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Executive Board 105th session, Geneva, 24-28 January 2000: resolutions and decisions, annexes

December 31, 2000 World Health Organization

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EB 105/2000/REC/1

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

EXECUTIVE BOARD lOSth SESSION GENEVA, 24-28 JANUARY 2000

RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS ANNEXES

GENEVA 2000

EB 105/2000/REC/1

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

EXECUTIVE BOARD lOSth SESSION GENEVA, 24 -28 JANUARY 2000

RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS ANNEXES

GENEVA 2000

ABBREVIATIONS

Abbreviations used in WHO documentation include the following: ACC - Administrative Committee on Coordination ACHR - Advisory Committee on Health Research ASEAN - Association of South-East Asian Nations CIOMS - Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences - Economic Commission for Africa ECA - Economic Commission for ECE Europe ECLAC - Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean ESCAP - Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ESCWA - Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer ICAO - International Civil Aviation Organization IFAD - International Fund for Agricultural Development - International Labour Organization ILO (Office) IMF - International Monetary Fund IMO - International Maritime Organization ITU - International Telecommunication Union - Organization of African Unity - Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - Pan American Health PAHO Organization UN AIDS - United Nations Joint Programme onHIV/AIDS UNCTAD- United Nations Conference on Trade and Development UNDCP - United Nations International Drug Control Programme United Nations Development UNDP Programme - United Nations Environment UNEP Programme UNESCO- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNFPA - United Nations Population Fund UNHCR - Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization UNRWA - United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East US AID - United States Agency for International Development WFP - World Food Programme WIPO - World Intellectual Property Organization WMO - World Meteorological Organization WTO - World Trade Organization OAU OECD

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this volume do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the World Health Organization concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Where the designation "country or area" appears in the headings of tables, it covers countries, territories, cities or areas. - 11 -

PREFACE

The 105th session of the Executive Board was held at WHO headquarters, Geneva, from 24 to 28 January 2000. The proceedings are published in two volumes. The present volume contains the resolutions and decisions, and relevant annexes. The summary records of the Board's discussions, list of participants and officers elected, and details regarding membership of committees and working groups, are published in document EB105/2000/REC/2.

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CONTENTS

Page Preface . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . Agenda....................................................................................................................................... List of documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . .. .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . .. .. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

n1 IX

RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS Resolutions EB105.R1 EB105.R2 EB105.R3 EB105.R4 EB105.R5 EB105.R6 Appointment of the Regional Director for Africa.......................................... . Appointment ofthe Regional Director for Europe ........................................ . Expression of appreciation to Dr J.E. Asvall ................................................. . Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization ........................................... . Transfers between appropriation sections ..................................................... . The use of languages in WHO: language diversity in the Secretariat and in the publications ofWHO .............................................................................. . Regulations for Study and Scientific Groups, Collaborating Institutions and other Mechanisms of Collaboration .............................................................. . Regulations for Expert Advisory Panels and Committees ............................. . Casual Income ............................................................................................. . Real Estate Fund .......................................................................................... . Stop Tuberculosis Initiative .......................................................................... . Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases .................................. . Confirmation of amendments to the Staff Rules ........................................... . Salaries of staff in ungraded posts and of the Director-General.. ................... . 1 1 1 2

EB105.R7

EB105.R8 EB105.R9 EB105.Rl0 EB105.R11 EB105.Rl2 EB105.Rl3 EB105.Rl4

6 6 7

8 10 12 12

-V-

Page EB105.Rl5 Participation ofWHO in the 1986 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations .......................................................................... . Food safety .................................................................................................. . HIV/AIDS: confronting the epidemic ........................................................... . Relations with nongovernmental organizations ............................................ .

13 13 16 20

EB105.Rl6 EB105.Rl7 EB105.Rl8

Decisions EB105(1) EB105(2) EB105(3) Public-private partnerships for health: Medicines for Malaria Venture ......... . Draft policy on extrabudgetary resources ..................................................... . Guidelines for the WHO review of dependence-producing psychoactive substances for international control .............................................................. . Provisional agenda for and duration of the Fifty-third World Health Assembly ..................................................................................................... . Date and place of the 106th session of the Executive Board ......................... . Appointment of a representative of the Executive Board at the Fifty-third World Health Assembly ............................................................................... . Working group on Financial Regulations ..................................................... . Award ofthe Sasakawa Health Prize ............................................................ . Award of the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize ....................... . Award ofthe Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Prize .......................................... . Award of the Jacques Parisot Foundation Fellowship ................................... . Review of nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO .... 21 21

EB105(4)

21 22

EB105(5) EB105(6)

22 22 22 23 23 23 23

EB105(7) EB105(8) EB105(9) EB105(10) EB105(11) EB105(12)

ANNEXES 1. 2.

Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization .............................................................. . Changes to Regulations for Study and Scientific Groups, Collaborating Institutions and other Mechanisms of Collaboration: amendments to regulations for WHO collaborating centres ............................................................................................................................. . Changes to Regulations for Expert Advisory Panels and Committees: amendments to regulations for expert committees .................................................................................... . Real Estate Fund ............................................................................................................. . Confirmation of amendments to the Staff Rules ............................................................... . - Vl-

31 32 36

4. 5.

Page

Participation ofWHO in the 1986 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations.................. Food safety....................................................................................................................... Draft policy on extrabudgetary resources ......... .................. ... ................... ......................... Guidelines for the WHO review of dependence-producing psychoactive substances for international control.......................................................................................................... Nongovernmental organizations maintained in official relations with WHO by virtue of resolution EB105.R18 and decision EB105(12) ................................................................

39 41 47

7. 8. 9.

10.

- Vll-

AGENDA 1

1. 2.

