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... Recognizing that the medical use of narcotic drugs continues to be indispensable for the relief of pain and suffering and that adequate provision must be made to ensure the availability of narcotic drugs for such purposes, ...


ARTICLE-1: DEFINITIONS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... (l) "Illicit traffic" means cultivation or trafficking in drugs contrary to the provisions of this Convention. ...


ARTICLE-2: SUBSTANCES UNDER CONTROL     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 6. In addition to the measures of control applicable to all drugs in Schedule I, opium is subject to the provisions of article 19, paragraph 1, subparagraph (f), and of articles 21bis, 23 and 24, the coca leaf to those of articles 26 and 27 and cannabis to those of article 28. ...
... 9. Parties are not required to apply the provisions of this Convention to drugs which are commonly used in industry for other than medical or scientific purposes, provided that: ...


ARTICLE-4: GENERAL OBLIGATIONS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... (a) To give effect to and carry out the provisions of this Convention within their own territories; ...
... (b) To co-operate with other States in the execution of the provisions of this Convention; and ...
... (c) Subject to the provisions of this Convention, to limit exclusively to medical and scientific purposes the production, manufacture, export, import, distribution of, trade in, use and possession of drugs. ...


ARTICLE-7: REVIEW OF DECISIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE COMMISSION     [go to this ARTICLE]
... Except for decisions under article 3, each decision or recommendation adopted by the Commission pursuant to the provisions of this Convention shall be subject to approval or modification by the Council or the General Assembly in the same way as other decisions or recommendations of the Commission. ...


ARTICLE-8: FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMISSION     [go to this ARTICLE]
... (c) To make recommendations for the implementation of the aims and provisions of this Convention, including programmes of scientific research and the exchange of information of a scientific or technical nature; and ...


ARTICLE-10: TERMS OF OFFICE AND REMUNERATION OF MEMBERS OF THE BOARD     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 5. Where a vacancy occurs on the Board during the term of office of a member, the Council shall fill such vacancy as soon as possible and in accordance with the applicable provisions of article 9, by electing another member for the remainder of the term. ...


ARTICLE-12: ADMINISTRATION OF THE ESTIMATE SYSTEM     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 2. The Board shall, in respect of countries and territories to which this Convention does not apply, request the Governments concerned to furnish estimates in accordance with the provisions of this Convention. ...


ARTICLE-13: ADMINISTRATION OF THE STATISTICAL RETURNS SYSTEM     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 2. The Board shall examine the returns with a view to determining whether a Party or any other State has complied with the provisions of this Convention. ...


