VIENNA, 13 March – The International Narcotics Control Board participated in the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, which took place at the Vienna International Centre from 9 to 13 March 2025.
At the opening segment on 9 March, the INCB President, Prof. Sevil Atasoy, highlighted three success stories for international cooperation in drug control, which was the focus of the thematic chapter of the INCB 2025 Annual Report launched on 26 February. Firstly, due to the system of estimates and assessments for narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, levels of diversion to illicit channels were very low. Secondly, with regard to the international precursor control system, in March 2025 use of the INCB PEN Online platform prevented the diversion of 3 tons of 1-boc-4-piperidone, a fentanyl precursor that the Commission included in Table I of the 1988 Convention just months earlier. Had the shipment not been stopped, it could have been used to manufacture up to 1.6 billion potentially fatal doses of fentanyl. Thirdly, the INCB GRIDS Programme is strengthening voluntary international cooperation to address trafficking in dangerous non-scheduled substances. Through no-cost access to the IONICS tools, training and international operations, Governments have exchanged information on more than 135,000 seizures, intercepted over 1.5 million lethal doses and deployed cutting-edge technologies to dismantle illicit supply chains. However, the INCB President noted that sustained and predictable resources are necessary to ensure that the international drug control systemestablished by the drug control conventions can continue to safeguard health and welfare worldwide.
The INCB President addressed the Commission under agenda item 5 on the implementation of the international drug control treaties.
On 10 March, Prof. Atasoy 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, reflecting on INCB’s role in assessing and recommending the international control of chemicals. Prof Atasoy noted that the INCB PEN Online Light platform supports the voluntary exchange of information about emerging precursors that could potentially be used in the illicit manufacture of new classes of highly potent drugs.
On 11 March, the INCB President presented the Board’s 2025 Annual Report and Precursors Report to the Commission under agenda item 5 (c) on the work of the Board. Referring to the thematic chapter of the annual report on international cooperation and the role of INCB, Prof. Atasoy stressed that the health and wellbeing of people worldwide continue to be protected by international cooperation through the framework of the drug control conventions. The President also drew attention to the work of the INCB Learning, precursors control and GRIDS programmes. Prof Atasoy referred Member States to the findings and recommendations contained in the 2025 Annual Report and Precursors Report, available on the INCB web site in all official languages of the United Nations. In closing, the INCB President stressed that in promoting a balanced approach to international drug control, and while the conventions provide flexibility in the choice of implementation measures, national systems must ensure that the use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances is limited exclusively to medical and scientific purposes, and that measures take into consideration the principle of proportionality, the rule of law and human rights.
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. Atasoy noted that in the ten years since the 2016 General Assembly special session on the world drug problem, the international community has gained awareness of the importance of ensuring the availability of opioid analgesics and psychotropic substances for pain management, treatment of mental health and neurological conditions, and opioid agonist therapy. However, the President noted with concern that global progress in improving availability is yet to be reflected in data reported to INCB. INCB is supporting Member States through the INCB Learning programme, supplementary reports on availability, trend analysis, and engagement with WHO, UNODC and civil society.
Also under item 5 (d), Prof. Atasoy launched INCB’s 2025 technical publications on narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. The two reports present the latest consolidated global data on the production and use of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes, as well as an overview of global developments based on official government data and projections and INCB trend analysis.
INCB was represented at side events by the President and Members of the Board.
On 9 March, the INCB President participated in the side event “A World That Cares: Urgent Need for Global Collaboration to Relieve Pain and Suffering of Childrenand Vulnerable Populations Through Effective Implementation of Treaties and WHO Guidelines for Safe Access & Availability to Essential Controlled Medicines”, organized by the Union for International Cancer Control.
On 10 March, INCB Member Dr. Galina Korchagina participated in the side event “The Role of Inter-Agency Mobile Groups in Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking”, organized by the Government of Uzbekistan, with the support of the UNODC Regional Office for Afghanistan, Central Asia, Iran and Pakistan.
