21 May 1986

16th plenary meeting

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, 1983/3 of 24 May 1983, 1984/21 of 24 May 1984 and 1985/16 of 28 May 1985,

Recalling also the International Drug Abuse Control Strategy adopted by the General Assembly in its resolution 36/168 of 16 December 1981,

Bearing in mind that the treaties establishing drug control systems are based on the concept that the number of producers of opiate raw materials for export should be limited in order to facilitate effective control,

Taking into account the position of the International Narcotics Control Board that licit opiates are not an ordinary commodity the production, manufacture and distribution of which could be regulated only by normal economic considerations,

Bearing in mind that the maintenance of world-wide balance between the licit supply of opiates and the legitimate demand for those opiates for medical and scientific purposes constitutes an important aspect of the international strategy and policy on drug abuse control,

Bearing in mind also that all Governments have a collective responsibility and should show solidarity and that international co-operation is a fundamental pre-condition for all activities intended to achieve improved drug control,

Having considered the report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1985 on demand and supply of opiates for medical and scientific needs,

Concerned that large stocks of opiate raw materials held by the traditional supplier countries impose heavy financial and other burdens on them,

1. Expresses its appreciation to the countries that have taken measures towards implementation of the above-mentioned resolutions;

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

3. Urges the Governments that have recently begun or expanded production of opiate raw materials for export of opiates to exercise restraint to the maximum extent possible;

4. Calls upon importing countries, in so far as their constitutional and legal systems permit, to obtain their licit requirements of opiate raw materials from traditional supplier countries;

5. Requests the International Narcotics Control Board to monitor the implementation of the present resolution and report thereon to the Economic and Social Council, through the Commission on Narcotic Drugs, in 1987;

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