INCB convenes second expert group meeting on illicit drug manufacturing equipment
VIENNA, 7 May 2021 - INCB held an expert group meeting on 26, 27 and 30 April 2021 to review progress made through multilateral cooperation to prevent and investigate the diversion of equipment used to illicitly manufacture drugs and precursors and to discuss practical tools, approaches and mechanisms. 24 experts from Australia, Canada, China, Germany, India, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, the United States, the World Customs Organization and Europol joined the meeting virtually. Considering the important role of the private sector, a private sector representative also participated in part of the meeting.
The meeting was opened by the Second Vice-President of the International Narcotics Control Board, Ms. Jagjit Pavadia, who highlighted the need for increased mutually beneficial operational cooperation based on the principle of shared responsibility. She also underlined the need for a continued search for new and innovative approaches with a view to improve implementation of article 13 of the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
The constructive and operation-oriented atmosphere of the meeting facilitated the exchange of experiences and practical information among participants. Acknowledging the importance of the principle of shared responsibility and the need to support and promote the design and implementation of voluntary operational initiatives, experts agreed on a course of action in the context of article 13 of the 1988 Convention to enhance operational use of that article and to build global consensus for action in this area.
The meeting was the second INCB expert group meeting on enhancing the operational use of article 13 of the 1988 Convention as a complementary tool in addressing illicit drug manufacture. The Board has stated several times, including in its Precursors Annual Reports, that article 13 of the 1988 Convention offers the ideal normative framework for complementing and strengthening the drug control system in addressing illicit drug manufacture, however, it is currently underutilized.