs.
The mission met with senior competent authorities including the Deputy-Ministers of Health, Justice and Foreign Affairs and visited a drug treatment facility in the country.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its February session in 2011 and will be reflected in the 2011 INCB Annual Report to be published in early 2012.
Mission to Armenia
An INCB mission visited Armenia from 4 to 6 October 2010. The mission was conducted by Prof. Rajat Ray, member of INCB, accompanied by Mr. Darmen Zhumadil, Associate Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat. The last mission to Armenia took place in 1997.
The objective of the mission was to review the implementation of the three international drug control conventions to which Armenia has been a party. Deliberations focused on the legislative and administrative measures and policies aimed at strengthening control for narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and the chemicals used in their illicit manufacture. The reporting obligations under the international drug control treaties and availability of opiates for medical needs were discussed with the Ministry of Health.
The mission met the Deputy Ministers of the Ministry of Health and of Justice, as well as senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Police of Armenia and Customs Service. The mission also visited the Narcological Clinic of Psychiatric Medical Centre of the Ministry of Health in Yerevan.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its November session in 2010 and will be reflected in the 2010 INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2011.
Mission to Georgia
An INCB mission visited Republic of Georgia from 8 to 10 July 2010. The mission was conducted by Dr. Carola Lander, First Vice-President of the Board, accompanied by Mr. Darmen Zhumadil, Associate Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat.
The objective of the mission was to review the implementation of the three international drug control Conventions to which Georgia fully acceded after the Board's previous visit to the country in 1998. The mission met with the Deputy Minister for Labour, Health and Social Affairs and the Deputy Chief Prosecutor as well as with senior officials of the Office of the Prosecutor General, Border Police and Customs, and of the Ministries of Interior, Justice and Foreign Affairs. Furthermore the mission met with the Deputy Director of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health and with the General Director of the Research Institute on Addiction. Within these two institutions, the mission visited their Detoxification and Rehabilitation Centers, as well as the Center for methadone substitution treatment. The Center of Forensic Examinations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs was also visited.
The discussions focused on recent developments in drug trafficking and abuse in Georgia and the measures taken by the Government to counteract these developments, the status of national legislative and institutional framework for drug control and the reporting obligations under the international drug control treaties. The situation regarding the availability of opioids for medical needs was also discussed.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its November session in 2010 and will be reflected in the 2010 INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2011.
Mission to Azerbaijan
An INCB mission visited Azerbaijan from 5 to 7 July 2010. The mission was conducted by Dr. Carola Lander, First Vice-President of the Board, accompanied by Mr. Darmen Zhumadil, Associate Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat.
The objective of the mission was to review the implementation of the three international drug control Conventions; two of them (1961 and 1971) to which Azerbaijan fully acceded after the Board's previous mission to the country in 1997. The mission met with the Deputy Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Health, Interior, and Justice, as well as with the Deputy General Prosecutor and senior officials of the Office of the Prosecutor General, State Customs Committee, and the State Drug Control Commission. Furthermore the mission visited the Center of Forensic Examinations of the Ministry of Justice, Cinological center of the State Customs Committee and a checkpoint at the Baku airport.
The discussions focused on the status of national legislative and institutional framework for drug control, recent developments in drug trafficking and abuse in Azerbaijan together with the measures taken by the Government to counteract these developments, and the situation regarding availability of opioids for medical needs. The reporting obligations under the international drug control treaties were also discussed.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its November session in 2010 and will be reflected in the 2010 INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2011.
Mission to Gabon
An INCB mission visited Gabon from 27 to 30 June 2010. The mission was conducted by Mr. Raymond Yans, member of the Board, accompanied by Ms. Hanifa Rebbani, Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat. The last mission to Gabon took place in 1998.
The objective of the mission was to review the implementation of the three international drug control Conventions to which Gabon is a party. The discussions focused on the recent developments in drug trafficking and abuse in Gabon, the Government experience in implementing the treaties in particular regarding its reporting obligations to the Board. The availability of opiates for medical needs was also discussed with health officials and recent records on drug trafficking in Gabon were collected.
The mission met the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Health, the Minister of Justice, as well as senior officials of the Anti-Drug Central Office of the Ministry of Interior and the Customs Directorate. Furthermore the mission met leading officials of the Ministry of Health.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its November session in 2010 and will be reflected in the 2010 INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2011.