Opening of the session and adoption of the agenda Gearing up for the next four years • Director-General: towards a strategic agenda for the WHO Secretariat • Poverty and health: breaking the vicious circle • Evidence and information for policy: trends and challenges in world health • Working in and with countries • Public-private partnerships for health • Draft policy on extrabudgetary resources • Programme budget priorities for 2002-2003

Technical and health matters 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Food safety: the role ofWHO WHO framework convention on tobacco control HIV/AIDS: confronting the epidemic Stop Tuberculosis Initiative Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization

Staff development and support 4.1 4.2 Human resources: annual report Statement by the representative of the WHO staff associations on matters concerning personnel policy and conditions of service

Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations • Guidelines for the WHO review of dependence-producing psychoactive substances for international control (decision EB103(5))

As adopted by the Board at its first meeting (24 January 2000). - lX-

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

6. 7.

Implementation ofbudget resolutions (resolutions EB103.R6 and WHA52.20) Management and financial matters 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Appointment of the Regional Directors for Mrica and Europe Use oflanguages in WHO Research strategy and mechanisms for cooperation (follow-up) Other management issues • Status of collection of assessed contributions, including Members in arrears in the payment of their contributions to an extent which would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution • Casual income • Real Estate Fund • Financial Regulations and Financial Rules • Report of the International Civil Service Commission and confirmation of amendments to the Staff Rules • Reports of the Joint Inspection Unit • Collaboration with nongovernmental organizations: report of the Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations 7.5 Legal issues • Regional committees and regional conventions • Participation of WHO in the 1986 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations 7.6 Executive Board matters • Amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board on election of the Chairman • Membership of the Audit Committee • Provisional agenda for and duration of the Fifty-third World Health Assembly • Date and place of the 106th session of the Executive Board 7.7 Awards

-x-

AGENDA

Matters for information 8.1 Report on meetings of expert committees and study groups (including report on appointments to expert advisory panels and committees) Implementation of resolutions and decisions • [Transferred to agenda item 3.5] • Revised drug strategy (resolution WHA52.19) • Health promotion (resolution WHA51.12) • Elimination oftransmission ofChagas disease (resolution WHA51.14) • Technical cooperation among developing countries (resolution WHA42.37) • Infant and young child nutrition (resolution WHA33.32) • Cloning in human health (resolution WHA51.1 0) • Poliomyelitis eradication (resolution WHA52.22)

8.2

Closure of the session

Supplementary agenda item: Global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

-XI-

LIST OF DOCUMENTS

EB105/1 Rev.l EB105/2 EB105/3 EB105/4 EB105/5 EB105/6 EB105/7 EB105/8 and Add.1 EB105/9 2 EB105/103 EB105/11

Agenda 1 Towards a strategic agenda for the WHO Secretariat A corporate strategy for the WHO Secretariat Trends and challenges in world health Poverty and health Programme budget priorities for 2002-2003 Working in and with countries Public-private partnerships for health Draft policy on extrabudgetary resources Food safety WHO framework convention on tobacco control: report of the first meeting of the working group HIV/AIDS: confronting the epidemic Stop Tuberculosis Initiative Human resources: annual report

EB105/12 and Corr.l EB105/13 EB105/14 and Add.1 and Corr.1 EB105/15 and Add.1 and Add.2 EB105/164

Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations Guidelines for the WHO rev1ew of dependence-producing psychoactive substances for international control Implementation of budget resolutions

EB 105/17 and Add.1, Add.2 and Add.3

See page ix. See Annex 8. See Annex 7. See Annex 9. - Xlll -

3 4

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

EB105/18 EB105/19 EB 105/20 EB105/21 1 EB 105/22

Appointment of the Regional Director for Africa Appointment of the Regional Director for Europe Reaching out to the largest audience: languages for communication in WHO Research strategy and mechanisms for cooperation Status of collection of assessed contributions, including Members in arrears to an extent which would justify invoking Article 7 of the Constitution Casual income Real Estate Fund Financial Regulations and Financial Rules

EB 105/23 and Corr.1 EB105/242 EB105/25 and Corr.1 and Add.1 EB 105/26 and Add.1 3

Report of the International Civil Service Commission and confirmation of amendments to the Staff Rules Reports ofthe Joint Inspection Unit Collaboration with nongovernmental organizations: report of the Standing Committee Regional committees and regional conventions Participation by WHO in the 1986 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations Amendments to the Rules of Procedure of the Executive Board on election of the Chairman Membership of the Audit Committee Provisional agenda for and duration of the Fifty-third World Health Assembly Date and place of the 106th session of the Executive Board Report on meetings of expert committees and study groups (including report on expert advisory panels and committees and their membership)

EB105/27 EB 105/284

EB 105/29 EB105/30 5

EB105/31

EB105/32 Rev.l EB105/33

EB105/34 EB105/35 and Corr.1 andAdd.1 1 2

See Annex 2 and Annex 3. See Annex 4. See Annex 5. See Annex 10. See Annex 6. - XlV-

4 5

LIST OF DOCUMENTS

EB105/36 EB105/37 EB105/38 EB105/39 and Add. I EB105/40

Implementation of resolutions and decisions Tobacco Free Initiative Report of the first meeting of the Audit Committee of the Executive Board Executive Board matters: report by the Chairman Implementation of budget resolutions: transfers between appropriation sections Voluntary Fund for Health Promotion Global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization

EB105/41 EB105/42 EB105/43 1

Information documents EB105/INF.DOC./l Infant and young child nutrition: the WHO multicentre growth reference study Human resources: annual report: geographical representation Implementation of budget resolutions: evaluating the work ofWHO Statement by the representative of the WHO staff associations on matters concerning personnel policy and conditions of service