ARTICLE-14: MEASURES BY THE BOARD TO ENSURE THE EXECUTION OF PROVISIONS OF THE CONVENTION     [go to this ARTICLE]
... MEASURES BY THE BOARD TO ENSURE THE EXECUTION OF PROVISIONS OF THE CONVENTION ...
... (a) If, on the basis of its examination of information submitted by Governments to the Board under the provisions of this Convention, or of information communicated by United Nations organs or by specialized agencies or, provided that they are approved by the Commission on the Board's recommendation, by either other intergovernmental organizations or international non-governmental organizations which have direct competence in the subject matter and which are in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council under Article 71 of the Charter of the United Nations or which enjoy a similar status by special agreement with the Council, the Board has objective reasons to believe that the aims of this Convention are being seriously endangered by reason of the failure of any Party, country or territory to carry out the provisions of this Convention, the Board shall have the right to propose to the Government concerned the opening of consultations or to request it to furnish explanations. If, without any failure in implementing the provisions of the Convention, a Party or a country or territory has become, or if there exists evidence of a serious risk that it may become, or if there exists evidence of a serious risk that it may become, an important centre of illicit cultivation, production or manufacture of, or traffic in or consumption of drugs, the Board has the right to propose to the Government concerned the opening of consultations. Subject to the right of the Board to call the attention of the Parties, the Council and the Commission to the matter referred to in subparagraph (d) below, the Board shall treat as confidential a request for information and an explanation by a Government or a proposal for consultations and the consultations held with a Government under this subparagraph. ...
... (a) If, on the basis of its examination of information submitted by Governments to the Board under the provisions of this Convention, or of information communicated by United Nations organs or by specialized agencies or, provided that they are approved by the Commission on the Board's recommendation, by either other intergovernmental organizations or international non-governmental organizations which have direct competence in the subject matter and which are in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council under Article 71 of the Charter of the United Nations or which enjoy a similar status by special agreement with the Council, the Board has objective reasons to believe that the aims of this Convention are being seriously endangered by reason of the failure of any Party, country or territory to carry out the provisions of this Convention, the Board shall have the right to propose to the Government concerned the opening of consultations or to request it to furnish explanations. If, without any failure in implementing the provisions of the Convention, a Party or a country or territory has become, or if there exists evidence of a serious risk that it may become, or if there exists evidence of a serious risk that it may become, an important centre of illicit cultivation, production or manufacture of, or traffic in or consumption of drugs, the Board has the right to propose to the Government concerned the opening of consultations. Subject to the right of the Board to call the attention of the Parties, the Council and the Commission to the matter referred to in subparagraph (d) below, the Board shall treat as confidential a request for information and an explanation by a Government or a proposal for consultations and the consultations held with a Government under this subparagraph. ...
... (a) If, on the basis of its examination of information submitted by Governments to the Board under the provisions of this Convention, or of information communicated by United Nations organs or by specialized agencies or, provided that they are approved by the Commission on the Board's recommendation, by either other intergovernmental organizations or international non-governmental organizations which have direct competence in the subject matter and which are in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council under Article 71 of the Charter of the United Nations or which enjoy a similar status by special agreement with the Council, the Board has objective reasons to believe that the aims of this Convention are being seriously endangered by reason of the failure of any Party, country or territory to carry out the provisions of this Convention, the Board shall have the right to propose to the Government concerned the opening of consultations or to request it to furnish explanations. If, without any failure in implementing the provisions of the Convention, a Party or a country or territory has become, or if there exists evidence of a serious risk that it may become, or if there exists evidence of a serious risk that it may become, an important centre of illicit cultivation, production or manufacture of, or traffic in or consumption of drugs, the Board has the right to propose to the Government concerned the opening of consultations. Subject to the right of the Board to call the attention of the Parties, the Council and the Commission to the matter referred to in subparagraph (d) below, the Board shall treat as confidential a request for information and an explanation by a Government or a proposal for consultations and the consultations held with a Government under this subparagraph. ...
... (b) After taking action under subparagraph (a) above, the Board, if satisfied that it is necessary to do so, may call upon the Government concerned to adopt such remedial measures as shall seem under the circumstances to be necessary for the execution of the provisions of this Convention. ...
... 3. The Board shall have the right to publish a report on any matter dealt with under the provisions of this article, and communicate it to the Council, which shall forward it to all Parties. If the Board publishes in this report a decision taken under this article or any information relating thereto, it shall also publish therein the views of the Government concerned if the latter so requests. ...


ARTICLE-17: SPECIAL ADMINISTRATION     [go to this ARTICLE]
... The Parties shall maintain a special administration for the purpose of applying the provisions of this Convention. ...


ARTICLE-19: ESTIMATES OF DRUG REQUIREMENTS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 5. Subject to the deductions referred to in paragraph 3 of article 21, and account being taken where appropriate of the provisions of article 21bis, the estimates shall not be exceeded. ...


ARTICLE-21bis: LIMITATION OF PRODUCTION OF OPIUM     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 2. If the Board finds on the basis of information at its disposal in accordance with the provisions of this Convention that a Party which has submitted an estimate under paragraph 1 (f) of article 19 has not limited opium produced within its borders to licit purposes in accordance with relevant estimates and that a significant amount of opium produced, whether licitly or illicitly, within the borders of such a Party, has been introduced into the illicit traffic, it may, after studying the explanations of the Party concerned, which shall be submitted to it within one month after notification of the finding in question, decide to deduct all, or a portion, of such an amount from the quantity to be produced and from the total of the estimates as defined in paragraph 2 (b) of article 19 for the next year in which such a deduction can be technically accomplished, taking into account the season of the year and contractual commitments to export opium. This decision shall take effect ninety days after the Party concerned is notified thereof. ...
... 4. If the situation is not satisfactorily resolved, the Board may utilize the provisions of article 14 where appropriate. ...


ARTICLE-22: SPECIAL PROVISION APPLICABLE TO CULTIVATION     [go to this ARTICLE]
... SPECIAL PROVISION APPLICABLE TO CULTIVATION ...


ARTICLE-23: NATIONAL OPIUM AGENCIES     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 2. Each such Party shall apply the following provisions to the cultivation of the opium poppy for the production of opium and to opium; ...


ARTICLE-24: LIMITATION ON PRODUCTION OF OPIUM FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 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. ...
... 5. The provisions of this article do not prevent a Party: ...


ARTICLE-27: ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO COCA LEAVES     [go to this ARTICLE]
... ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO COCA LEAVES ...


