UNITED | E |
Economic and Social Council | |
Distr. E/RES/2000/18 | |
2000/18. | Demand for and supply of opiates for medical and scientific needs |
The Economic and Social Council, Recalling its resolution 1999/33 of 28 July 1999 and previous relevant resolutions, Emphasizing that the need to balance the global licit supply of opiates against the legitimate demand for opiates for medical and scientific purposes is central to the international strategy and policy of drug control, Noting the fundamental need for international cooperation and solidarity with the traditional supplier countries in drug control to ensure universal application of the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961,58 Having considered the Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1999,59 in which the Board points out that in 1998 the current status of stocks of opiate raw materials and major opiates seemed to have improved, and that a balance between consumption and production of opiate raw materials was achieved as a result of the efforts made by the two traditional suppliers, India and Turkey, together with other producing countries, Noting the importance of opiates in pain relief therapy as advocated by the World Health Organization, 1. Urges all Governments to continue contributing to the maintenance of a balance between the licit supply of and demand for opiate raw materials for medical and scientific needs, the achievement of which would be facilitated by maintaining, insofar as their constitutional and legal systems permit, support to the traditional supplier countries, and to cooperate in preventing the proliferation of sources of production of opiate raw materials; 2. Urges Governments of all producing countries to adhere strictly to the provisions of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961,58 and to take effective measures to prevent illicit production or diversion of opiate raw materials to illicit channels, especially when increasing licit production; 3. Urges consumer countries to assess their licit needs for opiate raw materials realistically and to communicate those needs to the International Narcotics Control Board in order to ensure easy supply, and urges concerned producing countries and the Board to increase efforts to monitor the available supply and to ensure sufficient stocks of licit opiate raw material; 4. Requests the Board to continue its efforts in monitoring the implementation of the relevant Economic and Social Council resolutions in full compliance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961; 5. Commends the Board for its efforts in monitoring the implementation of the relevant Economic and Social Council resolutions and, in particular:
6. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the text of the present resolution to all Governments for consideration and implementation. 43rd plenary meeting 58/ United Nations, Treaty Series, vol. 520, No. 7515. 59/ United Nations publication, Sales No. E.00.XI.1. |