EB105/INF.DOC./2 EB105/INF.DOC./3 EB105/INF.DOC./4

See Annex 1. -XV-

RESOLUTIONS

EB105.Rl

Appointment of the Regional Director or Africa

The Executive Board, Considering the provisions of Article 52 of the Constitution of WHO; Considering the nomination made by the Regional Committee for Africa at its forty-ninth sessiOn, 1. REAPPOINTS Dr Ebrahim Malick Samba as Regional Director for Africa as from 1 February 2000; 2. AUTHORIZES the Director-General to issue to Dr Ebrahim Malick Samba a contract for a period of five years from 1 February 2000, subject to the provisions of the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules. (Fourth meeting, 25 January 2000)

EB105.R2

Appointment of the Regional Director for Europe

The Executive Board, Considering the provisions of Article 52 ofthe Constitution ofWHO; Considering the nomination made by the Regional Committee for Europe at its forty-ninth sessiOn, 1. APPOINTS Dr Marc Danzon as Regional Director for Europe as from 1 February 2000;

2. AUTHORIZES the Director-General to issue to Dr Marc Danzon a contract for a period of five years from 1 February 2000, subject to the provisions of the Staff Regulations and Staff Rules. (Fourth meeting, 25 January 2000)

EB105.R3

Expression of appreciation to Dr J.E. Asvall

The Executive Board, Desiring, on the occasion of the retirement of Dr J .E. Asvall as Regional Director for Europe, to express its appreciation of his services to the World Health Organization; Mindful of his lifelong devotion to the cause of international health, and recalling especially his 15 years of service as Regional Director for Europe,

- 1-

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

1. EXPRESSES its profound gratitude and appreciation to Dr J.E. Asvall for his invaluable contribution to the work of WHO; 2. ADDRESSES to him on this occasion its sincere good wishes for many further years of service to humanity. (Fourth meeting, 25 January 2000)

EB105.R4

Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization 1

The Executive Board, Appreciating the achievements of immunization programmes worldwide; Recalling resolution WHA42.32 on the Expanded Programme on Immunization, which urged Member States to continue their vigorous pursuit of the aim of providing immunization services for all children of the world; Reaffirming resolution WHA44.4 on the acceleration of vaccine research and development efforts against childhood diseases; Further recalling resolution WHA45.17 on the integration of cost-effective new vaccines in national immunization programmes, RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly the adoption of the following resolution: The Fifty-third World Health Assembly, Noting with deep concern that about 6.8 million children under five years of age die each year from infectious and parasitic diseases, and that some two million children still die each year from diseases that can be prevented by currently available vaccines; Noting that existing immunization programmes currently save about three million lives per year worldwide and prevent nearly 750 000 cases of blindness, paralysis and mental disability annually; Recognizing that in some countries immunization rates are stagnating and even declining, and that great disparity exists between industrialized and developing countries in the availability of vaccines; Recognizing that many developing countries cannot afford to pay all the costs associated with universal childhood immunization and the establishment of safe and efficient delivery systems to cover their child populations; Acknowledging that immunization is one of the most cost-effective health interventions and that it contributes to reducing poverty,

See Annex 1.

RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS

1. ENDORSES the objectives of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) - a global network comprising governments, bilateral agencies, technical agencies, WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, the pharmaceutical industry, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation - namely, improving access to sustainable immunization services; expanding the use of all existing safe and cost-effective vaccines; accelerating the development and introduction of new vaccines; accelerating research and development efforts for vaccines and related products specifically needed by developing countries, particularly vaccines against HIVI AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis; and making immunization coverage a centrepiece in the design and assessment of international development efforts, including debt relief; 2. URGES Member States: ( 1) to support the work of the Alliance by calling upon leaders at the highest levels to back vaccine and immunization initiatives in their countries, and to remove obstacles that reduce access to vaccines; (2) to formulate common strategies to enhance immunization delivery and to stimulate introduction of vaccines; (3) (4) to increase national efforts devoted to childhood immunization; to encourage public and private agencies to meet the objectives of the Alliance;

(5) to support and further the objectives of the Alliance through the Global Fund for Children's Vaccines and other existing mechanisms among the partners; (6) 3. to support new financing mechanisms for vaccine development and immunization;

REQUESTS the Director-General: (1) to promote the objectives of the Alliance through leadership in the field ofvaccines and immunization;

(2) to advocate increased private and public sector support for vaccine research and development and for the strengthening of immunization services in the poorest countries. (Fifth meeting, 26 January 2000)

EB105.R5

Transfers between appropriation sections

The Executive Board, Having considered the report on transfers between sections of the appropriation resolution for the financial period 2000-2001, 1

Document EBlOS/40.

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

CONCURS with the transfer of US$ 38 369 000 from Appropriation Section 3 (Health systems and community health, to be renamed Family and community health) to Appropriation Section 7 (Evidence and information for policy). (Sixth meeting, 26 January 2000)

EB105.R6

The use of languages in WHO: language diversity in the Secretariat and in the publications ofWHO

The Executive Board, Having examined the report by the Director-General on languages for communication in WHO, submitted following the substantive debate on the issue at the Fifty-second World Health Assembly; 1 Considering that the universality of the organizations of the United Nations system is based on, among other things, language diversity and equality among the official and working languages chosen by the Member States; Recalling the resolutions and rules governing language arrangements at WHO, especially resolution WHA50.32 on respect for equality among the official languages and resolution WHA51.30 on making WHO governing body documents available on the Internet; Emphasizing that language diversity reflects cultural diversity, and is a factor in development, dialogue and peace, and is an essential element in multilateralism and the democratization of international society; Convinced of the importance of respect for the diversity of cultures and the plurality of international languages for improving health policies in the world, especially in the developing countries, and for giving all Member States access to information and to scientific and technical cooperation, 1. COMMENDS the measures announced by the Director-General to promote language diversity, especially: ( 1) the return to full reimbursement of language courses for staff;

(2) the updating and enrichment of the WHO Internet site to make it accessible in more languages; (3) the publication ofthe Bulletin of the World Health Organization and of The world health report in a larger number of languages; (4) the expansion of interpretation services m order to attract the competent experts to technical consultations; (5) the appointment of a senior staff member as coordinator of measures to promote language diversity;

Document EBlOS/20.

RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS

2. CALLS ON the Director-General to continue to examine the question of languages and to seek additional measures such as the publication of The world health report in the six official languages; 3. REQUESTS the Director-General to keep the governing bodies regularly informed of the evolution oflanguage use in the Secretariat and in publications ofWHO. (Seventh meeting, 27 January 2000)

EB105.R7

Regulations for Study and Scientific Groups, Collaborating Institutions and other Mechanisms of Collaboration

The Executive Board, Having considered the report on research strategy and mechanisms for cooperation; 1 Recalling resolution EB99.R14 which requested the Director-General to undertake a situation analysis of the existing network of WHO collaborating centres, and discussions of the Executive Board on the centres at its 101st and 104th sessions; Reaffirming the essential role played by WHO collaborating centres in enabling the Organization to implement its mandate and programme objectives, to ensure the scientific validity of global health work, and to strengthen national and regional capacity for health development; Recognizing the need to update the policy and procedures on WHO collaborating centres, so that optimum use can be made of this essential resource; Having considered the draft amendments to the Regulations for Study and Scientific Groups, Collaborating Institutions and other Mechanisms of Collaboration, 2 1. URGES Member States: ( 1) to identify and strengthen national institutions of high scientific and technical standing in the field of health and public health; (2) to inform WHO of the existence of these centres of expertise;

(3) to make full use of WHO collaborating centres as sources of information, services and expertise, and to strengthen their own national capacity for training, research and collaboration for health development; 2. WELCOMES the Director-General's intention to take the action required to give effect to the conclusions and recommendations of the review of collaborating centres, including those regarding the use of "national institutions recognized by WHO"; 3. ENCOURAGES collaborating centres to develop working relations with other centres and national institutions recognized by WHO, in particular by setting up or joining collaborative networks with WHO's support; 1 2

Document EBIOS/21. See Annex 2.

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

4. APPROVES for immediate application the amendments to the Regulations for Study and Scientific Groups, Collaborating Institutions and other Mechanisms of Collaboration. (Seventh meeting, 27 January 2000)

EB105.R8

Regulations for Expert Advisory Panels and Committees

The Executive Board, Having considered the draft amendments to the Regulations for Expert Advisory Panels and Committees, 1 RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly the adoption of the following resolution: The Fifty-third World Health Assembly, Having considered the draft amendments to the Regulations for Expert Advisory Panels and Committees, 1. APPROVES the amendments to the Regulations for Expert Advisory Panels and Committees adopted by the Health Assembly in resolution WHA35.10, as amended in decision WHA45(10) and resolution WHA49.29; 2. ENDORSES resolution EB105.R7 concerning the Regulations for Study and Scientific Groups, Collaborating Institutions and other Mechanisms of Collaboration. (Seventh meeting, 27 January 2000)

EB105.R9

Casual income

The Executive Board, Having considered the report of the Director-General on casual income, 2 RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly the adoption of the following resolution: The Fifty-third World Health Assembly DECIDES that the estimated amount available in casual income as at 31 December 1999 should be used:

1 2

See Annex 3. Documents EB105/23 and EB105/23 Corr.l.

RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS

US$ (i) to part finance the 2002-2003 regular budget to be apportioned among Member States in accordance with the financial incentive scheme (resolution WHA41.12) from the estimated interest earnings in 1999 to finance the Real Estate Fund in accordance with proposals contained in document EB105/24 to replenish the Working Capital Fund by the amount of arrears of contributions credited to casual income to return the balance to Member States in 2000 to apply against their regular budget assessments

2 836 073

(ii)

2 142 000

(iii)

10 194 040

(iv)

6516893 21 689 006

(Seventh meeting, 27 January 2000)

EB105.R10

Real Estate Fund

The Executive Board, Noting the report ofthe Director-General on the status of projects being fmanced from the Real Estate Fund and the estimated requirements of the Fund for the period 1 June 2000 to 31 May 2001, 1 RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly the adoption of the following resolution: The Fifty-third World Health Assembly, Having considered the report of the Director-General on the status of projects financed from the Real Estate Fund and the estimated requirements of the Fund for the period 1 June 2000 to 31 May 2001; Recognizing that certain estimates must necessarily remain provisional, 1. AUTHORIZES the financing from the Real Estate Fund of the expenditures indicated under Section Ill of the Director-General's report, at an estimated cost of US$ 3 583 000; 2. APPROPRIATES to the Real Estate Fund from casual income the sum of US$ 2 141 721. (Seventh meeting, 27 January 2000)

SeeAnnex4.