ARTICLE-30: TRADE AND DISTRIBUTION     [go to this ARTICLE]
... (c) The provisions of subparagraphs (a) and (b) relating to licensing need not apply to persons duly authorized to perform and while performing therapeutic or scientific functions. ...
... 6. The provisions of paragraphs 2 and 5 need not apply to the retail trade in or retail distribution of drugs in Schedule II. ...


ARTICLE-31: SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE     [go to this ARTICLE]
... SPECIAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE ...
... 12. The competent authorities of any country or territory through which a consignment of drugs is permitted to pass shall take all due measures to prevent the diversion of the consignment to a destination other than that named in the accompanying copy of the export authorization unless the Government of that country or territory through which the consignment is passing authorizes the diversion. The Government of the country or territory of transit shall treat any requested diversion as if the diversion were an export from the country or territory of transit to the country or territory of new destination. If the diversion is authorized, the provisions of paragraph 7 (a) and (b) shall also apply between the country or territory of transit and the country or territory which originally exported the consignment. ...
... 14. The provisions of paragraphs 11 to 13 relating to the passage of drugs through the territory of a Party do not apply where the consignment in question is transported by aircraft which does not land in the country or territory of transit. If the aircraft lands in any such country or territory, those provisions shah be applied so far as circumstances require. ...
... 14. The provisions of paragraphs 11 to 13 relating to the passage of drugs through the territory of a Party do not apply where the consignment in question is transported by aircraft which does not land in the country or territory of transit. If the aircraft lands in any such country or territory, those provisions shah be applied so far as circumstances require. ...
... 15. The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the provisions of any international agreements which limit the control which may be exercised by any of the Parties over drugs in transit. ...
... 15. The provisions of this article are without prejudice to the provisions of any international agreements which limit the control which may be exercised by any of the Parties over drugs in transit. ...


ARTICLE-32: SPECIAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE CARRIAGE OF DRUGS IN FIRST-AID KITS OF SHIPS OR AIRCRAFT ENGAGED IN INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC     [go to this ARTICLE]
... SPECIAL PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE CARRIAGE OF DRUGS IN FIRST-AID KITS OF SHIPS OR AIRCRAFT ENGAGED IN INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC ...


ARTICLE-34: MEASURES OF SUPERVISION AND INSPECTION     [go to this ARTICLE]
... (a) That all persons who obtain licences as provided in accordance with this Convention, or who have managerial or supervisory positions in a State enterprise established in accordance with this Convention, shall have adequate qualifications for the effective and faithful execution of the provisions of such laws and regulations as are enacted in pursuance thereof; and ...


ARTICLE-36: PENAL PROVISIONS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... PENAL PROVISIONS ...
... (a) Subject to its constitutional limitations, each Party shall adopt such measures as will ensure that cultivation, production, manufacture, extraction, preparation, possession, offering, offering for sale, distribution, purchase, sale, delivery on any terms whatsoever, brokerage, dispatch, dispatch in transit, transport, importation and exportation of drugs contrary to the provisions of this Convention, and any other action which in the opinion of such Party may be contrary to the provisions of this Convention, shall be punishable offences when committed intentionally, and that serious offences shall be liable to adequate punishment particularly by imprisonment or other penalties of deprivation of liberty. ...
... (a) Subject to its constitutional limitations, each Party shall adopt such measures as will ensure that cultivation, production, manufacture, extraction, preparation, possession, offering, offering for sale, distribution, purchase, sale, delivery on any terms whatsoever, brokerage, dispatch, dispatch in transit, transport, importation and exportation of drugs contrary to the provisions of this Convention, and any other action which in the opinion of such Party may be contrary to the provisions of this Convention, shall be punishable offences when committed intentionally, and that serious offences shall be liable to adequate punishment particularly by imprisonment or other penalties of deprivation of liberty. ...
... 3. The provisions of this article shall be subject to the provisions of the criminal law of the Party concerned on questions of jurisdiction. ...
... 3. The provisions of this article shall be subject to the provisions of the criminal law of the Party concerned on questions of jurisdiction. ...


ARTICLE-44: TERMINATION OF PREVIOUS INTERNATIONAL TREATIES     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 1. The provisions of this Convention, upon its coming into force, shall, as between Parties hereto, terminate and replace the provisions of the following ...
... 1. The provisions of this Convention, upon its coming into force, shall, as between Parties hereto, terminate and replace the provisions of the following ...


ARTICLE-45: TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS ...


ARTICLE-50: OTHER RESERVATIONS     [go to this ARTICLE]
... 2. Any State may at the time of signature, ratification or accession make reservations in respect of the following provisions of this Convention: ...