Mission to Turkmenistan
An INCB mission visited Turkmenistan from 8 to 11 June 2010. The mission was conducted by Dr. Carola Lander, First Vice-President of the Board, accompanied by Mr. Adrian Moicean, Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat. The last INCB mission visited Turkmenistan in 2003.
The objective of the mission was to review the implementation of the three international drug control conventions to which Turkmenistan has been a party since 1996. Deliberations focused on the availability of opiates for medical needs, recent developments in drug trafficking and abuse in Turkmenistan as well as measures taken by the Government to counteract these developments including the relevant amendments of the national legislation.
The mission met the Minister for Health and Medical Industries, the Minister of Justice, the Deputy-Ministers for Internal Affairs and for Foreign Affairs, as well as senior officials of the State Anti-Drug Control Service and the State Customs Service. Furthermore the mission met leading officials of the Ministry of Health and Medical Industries.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its November session in 2010 and will be reflected in the 2010 INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2011.
Mission to Guatemala
A mission visited Guatemala from 26 to 28 May 2010. The mission was conducted by Ambassador Jorge Montaño, member of the Board, accompanied by Mr. Imrich Betko, Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat. The last INCB mission visited Guatemala in 1999.
The mission met with the Vice-Minister for Public Health and Social Assistance with senior officials from other ministries and with government entities involved in the fight against drug abuse and drug trafficking, in particular the Ministry of External Affairs, General Prosecutor Office and the Secretariat of the Commission against Addiction and Illicit of Drug Trafficking (SECCATID). In addition, the mission visited a national drug treatment center located in Guatemala City.
Specific issues discussed included measures to combat trafficking of drug and diversion of ATS precursors, programmes to prevent and treat drug abuse, as well as the availability of narcotic drugs for the treatment of pain.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its November session in 2010 and will be reflected in the 2010 INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2011.
Mission to Croatia
An INCB mission visited Croatia from 17 to 19 May 2010. The mission was conducted by Ambassador Melvyn Levitsky, member of the Board, accompanied by Ms. Melisa Tin Siong Lim, Associate Drug Control Officer of the INCB Secretariat. The last mission of the Board to Croatia took place in 2001.
The objective of the mission was to discuss the implementation of the three international drug control conventions, to which Croatia is a party. The mission met with the Vice Prime Minister, with officials from the ministries of Justice, Health and Social Welfare, Interior, Finance, Science, Education and Sports, Family, Veterans' Affairs and Intergenerational Solidarity, Foreign Affairs and European Integration, as well as with the Office for Combating Drug Abuse and other government authorities involved in drug control.
Specific issues discussed included the situation of drug abuse in Croatia, programmes to prevent and treat drug abuse, and measures to combat drug trafficking, including organized crime and corruption. The mission also visited a drug treatment and rehabilitation facility and a centre that operated a needle-exchange programme, in Zagreb.
The findings of the mission are expected to be reviewed by the Board at its November session in 2010 and will be reflected in the 2010 INCB Annual Report, to be published in early 2011.
Mission to Lebanon
An INCB mission visited Lebanon from 22 to 25 March 2010. The mission was conducted by Dr. Sri Suryawati, member of the Board, accompanied by Ms. Margarethe Ehrenfeldner, Chief, Psychotropics Control Section of the INCB Secretariat. It was for the first time since 1999 that a mission of the Board had visited that country.
Lebanon is party to the three main drug control conventions. The purpose of the mission was to review the implementation of the three international drug control conventions through national policy. Deliberations focussed on the continued cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy in the north-east of the country, recent developments in drug trafficking and abuse in Lebanon, measures taken to control narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and the chemicals needed for their illicit manufacture and demand reduction policies. The availability of opiates for medical needs was also discussed. The mission met with senior officials of the Ministry of Health, Justice, Foreign Affairs, the Lebanese Internal Security Forces, the Judiciary Police including the Drug Enforcement Central Bureau and the Lebanese Customs Authorities. The mission included visits to two centres in Lebanon which provide treatment, counselling and aftercare for drug-dependent patients and a field visit to the areas of illicit cultivation with cannabis which had reportedly been eradicated in 2009.
The findings of the mission will be reviewed by the Board at its next session in May 2010 and will be reflected in the 2010 INCB Annual Report to be published in early 2011.