Exchange of information on new synthetic drugs

1) OBJECTIVE

The creation of a mechanism for rapid exchange of information on new synthetic drugs and the assessment of their risks in order to permit the application of the measures of control on psychotropic substances, applicable in the Member States, equally to new synthetic drugs.

2) ACT

Joint Action of 16 June 1997 concerning the information exchange, risk assessment and the control of new synthetic drugs [Official Journal L 167, 25.06.1997].

3) SUMMARY

This Joint Action concerns new synthetic drugs which are not currently listed in any of the Schedules to the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances and which pose a comparable serious threat to public health as the substances listed in Schedules I or II thereto and which have a limited therapeutic value. It relates to end-products, as distinct from precursors in respect of which Council Regulation (EEC) No 3677/90 of 13 December 1990 laying down measures to be taken to discourage the diversion of certain substances to the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances and Council Directive 92/109/EEC of 14 December 1992 on the manufacture and the placing on the market of certain substances used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances provide for a Community regime.

Each Member State will ensure that its Europol National Unit and its representative in the Reitox network provide information on the production, traffic and use of new synthetic drugs to the Europol Drugs Unit (EDU) of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), taking into account the respective mandates of these two bodies. The EDU and the EMCDDA will collect the information received and then communicate this information in an appropriate manner immediately to each other and to the Europol National Units and the representatives of the Reitox network of the Member States, to the Commission and the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products.

The information referred to above will include:

• a chemical and physical description, including the name under which a new synthetic drug is known,
• information on the chemical precursors,

At the request of one of the Member States or the Commission, the EMCDDA will convene a special meeting under the auspices of the Scientific Committee extended with experts nominated by the Member States and to which representatives of the Commission, the EDU and the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products, shall be invited.

On completion of the risk assessment, a report will be drawn up on the findings. In the report all aspects will be addressed. All opinions on these aspects will be reflected in the report.

The risk assessment will be carried out on the basis of information provided by the Member States, the Commission, the EMCDDA, the EDU of the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products and taking into account all factors which, according to the 1971 United Nations Convention on Psychotropic Substances, would warrant the placing of a substance under international control.

The Council may, on the basis of an initiative to be presented within a month from the date on which the report of the results of the risk assessment pursuant to Article 3 is established and acting in accordance with Article K.3 (2) (b) of the Treaty, adopt unanimously a decision defining the new synthetic drug or drugs which are to be made subject to necessary measures of control.

Last updated: 06.03.2002