COUNCIL RESOLUTION of 16 December 1996 on measures to combat and dismantle the illicit cultivation and production of drugs within the European Union (96/C 389/01)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union and, in particular, Article K.1 thereof,

Whereas the comprehensive action plan to combat drugs agreed on by the Madrid European Council on 15 and 16 December 1995 emphasized the need to combat and dismantle the illicit cultivation and production of drugs within the European Union;

Conscious of the problem of the illicit cultivation and production of drugs within the European Union;

Aware that persons who engage in the illicit cultivation and production of drugs frequently operate in several Member States for the purposes of the cultivation, production and sale thereof;

Recognizing the practical difficulties encountered in addressing this problem and the need for concerted action;

Desiring to promote a high level of cooperation and exchange of expertise and intelligence between Member States;

Desiring to prevent the use of cannabis seeds for illicit cultivation;

Noting that Member States have already taken a number of measures to combat this problem,

HEREBY ADOPTS THIS RESOLUTION:

The Council invites Member States:

1. to pay special attention to the prevention and detection of the illicit cultivation and production of drugs;

2. to consider, depending on the circumstances in their country, making the sale of cannabis seeds an offence where a person knowingly sells to another who intends to cultivate cannabis illegally;

3. to ensure the banning of the cultivation of cannabis under glass, under polythene tunnels, and indoors, with the exception of such cultivation, for example for the purposes of scientific research, where a special licence has been obtained, the applicant having first satisfied the appropriate licensing authority that the proposed cultivation comes within this exception;

4. to enhance the effectiveness of their operational personnel in tackling the problem of the illicit cultivation and production of drugs, in conjunction with the Europol Drugs Unit (EDU) by:

(a) improved exchange of operational and strategic intelligence;

(b) cooperation with forensic laboratories;

(c) the holding of specialized training courses and seminars;

(d) the exchange of skills, knowledge and expertise;

(e) the assessment of equipment for the detection of illegal laboratories;

(f) the compilation, on the initiative of the Presidency in cooperation with EDU and with the assistance of volunteering Member States, of a manual on the detection of illicit cultivation and production of drugs to include essential advice on safety and health precautions. EDU will be responsible for the regular updating of this manual.