[Report of the International Narcotics Control Board
on Follow-up to the Twentieth Special Session
of the General Assembly->http://www.incb.org/pdf/e/ungass/UNGASS_INCB_Report-English.pdf ]

February 2009

The present report contains an outline of the actions that the International Narcotics Control Board has undertaken pursuant to the resolutions adopted by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session, in 1998. Over the past 10 years, the commitment of individual Governments and the international community as a whole to addressing the world drug problem has increased significantly, as witnessed by the growing number of countries taking concrete steps to strengthen their national drug control capacity, including by acceding to and implementing the international drug control treaties.

The
international drug control system continues to develop and function effectively, contributing to the prevention of drug abuse. The effective implementation of the international drug control treaties and the relevant resolutions of the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly have contributed to stopping, almost completely, the diversion of licitly manufactured drugs into the illicit market. However, some challenges remain. Psychotropic substances, including amphetamine-type stimulants, could be controlled better. While hardly any such substances are currently being diverted from international trade, problems remain,
as psychotropic substances continue to be diverted from domestic distribution channels. The abuse of prescription drugs also continues to be a problem, and the sale of such substances through the Internet still requires adequate responses from Governments worldwide.

With respect to precursor chemicals, progress has been made by Governments as a result of several international initiatives to prevent the diversion of precursor chemicals for use in the illicit manufacture of drugs. In particular, the system of pre-export notifications has greatly facilitated the detection of numerous diversion attempts. The implementation of that automated notification system, initiated by the Board in 2006, has further promoted the exchange of information on international trade in precursors. An approach towards more universal international cooperation in precursor control has been widely endorsed by individual Governments and the international community as a whole.

As shown in this report, the goals that the General Assembly set in 1998 continue to be equally relevant and important in 2008 as they were then. In addition, new challenges to international drug control have surfaced, meaning more must be done to meet those goals. The Board makes a number of recommendations designed to strengthen coordination and cooperation at the national and international levels.

Governments and the international community are called upon to continue, in the years to come, their efforts to achieve the goals set by the General Assembly at its twentieth special session.

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