INCB convenes expert technical consultation to identify concrete solutions to the challenges posed by the spread of non-scheduled chemicals and designer precursors
VIENNA, 1 July 2021 - The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) held a virtual technical consultation on 28 and 30 June 2021 to advance global understanding of options for addressing the proliferation of non-scheduled chemicals and designer precursors.
In her opening remarks, the INCB President, Ms. Jagjit Pavadia, emphasized that the consultation responded to the increasing calls for a global dialogue on and response to the proliferation of non-scheduled chemicals and precursors with no known legitimate use - called designer precursors - in illicit drug manufacture. This represented the key threat to the functioning of the international precursors control framework, as also reiterated in the recent INCB Annual Reports on Precursors.
Among the nearly 60 participants were members of the INCB Precursors Task Force, as well as representatives from national regulatory and law enforcement entities and international and regional organizations.
In an effort to exchange concrete and practical solutions to this challenge, participants shared relevant national legislative and policy experiences and deliberated on possible global measures and approaches. Experts assessed the viability and applicability of a set of practical solutions presented and acknowledged the need to continue the multi-stakeholder engagement on this topic as a priority issue for the international precursors control system.
The consultation built on a series of policy dialogues led or supported by the Board in recent years, with a view to attaining consensus among countries on the way forward and to continue building momentum for global action. Considering this challenging and complex environment, INCB has also developed several technical resources for competent national authorities to increase their capacity to identify and act on an ever-increasing range of non-scheduled chemicals and assess their associated risks in illicit drug manufacture.
A broader consultation is planned for the third or fourth quarter of this year.