Study on exempted preparations

The coming into force of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances 1971 has rekindled the interest in the technical and administrative modalities of relaxing the control measures applicable, under that convention and the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, to preparations of substances that are controlled by virtue of those international treaties. Therefore, an analytical review of the principles and procedures laid down in those conventions for the exemption of defined preparations from certain control measures was felt desirable as an adjunct to the ongoing discussions, especially in connection with the provisions of the 1971 Convention. The gradual emergence and development of the relevant principles and procedures embodied in the successive international control treaties since 1912 are highlighted as a background for the review of the actual treaty obligations faced by the parties to the conventions and by the international organizations concerned. Included are some suggestions for possible improvement of the system for exempting preparations under the term of the 1971 Convention.