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Partnership with business
Co-operation with Industry is a core element of international drug precursor control. Article 12
of the 1988 United Nations Convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (on page 12) highlights the essential role business has to play in combating diversion of precursor chemicals from legal trade.
The Commission fully promotes and welcomes strong partnership culture with business. First of all, business, i.e. manufacturers, producers, traders, distributors, transporters etc are the first line of defence against diversion of drug precursors because they are best placed to know their customers and to identify possible unusual and suspicious transactions and orders. Secondly, business offers detailed knowledge and high expertise greatly important to building up effective monitoring systems that do not impair legitimate trade but can yield best possible results.
European Community legislation on drug precursors fully reflects and acknowledges the vital nature of the principle of co-operation with industry. However, in addition to legislative measures, voluntary co-operation with Business must be privileged whenever possible as voluntary co-operation has proven to be very effective, offering the necessary flexibility to quickly respond to changing trends and patterns of diversion.
A study of European Community legislation and its implementation by the Member States has highlighted the excellent results of co-operation achieved so far in some of the EU Member States. The new EU Action Plan on Drugs (2005 - 2008) recommends that Member States' authorities foster co-operation with business through seminars, memoranda of understanding and other types of regular feed-back and exchange of information.
Subsequent to the entry into force of the new Community legislation on Drug Precursors, the Commission will endeavour to further develop the strong partnership culture with business throughout all the EU Member States and is determined to fight hand in hand with national authorities to prevent drug precursors from reaching drug traffickers and places of illicit drug manufacture in the Community.
Links to relevant business organisations:
CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Council)
The European Association of Chemical Distributors