Also on 10 March, INCB Member Dr. Emmanuel Luyirika represented the Board at the side event "On the Road Towards Building an International Platform: Youth Involvement and Strengthening Drug Prevention Platforms to Address Substance Abuse in Asia and Africa,” organized by the Drug Abuse Prevention Centre of Japan with the support of the Uganda Youth Development Link.
Also on 10 March, INCB Member Ambassador David T. Johnson addressed an information meeting for Member States on Next Generation IDS, a digital transformation initiative which will result in a web portal where Governments can directly submit treaty-mandated information to the Board.
On 11 March, the INCB President addressed the side event “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Production and Trafficking of New Psychoactive Substances”, organized by INCB with the support of the Government of the United Kingdom. The event had the participation of speakers from the United Kingdom, the United States of America, the United States National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, and the INCB GRIDS Programme. In her speech, Prof. Atasoy recognized the need for fit-for-purpose technological systems that strengthen and accelerate cooperation and highlighted INCB initiatives, such as INCB GRIDS Programme intelligence tools.
On 11 March, Dr. Luyirika participated in the side event “Ten Years Since UNGASS: New Tools to Help Member States Implement Their 2016 Outcome Document Commitments on Controlled Medicines”, organized by the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care, with which INCB entered into a cooperation agreement in 2024. The event was supported by the Governments of Belgium, Canada, Ghana and South Africa, INCB, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Knowmad Institut, Pallium India, the Villa Maraini Foundation, Dianova International, the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs, the Union for International Cancer Control and the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance.
On 12 March, Prof. Atasoy addressed the Side event “Public Private Partnerships: A Strategic Approach to Prevent the Diversion of Precursors, Non-Scheduled Chemicals and Specialized Equipment”, organized by Costa Rica with the support of INCB and the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD). The event was attended by more than 175 people online and in-person.
Also on 12 March, Ambassador Johnson participated in the side event “From Darknet to Doorstep: Strengthening Supply Chain Security in the Fight Against Synthetic Drug & Chemical Trafficking”, organized by the Universal Postal Union with the support of INCB.
The Board entered into a cooperation agreement with UPU in 2018. Alongside Ambassador Johnson, the panel included speakers from China, Kenya, the United States of America and the Universal Postal Union. Ambassador Johnson emphasized INCB’s unique mandate in international drug control. His presentation demonstrated how INCB tools have been used to protect postal supply chains against trafficking in dangerous substances.
Ambassador Johnson also participated in the side event “Prevent, Detect, Respond: New Tools to Prevent Pharmaceutical Diversion While Ensuring Medical Access”, organized by the UNODC Prevention, Treatment and Rehabilitation Section on 12 March.
At the margins of the session, 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.
On 12 March, INCB organized an informal consultation on the supply of opiate raw materials and demand for opiates for medical and scientific purposes, for major producers and importers of opiate raw materials. Board Member Ms. Jagjit Pavadia and the Narcotics Control and Estimates Section of the Board’s secretariat presented the latest update on the supply of and demand for opiates, as well as the INCB Narcotic Drugs 2025 technical report. The forum provided an opportunity to share key updates about global opiate markets and efforts to ensure the availability and accessibility of opiates for pain management. Participating countries welcomed the opportunity for a fruitful exchange among national authorities and to gain a better understanding of global developments in the area of opiate raw materials.
During the sixth-ninth session of CND, training was provided to competent national authorities on the INCB platforms for the control of precursor chemicals, non-scheduled chemicals and equipment, namely PEN Online, PEN Online Light and 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.
INCB also hosted two exhibitions at the Vienna International Center, one about the Precursors and Equipment program (pictured) and one on the GRIDS program.
On 12 March, the President of the Board held an informal dialogue with the Vienna NGO Committee on Drugs, during which she responded to questions from civil society organizations on a range of topics including availability of controlled substances for medical and scientific purposes, human rights, the protection of children, the scope of control of substances, INCB cooperation with civil society, prevention, treatment, harm reduction, synthetic drugs, the implementation of the drug control conventions, and the principle of proportionality. The dialogue was chaired by Ms. Beatrix Vas, Treasurer of the VNGOC, with the participation of VNGOC members.