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

EB105.Rll

Stop Tuberculosis Initiative

The Executive Board, Having considered the report of the Director-General on the Stop Tuberculosis Initiative, 1 and recognizing the leadership of WHO in tuberculosis control; Noting that the Ministerial Conference on Tuberculosis and Sustainable Development will take place in Amsterdam, in March 2000, RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly the adoption of the following resolution: The Fifty-third World Health Assembly, Concerned that the global burden of tuberculosis is a major impediment to socioeconomic development and a significant cause of premature death and human suffering; Being mindful of the fact that most countries with the greatest burden of disease will not meet global targets for tuberculosis control for 2000 set by resolutions WHA44.8 and WHA46.36; Welcoming the establishment, in response to resolution WHA51.13, of a special Stop Tuberculosis Initiative to accelerate action against the disease and to coordinate activities across WHO, 1. ENCOURAGES all Member States: {1)

to follow closely the outcome of the Ministerial Conference on Tuberculosis and Sustainable Development (Amsterdam, March 2000), and to note and apply as appropriate the recommendations from that meeting, paving the way for creation of broad and long-lasting high-level political support to tackle tuberculosis within the broader context of health, social and economic development; (2) to accelerate tuberculosis control by implementing and expanding the strategy of directly observed treatment, short course (DOTS) and to commit themselves politically and financially to achieving or to exceeding as soon as possible the global targets set by resolutions WHA44.8 and WHA46.36;

(3) to ensure that sufficient domestic resources are available, especially in developing countries, to enable them to meet the challenges of stopping tuberculosis, and that the capacity to apply them exists; 2. RECOMMENDS that Member States should: (1) participate with WHO in the global partnership to stop tuberculosis, and establish and sustain country-level partnerships for: (a) 1

study of antituberculosis drug resistance and means of its containment;

Document EB105/13.

RESOLUTIONS'AND DECISIONS

(b) (c)

improvement of diagnostic laboratories; access to antituberculosis drugs for the poorest populations;

(d) education and monitoring of patients to ensure better compliance with the treatment regimen; (e) training of health workers in the DOTS strategy;

(2) include case detection and cure rates - the basic outcome measures for tuberculosis - among performance indicators for overall health sector development; (3) continue to assess the magnitude of the impact of the AIDS epidemic on the tuberculosis epidemic and develop strategies to better address tuberculosis in persons with AIDS and in HIV -infected populations, to speed up coordination between prevention and treatment programmes for the two epidemics so as to foster an integrated approach at all levels of the health system, and to the maximum extent possible, to monitor for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and address issues leading to its containment; 3. CALLS ON the international community, organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, donors, nongovemmental organizations and foundations: ( 1) to support and to participate in the global partnership to stop tuberculosis by which all parties coordinate activities and are united by common goals, technical strategies, and agreed-upon principles of action;

(2) to increase organizational and financial commitment towards combating tuberculosis within the context of overall health sector development; 4. REQUESTS the Director-General to provide support to Member States, particularly those with the highest tuberculosis burden, by: (1) applying, as appropriate, the recommendations of the Ministerial Conference in Amsterdam;

(2) exploring partnerships and options for enhancing access to safe, high-quality curative drugs; (3) promoting of international investment in research, development and distribution of new diagnostics to speed up case detection and strengthen epidemiological surveillance, new drug formulations to shorten duration of treatment, and new vaccines and other public health measures to prevent disease, reduce suffering and save millions from premature death; (4) susta1mng an active and part1c1patory partnership with external organizations throughout the development and implementation of the Stop Tuberculosis Initiative and its activities. (Seventh meeting, 27 January 2000)

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

EB105.R12

Prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases

The Executive Board, Noting the Director-General's report on the global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases prepared in response to the magnitude and impact of noncommunicable diseases, especially in low- and middle-income countries and in other disadvantaged communities; 1 Encouraged by the prospects offered by partnerships, and by adapted preventive and treatment strategies that will reduce premature mortality, morbidity and disability, RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly the adoption of the following resolution: The Fifty-third World Health Assembly, Recalling resolution WHA51.18 on noncommunicable disease prevention and control requesting the Director-General to formulate a global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and to submit the proposed global strategy and a plan for implementation to the Executive Board and Health Assembly; Recognizing the enormous human suffering caused by noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, and the threat they pose to the economies of many Member States, leading to increasing health inequalities between countries and populations; Noting that the conditions in which people live and their lifestyles influence their health and quality of life, and that the most prominent noncommunicable diseases are linked to common risk factors, namely, tobacco use, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, and being aware that these risk factors have economic, social, gender, political, behavioural and environmental determinants; Reaffirming that the global strategy for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases and the ensuing implementation plan are directed at reducing premature mortality and improving quality of life; Recognizing the leadership role that WHO should play in promoting global action against noncommunicable diseases and its contribution to global health based on its advantages compared to other organizations, 1.

URGES Member States: ( 1) to establish programmes, at national or any other appropriate level, m the framework of the global strategy for the prevention and control of maJor noncommunicable diseases, and specifically: (a) to develop a mechanism to provide evidence-based information for policymaking, advocacy and evaluation of health care;

Document EBIOS/42.

RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS

(b) to assess and monitor mortality and morbidity attributable to noncommunicable disease, and the level of exposure to risk factors and their determinants in the population; (c) to continue pursuit of intersectoral and cross-cutting health goals required for prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases by according noncommunicable diseases priority on the public health agenda; (d) to emphasize the key role of governmental functions, including regulatory functions, when combating noncommunicable diseases, such as development of nutrition policy, control of tobacco products and policies to encourage physical activity; (e) to promote community-based initiatives for prevention of noncommunicable diseases, based on a comprehensive risk-factor approach; (2) to ensure that health care systems are responsive to chronic noncommunicable diseases and that their management is based on cost-effective health care interventions and equitable access; (3) to share their national experiences and to build the capacity at regional, national and community levels for the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases; 2. REQUESTS the Director-General: (1)

to continue giving priority to the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, with special emphasis on developing countries and other deprived populations;

(2) to ensure that the leadership provided by WHO in combating noncommunicable diseases and their risk factors is based on the best available evidence, and thus to · facilitate, with international partners, capacity building and establishment of a global network of information systems; (3) to provide technical support and appropriate guidance to Member States in assessing their needs, adapting their health care systems, and addressing gender issues related to the growing epidemic of noncommunicable diseases; (4) to strengthen existing partnerships and develop new ones, notably with specialized national and international nongovernmental organizations, with a view to sharing responsibilities for implementation of the global strategy based on each partner's expertise; (5) to coordinate, in collaboration with the international community, global partnerships and alliances for resource mobilization, advocacy, capacity-building and collaborative research; (6) to promote the adoption of international intersectoral policies, regulations and other appropriate measures that minimize the effect of the major risk factors of noncommunicable diseases;

