Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, March 17, 2006

CONTACT: Rafael Lemaitre: (202) 395–6618 cell: (202) 368–8424

(Washington, D.C.)—The United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) today adopted a resolution proposed by the U.S and sponsored by a number of nations on international cooperation in the control of pseudoephedrine and other precursor chemicals used to make synthetic drugs. John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), today released the following statement regarding the United Nations resolution:

"The United States has made strong recent progress in reducing the amount of methamphetamine manufactured in domestic laboratories. Now we must work more closely with our international partners to restrict the global diversion of the precursor chemicals used to make synthetic drugs. We are pleased that the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs has agreed to voluntary provisions that will assist the international community in the oversight and regulation of precursor chemicals that are often used to produce these dangerous, addictive drugs. International cooperation is an essential part of our strategy to combat the threat of synthetic drugs and supplement our efforts to reduce the demand for these drugs. We congratulate the international community on this achievement and look forward to continuing our cooperation with foreign governments and international organizations in order to reduce the production and use of synthetic drugs, such as methamphetamine, and the resulting misery and suffering caused by such drugs."

"Simply put, if there are no chemicals, there are no drugs," said DEA Administrator Karen P. Tandy. "DEA is grateful to the United Nations for approving this resolution that will go a long way to helping the international law enforcement community keep chemicals out of the hands of the wrong people."

Anne Patterson, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) said, "We are very pleased with the efforts of those representatives that committed their governments to improve the flow of information for chemicals used to produce methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs. However, methamphetamine is an expanding challenge facing the United States and many other countries, and will require even greater efforts to share information and, where necessary, coordinate law enforcement action."

Major provisions of the CND resolution include:

• Requests countries to provide to the International Narcotics Control Board annual estimates of their legitimate requirements for PMK, pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and P2P, and pharmaceutical preparations containing these substances.

• Urges countries to continue to provide to the International Narcotics Control Board information on all shipments of PMK, pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and P2P, in addition to pharmaceutical preparations containing these substances.

• Requests countries to permit the International Narcotics Control Board to share shipment information on pharmaceutical preparations containing these substances with concerned law enforcement and regulatory authorities to prevent or interdict diverted shipments.

• Requests importing countries to ensure that its imports of these substances and preparations containing these substances are commensurate with their legitimate requirements.

The Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) is the central policy-making body within the United Nations system dealing with drug-related matters. The Commission analyzes the world drug situation and develops proposals to strengthen the international drug control system to combat the world drug problem.

Last Updated: March 17, 2006