International Narcotics Control Board participates in the
sixty-eighth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs
VIENNA, 14 March - The President of the International Narcotics Control Board participated in the sixty-eighth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which took place from 10 to 14 March 2025.
At the opening of the session on 10 March, the INCB President, Prof. Jallal Toufiq, highlighted two critical drug control challenges for which continued international cooperation is essential: the rapid proliferation of synthetic drugs and persistent disparities in availability of controlled medicines.
The grave public health threat posed by the rapid proliferation of synthetic drugs is the focus of the thematic chapter of the INCB 2024 Annual Report launched on 4 March. To address this challenge, INCB is calling for a comprehensive, coordinated strategy to counter illicit synthetic drug manufacture, trafficking and consumption.
The INCB President highlighted support provided by the INCB GRIDS and precursor control programmes to Governments in addressing this urgent challenge. This included, for 2024, the assessment of two fentanyl precursors and 16 ATS precursors for international control, the monitoring of nearly 28,000 shipments of 32,000 tons and 5 billion litres of controlled precursor chemicals, tracking of over 700 shipments of more than 136,000 tons and 3 million litres of internationally non-controlled precursor chemicals, the prevention of diversion of 2,600 tons and half a million litres of precursor chemicals, processing of nearly 25,000 incidents involving 850 unique new psychoactive substances in 160 countries, seizures of pharmaceutical preparations through Operations African Star and Zodiac, and operational alerts.
With regard to licit requirements, Prof. Toufiq highlighted that INCB data continues to confirm persistent disparities in the availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical purposes. While the global supply of opiate raw materials is more than sufficient to meet global reported demand for narcotic drugs for medical and scientific purposes, he noted that the estimated requirements submitted by some countries may not accurately reflect actual medical needs. The work of the INCB Learning programme to improve the situation was highlighted, as was the work of the Board in reviewing and approving or establishing over 4,000 estimates annually for more than 1,500 tons of narcotic drugs used in anaesthesia, pain management and opioid agonist therapy, and processing over 4,500 annual assessments and modifications for more than 2,500 tons of psychotropic substances used in the treatment of neurological and mental health conditions and opioid agonist therapy. The INCB President noted that a continuation of these activities was dependent on stable regular and extrabudgetary resources, with significant potential consequences for health and welfare globally.
The INCB President addressed the Commission under agenda item 5 on the implementation of the international drug treaties.
On 11 March, Prof. Toufiq addressed the Commission under Item 5 (b) on challenges and future work of the Commission, the World Health Organization and the International Narcotics Control Board in the review of substances for possible scheduling recommendations, referring to the challenges that non-scheduled chemicals which could be diverted into the illicit manufacture of synthetic drugs, for instance nitazenes precursors, present for scheduling under the 1988 Convention. He noted that traffickers and illicit laboratory operators draw on countless alternative chemicals not under international control for use in illicit drug manufacture. The variety of precursor chemicals increases further when traffickers exploit the chemical diversity of classes of drugs with similar psychoactive effects. To respond to the evolving realities of precursor control, the Board continues to advocate for voluntary initiatives and measures. These include the monitoring of legitimate international trade in non-scheduled chemicals through INCB's PEN Online Light system, operational cooperation and the sharing of actionable information through the INCB PICS system, enhancing domestic controls and engaging industries in identifying and denying suspicious orders and transactions. An INCB Conference Room Paper presents findings, good practices and approaches to successful public private partnerships.
Also on 11 March, the INCB President presented the Board's 2024 Annual Report and Precursors Report to the Commission under agenda item 5 (c) on the work of the Board. Prof. Toufiq drew attention to the thematic chapter of the annual report on scenarios and possible responses to the rapid expansion of synthetic drug manufacture, marketing and consumption. The President also drew attention to, inter alia, the global issue covering issues relating to availability of internationally controlled substances, such as the treatment of opioid use disorder, rational use of psychotropic substances, and access during humanitarian emergencies caused by armed conflict. A further set of global issues aims to assist States in developing a better understanding of the challenges faced by law enforcement authorities in countering the illicit synthetic drugs market. A final global issue looks at falsified pharmaceuticals, in particular contamination with potent opioids or designer benzodiazepines. Further findings and recommendations are contained in the 2024 Annual Report and Precursors Report, available on the INCB web site in all official languages of the United Nations.