EXECUTIVE BOARD, l05th SESSION

(7) to promote and initiate collaborative research on noncommunicab1e diseases, and to strengthen the role of WHO collaborating centres in supporting implementation of the global prevention and control strategy. (Seventh meeting, 27 January 2000)

EB105.R13

Confirmation of amendments to the Staff Rules 1

The Executive Board CONFIRMS in accordance with Staff Regulation 12.2 the amendments to the Staff Rules made by the Director-General with effect from 1 March 2000 concerning the salary scale and staff assessment rates for use in conjunction with gross base salaries applicable to professional category and directors' posts. (Eighth meeting, 27 January 2000)

EB105.R14

Salaries of staff in ungraded posts and of the Director-General

The Executive Board RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly the adoption of the following resolution: The Fifty-third World Health Assembly, Noting the recommendation of the Executive Board with regard to remuneration of staff in ungraded posts and of the Director-General, 1. ESTABLISHES the salary for ungraded posts at US$ 143 674 per annum before staff assessment, resulting in a modified net salary of US$ 99 278 (dependency rate) or US$ 89 899 (single rate); 2. ESTABLISHES the salary for the Director-General at US$ 194 548 per annum before staff assessment, resulting in a modified net salary of US$ 130 820 (dependency rate) or US$ 116 334 (single rate); 3. DECIDES that those adjustments in remuneration shall take effect on 1 March 2000. (Eighth meeting, 27 January 2000)

See Annex 5.

RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS

EB105.R15

Participation of WHO in the 1986 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations

The Executive Board RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly the adoption of the following resolution: The Fifty-third World Health Assembly, Acknowledging that the United Nations General Assembly, by resolution 53/100 of 8 December 1998, encouraged international organizations that have signed the 1986 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations, to deposit an act of formal confirmation of the Convention at an early date; Having considered the report on the subject; 1 Bearing in mind that the entry into force of the Convention would· safeguard the legal interests of both States and international organizations, including WHO; Wishing to support, within its area of competence, promotion of the acceptance of and respect for the principles of international law, which was one of the purposes of the United Nations Decade of International Law, AUTHORIZES the Director-General to deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations an act of formal confirmation of the 1986 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations, in conformity with Article 83 of the Convention. (Eighth meeting, 27 January 2000)

EB105.R16

Food safety

The Executive Board, Noting the report by the Director-General on the role ofWHO in food safety, 2 RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly the adoption of the following resolution:

1 2

See Annex 6. See Annex 7.

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

The Fifty-third World Health Assembly, Deeply concerned that foodborne illnesses associated with microbial pathogens, biotoxins and chemical contaminants in food represent a serious threat to the health of millions of people in the developing and developed world; Recognizing that foodborne diseases result in significant health and economtc consequences for individuals, families, communities, businesses, and countries; Acknowledging the importance of all services - including public health services responsible for food safety, in ensuring the safety of food and in harmonizing the efforts of all stakeholders throughout the food chain; Aware of the increased concern of consumers about the safety of food, particularly after recent foodborne-disease outbreaks of international and global scope and the emergence of new food products derived from biotechnology; Recognizing the importance of the standards, guidelines and other recommendations of the Codex Alimentarius Commission for protecting the health of consumers and assuring fair trading practices; Noting the need for surveillance systems for assessment of the burden of foodborne disease and the development of evidence-based national and international control strategies; Mindful that food safety systems must take account of the trend towards integration of agriculture and the food industry and of ensuing changes in farming, production, and marketing practices and consumer habits in both developed and developing countries; Mindful of the growing importance of microbiological agents in foodborne-disease outbreaks at international level and of the increasing resistance of some foodbome bacteria to common therapies, particularly because of the widespread use of antimicrobials in agriculture and in clinical practice; Aware of the improvements in public health protection and in the development of sustainable food and agricultural sectors that could result from the enhancement of WHO's food safety activities; Recognizing that developing countries rely for their food supply primarily on traditional agriculture and small- and medium-sized food industry, and that in most developing countries, the food safety systems remain weak, 1. URGES Member States: ( 1) to integrate food safety as one of their essential public health functions and to provide adequate resources to establish and strengthen their food safety programmes; (2) to develop and implement systematic and sustainable preventive measures aimed at reducing significantly the occurrence of foodborne illnesses; (3) to develop and maintain national, and where appropriate, regional means for surveillance of foodbome diseases and for monitoring and controlling relevant microorganisms and chemicals in food; to reinforce the principal responsibility of

RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS

producers, manufacturers and traders for food safety; and to increase the capacity of laboratories, especially in developing countries; (4) to integrate measures in their food safety policies aimed at preventing the development of microbial agents that are resistant to antibiotics; (5) to support the development of science in the assessment of risks related to food, including the analysis of risk factors relevant to foodborne disease; (6) to integrate food safety matters into health and nutrition education and information programmes for consumers, particularly within primary and secondary school curricula, and to initiate culture-specific health and nutrition education programmes for food handlers, consumers, farmers, producers and agro-food industry personnel; (7) to develop outreach programmes for the private sector that can improve food safety at the consumer level, especially in urban food markets, and to explore opportunities for cooperation with the food industry to raise awareness regarding the use of good farming, hygienic and manufacturing practices; (8) to coordinate the food safety activities of all relevant national sectors concerned with food safety matters, particularly those related to the risk assessment of foodborne hazards; (9) to participate actively in the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its committees, including activities in the emerging area of food-safety risk analysis; 2. REQUESTS the Director-General: (1) to give, in view of WHO's global leadership in public health, and in collaboration and coordination with other international organizations, notably the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and within the Codex Alimentarius Commission, greater emphasis to food safety, and to work towards integrating food safety as one of WHO's essential public health functions, with the goal of developing sustainable, integrated food safety systems for the reduction of health risk along the entire food chain, from the primary producer to the consumer; (2) to support Member States in the identification of food-related diseases and the assessment of foodborne hazards; (3) to focus on emerging problems related to the development of antimicrobialresistant microorganisms stemming from the use of antimicrobials in food production and clinical practice; (4) to put in place a global strategy for the surveillance of foodborne diseases and for the efficient gathering and exchange of information in and between countries and regions, taking into account the current revision of the International Health Regulations; (5) to convene, as soon as practicable, an initial strategic planning meeting of food safety experts from Member States, international organizations, and nongovernmental organizations with an interest in food safety issues;

