To ensure that the Indian exports in the products and chemicals classified under narcotics and psychotropic substances are not jeopardised, the government has pulled up its act to timely report data on production, consumption, import and export of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances to the Vienna-based International Narcotic Control Board (INCB), an independent and quasi-judicial control organ monitoring the implementation of the United Nations drug control conventions.
For the purpose, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) and the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) have decided to train the state drug controllers in?compilation and submission of the data. India, being a signatory to the UN Convention 1971, is required to furnish annually, domestic statistics on manufacture and consumption estimates, import and export of psychotropic substances and narcotic drugs?in a prescribed format to the INCB Vienna.
The matter regarding inability to compile, collate and report such data accurately, comprehensively and timely has been termed as ?gravely urgent? and on ?top priority? by the officials of the DCGI and NCB.
However, it is the state drug controllers, which have been identified as weak links in the chain of data collection. More often than not, many of the states have failed to submit the required information to the DCGI office, which is supposed to collate the data and then pass on to NCB office, which in turn has to report the data to the international body.
The failure of states to submit this data also constitute violation of Rule 65 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Rules 1985, under which??the State Licensing Authority have a statutory duty to consult the drugs controller?to?assess ?annual requirements of each psychotropic substance and monitor their manufacture. According to concerned NCB officials, ?Failure to furnish the information is viewed seriously by INCB. The member country? that fails to provide the information is put in the??consultation zone? which leads to separate discussions by INCB with the country at the international forum and the country gets isolated. Any adverse remark by the INCB could lead to stoppage of exports and imports of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances from that country ?.
The ministry of health?has taken up the matter repeatedly?with the defaulting states. While there is a feeling at the centre that states are?? not putting in earnest efforts in the task, the state drug controllers have explained that the forms are too complicated. To help them, NCB, would be now holding workshops at regional level with state drug controllers. However, it is the current data set to be submitted that has got the government worried for now. The NCB maintains a list of over 200 narcotic drug and psychotropic substances which includes drugs and substances like morphine and sufentail used in drugs meant for?relieving pain.
However, to resolve the issue on a long-term, the health ministry?after consulating?the finance ministry has decided that?the licensing of? the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances should?be brought under?DCGI?by making necessary amendments under Drugs and Cosmetics Rules and devising a system for collection of information about the annual manufacture and consumption of these drugs in the country.?Currently,?the ministry of health is in the process of issuing gazette notification containing the draft rules for the amendment. ?Once the rules are in place, a system would be devised whereby the requisite information is obtained from the manufacturers in a time bound manner for submission to the Narcotic Commissioner,? according to health ministry.?
Additionally, the department of revenue is also considering a proposal of online registration of manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. A scheme is being developed in cooperation with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), which would facilitate locating and observing the trends of the consumption of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the specific regions.