For information only - not an official document
UNIS/NAR/1379
21 March 2019
VIENNA, 21 March 2019 (UN Information Service) - The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) has welcomed the decision of the Commission on Narcotics Drugs (CND) on Tuesday to follow INCB's recommendation to include three precursors of amphetamine-type stimulants in Table I of the 1988 Convention.
In the discharge of its mandate, INCB had conducted an independent assessment and submitted to the Commission recommendations to place alpha-phenylacetoacetamide (APAA), a precursor of amphetamine and methamphetamine, and two 3,4-MDP-2-P methyl glycidic acid derivatives (precursors of MDMA ("ecstasy")) in Table I of the Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances of 1988.
On 19 March, the Commission decided to place these chemicals under international control. Pursuant to article 6 of the 1988 Convention, the decision will become effective 180 days after it is communicated by the Secretary-General to all parties. This is expected to occur in the coming weeks, and the scheduling will hence become effective in late 2019.
All three chemicals are highly suitable for the illicit manufacture of precursors already listed in Table I of the 1988 Convention and incidents of illicit manufacture and trafficking involving the three chemicals have been known for many years, with increasing frequency and amounts reported in recent years, as highlighted in the 2018 INCB Precursor Report. The INCB President, Dr. Viroj Sumyai, said: "All three chemicals have no known legitimate uses beyond limited research and analytical purposes and can be classified as designer precursors, made specifically to circumvent existing precursor controls."
To prevent that the three chemicals continue to fuel illicit amphetamine, methamphetamine and MDMA manufacture, the Board encourages Governments to already take, voluntarily at this stage, all necessary measures for the control of the substance, including use of the automated online system (PEN Online) for the exchange of pre-export notifications for shipments in legitimate international trade, if any. The Board also requests Governments to communicate to the Board any incidents of trafficking and diversion of substitute or alternate chemicals used in the illicit manufacture of amphetamine-type stimulants.
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INCB is the independent, quasi-judicial body charged with promoting and monitoring Government compliance with the three international drug control conventions: the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1988 Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. Established by the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, the thirteen members of the Board are elected in a personal capacity by the Economic and Social Council for terms of five years.
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For further information, please contact:
INCB Secretariat
Telephone for media inquiries: (+43-1) 26060 4163
Email:
incb.secretariat@un.org
Website: www.incb.org
