25 May 1988

13th plenary meeting

Demand and supply of opiates for medical and scientific purposes

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, 1985/16 of 28 May 1985, 1986/9 of 21 May 1986 and 1987/31 of 26 May 1987,

Re-emphasizing the central role in the control of the production of and trade in opiates of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol,

Reaffirming the fundamental need for international co-operation and solidarity in all activities relating to the control of narcotic drugs,

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

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

Having considered the section of the report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 1987 on the demand for and supply of opiates for medical and scientific purposes, including the observation that world demand and production have been in approximate balance and that, over the next several years, the demand for opiates will remain at the present level,

1. Urges all Governments seriously to consider ways of resolving the problem of excess stocks in order to bring about an expeditious improvement in the current situation;

2. Requests the International Narcotics Control Board to review the available information on the problem and to enter into a dialogue with interested Governments and other parties in order to develop a practical and effective solution, which may involve international development assistance organizations;

3. Requests the Secretary-General to transmit the present resolution to all Governments and appropriate international agencies for consideration and implementation.