The President also addressed the Commission under agenda item 5(d), on international cooperation to ensure the availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes while preventing their diversion. Prof. Toufiq gave an update on INCB data that confirms the persistent disparities in availability of internationally controlled substances for medical purposes, highlighting also the critical challenge of ensuring access to such substances during humanitarian emergencies. Also under item 5 (d), Prof. Toufiq announced the launch of INCB's 2024 technical publications on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
On 12 March, under agenda item 5 (a), Changes in the scope of control of substances, the INCB President presented the Board's proposal to change the way internationally controlled precursors and esters are organized in Table I of the 1988 Convention, which was taken up by the Commission.
INCB participation at side events and engagement with Member States and civil society
INCB was represented at a number of side events by the President of the Board, Prof. Jallal Toufiq, and by Member of the Board Prof. Sevil Atasoy.
On 10 March, the INCB President participated in the high-level side event " The Middle East and the Synthetic Drugs Threat", organized by UNODC with the support of the Governments of Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Libya and Saudi Arabia and the Naif Arab University for Security Sciences.
Also on 10 March, Prof. Atasoy participated in an informal meeting of the UNODC Young Doctors Network on "Access to controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes while preventing diversion and non-medical use".
With INCB having entered into a memorandum of understanding with the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) in 2024, Prof. Atasoy also participated in an IAHPC side event on 10 March on "Improving equitable global availability and affordability of internationally controlled essential medicines in Africa through inter-agency, member state, and civil society collaborations."
On 11 March, Prof. Atasoy gave opening remarks at the side event "Countering illicit manufacturing of synthetic drugs: Follow the equipment - Normative and operational experiences in monitoring the use of specialized equipment," organized by Costa Rica with the support of Belgium, China, the Netherlands, INCB and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Organization of American States.
On 12 March, Prof. Toufiq took part in a side event on "Improving availability of and access to controlled substances for medical purposes and increasing the efficiency of pain relief" organized by the Russian Federation with the support of Belarus, South Africa and UNODC.
Also on 12 March, Prof. Atasoy engaged in the side event "Towards an Informal International Platform: Youth-Focused Drug Abuse Prevention", organized by the Uganda Youth Development Link with the support of Japan.
On 12 March, Prof. Toufiq joined H.E. Mr. Kaifu Atsushi, Permanent Representative of Japan, to ring the peace bell at the Vienna International Centre in a ceremony marking efforts to address drug misuse.
On 13 March, the President of the Board addressed the side event "Advancing the Availability and Access of Controlled Substances for Medical Purposes: Implementing CND Resolution 67/2 to Enhance Children's Quality of Care", organized by Belgium with the support of Australia, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Chile, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, the Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Kingdom.
Also on the topic of availability, on 13 March Prof. Atasoy participated in the side event "Giving Voice to Silent Suffering: Revitalizing the Global Call to Action for Access and Availability of Controlled Substances for Medical and Scientific Purposes", organized by the Union for International Cancer Control with the support of Australia, Belgium, Canada, the Netherlands, UNODC, the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission of the Organization of American States, the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States Commission, the African Palliative Care Association, the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network, the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care, the International Children's Palliative Care Network, Oriella Films, the Palliative Care in Humanitarian Aid Situations and Emergencies, Team Humanity International, the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs and the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance.
On 14 March, Prof. Toufiq opened the side event "International Travellers Carrying Internationally Controlled Substances" organized by INCB with the support of Thailand, the United Kingdom and UNODC.
At the margins of the session, Prof. Toufiq and Prof. Atasoy met with representatives of Member States and international and regional organizations as part of ongoing cooperation to promote implementation of the drug control conventions.
Informal consultations were held with Member States on the supply of opiate raw materials and demand for opiates for 2025.
During the sixth-eighth session of CND, training was provided to competent national authorities on the INCB platforms for the control of precursor chemicals, including PEN Online, PEN Online Light, PICS. Training was also provided on the tools provided under the framework of the INCB Global Rapid Interdiction of Dangerous (GRIDS) Substances Programme, including IONICS, GRIDS Intelligence HD, SNOOP and ELITE.
The INCB GRIDS Programme participated in the side event "Cross-Border Postal Operations: Innovative Solutions to Combat Illicit Drug and Goods Trafficking in Express Consignments", organized by the Universal Postal Union.
On 13 March, the President of the Board held an informal dialogue with the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs, during which he responded to questions from civil society organizations on a range of topics including availability of controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes, the scope of control of substances, INCB country visits, harm reduction, opioid agonist therapy, prevention, use of digital technologies, control of cannabis, and the implementation of the drug control conventions. The dialogue was chaired by Mr. Esteban Wood, Deputy Chairperson of the VNGOC, with the participation of Mr. Matej Košir, Chairperson, and VNGOC members. Professor Toufiq expressed appreciation for the discussion and thanked the civil society representatives for their work to safeguard health and welfare.