24 May 1984

Meeting 19

Demand and supply of opiates for medical and scientific needs

The Economic and Social Council,

Recalling its resolutions 1979/8 of 9 May 1979, 1980/20 of 30 April 1980, 1981/8 of 6 May 1981, 1982/12 of 30 April 1982 and 1983/3 of 24 May 1983, as well as Commission on Narcotic Drugs resolution 1(XXIX) of 11 February 1981 entitled "Strategy and policies for drug control",

Having considered the report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1983, on the demand and supply of opiates for medical and scientific needs,

Noting with concern the apprehension of the International Narcotics Control Board that a return to over-production is likely and that the possibility of an increase in the already excessive stocks cannot be excluded,

Further noting with concern that the traditional supplier countries continue to hold large accumulated stocks of opiate raw materials which constitute heavy financial and other burdens for them,

Bearing in mind the urgent need to liquidate the accumulated stocks held by the traditional supplier countries with a view to achieving a lasting world-wide balance between demand and supply of opiates for medical and scientific purposes,

Taking into account paragraph 55 of the report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1983,

1. Urges the Governments of those countries that have not already done so to take urgent and effective steps to implement the above-mentioned resolutions;

2. Requests the International Narcotics Control Board to devise and take, in accordance with the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, appropriate measures with a view to promoting and monitoring the urgent implementation of the above-mentioned resolutions;

3. Further requests the International Narcotics Control Board, in consultation with the producing and the consuming countries and the concerned United Nations bodies, to assist in the further development of effective ways of ensuring a balance in supply and demand and of reducing excessive stocks of licit opiate raw materials, included as activity A.1 to be undertaken by the Secretary-General, during the biennium 1984-1985, under the basic five-year programme of action of the International Drug Abuse Control Strategy, adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 36/168 of 16 December 1981;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to all Governments for their consideration and implementation.