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ARTICLE 24: LIMITATION ON PRODUCTION OF OPIUM FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE
1.
(a) If any Party intends to initiate the production of opium or to increase existing production, it shall take account of the prevailing world need for opium in accordance with the estimates thereof published by the Board so that the production of opium by such Party does not result in overproduction of opium in the world.
(b) A Party shall not permit the production of opium or increase the existing production thereof if in its opinion such production or increased production in its territory may result in illicit traffic in opium.
2.
(a) Subject to paragraph 1, where a Party which as of 1 January 1961 was not producing opium for export desires to export opium which it produces, in amounts not exceeding five tons annually, it shall notify the Board, furnishing with such notification information regarding:
(i) The controls in force as required by this Convention respecting the opium to be produced and exported; and
(ii) The name of the country or countries to which it expects to export such opium; and the Board may either approve such notification or may recommend to the Party that it not engage in the production of opium for export.
(b) Where a Party other than a Party referred to in paragraph 3 desires to produce opium for export in amounts exceeding five tons annually, it shall notify the Council, furnishing with such notification relevant information including:
(i) The estimated amounts to be produced for export;
(ii) The controls existing or proposed respecting the opium to be produced;
(iii) The name of the country or countries to which it expects to export such opium; and the Council shall either approve the notification or may recommend to the Party that it not engage in the production of opium for export.
3. Notwithstanding the provisions of subparagraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph 2, a Party that during ten years immediately prior to 1 January 1961 exported opium which such country produced may continue to export opium which it produces.
4.
(a) A Party shall not import opium from any country or territory except opium produced in the territory of:
(i) A Party referred to in paragraph 3;
(ii) A Party that has notified the Board as provided in subparagraph (a) of paragraph 2; or
(iii) A Party that has received the approval of the Council as provided in subparagraph (b) of paragraph 2.
(b) Notwithstanding subparagraph (a) of this paragraph, a Party may import opium produced by any country which produced and exported opium during the ten years prior to 1 January 1961 if such country has established and maintains a national control organ or agency for the purposes set out in article 23 and has in force an effective means of ensuring that the opium it produces is not diverted into the illicit traffic.
5. The provisions of this article do not prevent a Party:
(a) From producing opium sufficient for its own requirements; or
(b) From exporting opium seized in the illicit traffic, to another Party in accordance with the requirements of this Convention.