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

(6) to provide, in close collaboration with other international organizations active in this area, particularly FAO and the International Office of Epizootics (OIE), technical support to developing countries in assessing the burden on health and prioritizing diseasecontrol strategies through the development of laboratory-based surveillance systems for major foodborne pathogens, including antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, and in monitoring contaminants in food; (7) in collaboration with FAO and other bodies as appropriate, to strengthen the application of science in the assessment of acute and long-term health risks related to food, and specifically to support the establishment of an expert advisory body on microbiological risk assessment and to strengthen the expert advisory bodies that provide scientific guidance on food safety issues related to chemicals; (8) to ensure that the procedures for designating experts and preparing scientific opinions are such as to guarantee the transparency, excellence and independence of the opinions delivered; (9) to encourage research to support evidence-based strategies for the control of foodborne diseases, particularly research on risk factors related to emergence and increase of foodborne diseases; (10) to examine the current working relationship between WHO and FAO, with a view to increasing the involvement and support of WHO in the work of the Codex Alimentarius Commission and its committees; (11) to support Member States in providing the scientific basis for health-related decisions regarding genetically modified foods; (12) to support the inclusion of health considerations in international trade in food; (13) to make the largest possible use of information from developing countries in risk assessment for international standard-setting, and to strengthen technical training in developing countries. (Ninth meeting, 28 January 2000)

EB105.R17

HIV/AIDS: confronting the epidemic

The Executive Board, Noting the report by the Director-General on HIV/AIDS, 1 RECOMMENDS to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly the adoption of the following resolution: The Fifty-third World Health Assembly, Having considered the report by the Director-General on HIV/AIDS; 1

Document EB105/12 and Corr.l.

RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS

Noting with deep concern that, of the nearly 34 million people worldwide currently living with HIV/AIDS, 95% are in developing countries; and that in African countries the development gains of the past 50 years, including the increase in child survival and in life expectancy, are being reversed by the HIVIAIDS epidemic; Further noting that in sub-Saharan Africa, where over 23 million people are infected, HIVI AIDS is the leading cause of death and that more women are now infected than men; and that HIV infection is increasing rapidly in Asia, particularly in south Asia, where 6.5 million people are infected; Recalling resolution WHA52.19 which inter alia requests the Director-General: to cooperate with Member States, at their request, and with international organizations in monitoring and analysing the pharmaceutical and public health implications of relevant international agreements, including trade agreements, so that Member States can effectively assess and subsequently develop pharmaceutical and health policies and regulatory measures that address their concerns and priorities, and are able to maximize the positive and mitigate the negative impact of those agreements;

Recognizing that poverty and inequality between men and women are driving the epidemic; and that denial, discrimination and stigma continue to be major obstacles to an effective response to the epidemic; Underlining the need to advocate respect for human rights in the implementation of all measures to respond to the epidemic; Acknowledging that political commitment and resources devoted to combating the epidemic both at national and international levels are not commensurate with the magnitude of the problem; Recalling United Nations Economic and Social Council resolution 1999/36 on human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS), which stresses, inter alia, governments' responsibility to intensify all efforts in combating AIDS through multisectoral action; Recalling the recent session of the United Nations Security Council devoted to the HIVIAIDS crisis in Africa, in which the Security Council recognized that HIVIAIDS is a unique modem-day plague that threatens the political, economic and social stability of sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, 1. URGES Member States: ( 1) to match their political commitment to the magnitude of the problem by allocating an appropriate national budget for HIV/AIDS prevention and control; (2) to provide increased support for UNAIDS, including its efforts in the context of the International Partnership against AIDS in Africa; (3) to strengthen public education on HIV/AIDS and to pay particular attention to national strategic plans directed at reducing the vulnerability of women, children and adolescents;

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

(4) to apply experiences and lessons learned and the growing body of scientific knowledge regarding proven effective interventions for prevention and care in order to reduce the spread of HIVIAIDS and to increase the quality and length of life of those infected; (5) to ensure that blood transfusion services do not constitute an HIV risk factor by ensuring that all individuals have access to blood and blood products that are as safe as possible, available at reasonable cost, adequate to meet their needs, transfused only when necessary, and provided as part of a sustainable blood programme within the existing health care system; (6) to build and strengthen partnerships between health providers and the community, including nongovemmental organizations, in order to direct community resources towards proven effective interventions; (7) to implement key strategies for HIVIAIDS prevention, in particular management of sexually transmitted infections and promotion of safer sex, including by ensuring availability of male and female condoms; (8) to strengthen health systems that ensure adequate and skilled human resources, supply systems and financing schemes in order to address the needs for HIV/AIDS care and prevention; (9) to take steps to reduce use of illicit substances and to protect injecting drug users and their sexual partners against HIV infection; (10) to increase access to, and quality ot~ care in order to improve quality oflife, assure the dignity of the individual, and meet the medical and psychosocial needs of people living with HIV/AIDS, including treatment and prevention of HIV-related illnesses and provision of a continuum of care, with efficient referral mechanisms between home, clinic, hospital and institution; (11) to increase access to prophylaxis for, and treatment of, HIV-related illnesses by ensuring a reliable distribution and delivery system, and the provision and affordability of drugs, particularly through implementation of a strong generic drug policy, bulk purchasing, negotiation with pharmaceutical companies, and adequate financing; (12) to define and affirm their role and, where appropriate, engage in partnerships and solidarity initiatives to make prophylactic and therapeutic drugs accessible, affordable and safely and effectively used, whether intended for prevention of mother-to-child transmission, prevention and treatment of opportunistic diseases, or antiretroviral treatment for patients; (13) to establish or to expand voluntary counselling and confidential HIV-testing services in order to encourage health-seeking behaviour and to act as an entry point for prevention and care; (14) to continue research on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and to integrate interventions for it into primary health care, including reproductive health services, as part of comprehensive care for HIV -infected pregnant women and postnatal follow-up for them and for their families;

RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS

(15) to establish and strengthen monitoring and evaluation systems, including epidemiological and behavioural surveillance and assessment of the response of health systems to the epidemics ofHIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections; 2. REQUESTS the Director-General:

(1) to continue strengthening the involvement ofWHO, as a cosponsor ofUNAIDS, in the United Nations system-wide response to HIV/AIDS, including at country level; (2) to develop a global health-sector strategy for responding to the epidemics of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections as part of the United Nations system's strategic plan for HIVIAIDS for 2001-2005, and to report on progress in development of the strategy to the Executive Board at its 107th session; (3) to give priority in WHO's regular budget to the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS, and to engage the Organization as an active partner in the implementation of a transparent and joint resource mobilization strategy in support ofthe unified budget and work plan of the UN AIDS Secretariat and its cosponsors; (4) to further mobilize funds in support of national HIV/AIDS prevention and control programmes; (5) to involve WHO fully in the International Partnership against AIDS in Africa, particularly at country level, within the context of national strategic plans; (6) to cooperate with Member States in organizing nationally coordinated bloodtransfusion services; (7) to collaborate with Member States in strengthening the capacity of health systems both to respond to the epidemics through integrated prevention of HIVIAIDS and sexually transmitted infections and care for infected people and to promote health systems research to frame policy on health systems' response to HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections; (8) to advocate respect for human rights m the implementation of all measures responding to the epidemics; (9) to pursue dialogue with the pharmaceutical industry with a view to making HIV/AIDS-related drugs increasingly accessible to the population of Member States through drug development, cost reduction, and strengthening of reliable distribution systems; (10) to reinforce, promote, and explore partnerships both to make HIV/AIDS-related drugs accessible through affordable prices, adequate financing and effective health care systems and to ensure that drugs are safely and effectively used; ( 11) to cooperate with governments, at their request, and other international organizations on possible options under relevant international agreements, including trade agreements, to improve access to HIVI AIDS-related drugs; (12) to promote the research on, and development of, new and effective diagnostic tools and antimicrobial drugs for sexually transmitted infections;

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

(13) to intensify efforts to prevent HIV and sexually transmitted infections in women, including promotion of research on and development of microbicides and affordable female condoms to provide women and girls with female-initiated protection methods; (14) to continue, in the context of efforts under way with UNICEF, UNFPA and the UNAIDS Secretariat, to provide technical support to Member States for implementation of strategies and programmes to prevent mother-to-child transmission ofHIV; (15) to advocate the expansion of current vaccine development appropriate for strains of HIV found in developing and developed countries; ( 16) to provide support to Member States for collecting and analysing information on the epidemics of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, developing methodologies for behavioural surveillance, and producing periodic updates; ( 17) to provide increased support to Member States for the prevention of HIV transmission in injecting drug users in order to avoid an explosive spread ofHIV/AIDS in that vulnerable population. (Ninth meeting, 28 January 2000)

EB105.R18

Relations with nongovernmental organizations 1

The Executive Board, Having examined the report of its Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations, 2

DECIDES to establish official relations with the following nongovernmental organizations: International Society of Doctors for the Environment International Water Association Organisation pour la Prevention de la Cecite;

DECIDES to discontinue official relations with the following nongovernmental organizations: International Association on Water Quality International Astronautical Federation International Council for Laboratory Animal Science International Leprosy Union International Society of Biometeorology International Water Services Association. (Ninth meeting, 28 January 2000)

See Annex 10. Document EB105/28.

DECISIONS

EB105(1)

Public-private partnerships for health: Medicines for Malaria Venture

The Executive Board endorsed the initial decision of the Director-General to appoint two representatives to the board of the Medicines for Malaria Venture. (Second meeting, 24 January 2000)

EB105(2)

Draft policy on extrabudgetary resources 1

The Executive Board endorsed the WHO policy guidelines on resource mobilization, as amended. (Third meeting, 25 January 2000)

EB105(3)

Guidelines for the WHO review of dependence-producing psychoactive substances for international controe

The Executive Board, having considered the report on collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations, approved the guidelines for the WHO review of dependence-producing psychoactive substances for international control, as amended. (Sixth meeting, 26 January 2000)

EB105(4)

Provisional agenda for and duration of the Fifty-third World Health Assembly

The Executive Board, having considered the report of the Director-General on the provisional agenda for and duration of the Fifty-third World Health Assembly, 3 and recalling its earlier decision that the Fifty-third World Health Assembly should be held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, and open on Monday, 15 May 2000,4 decided that the Fifty-third World Health Assembly should close no later than Saturday, 20 May 2000. It approved the provisional agenda of the Fifty-third World Health Assembly as amended and the arrangements for the conduct of the discussion on The world health report 2000 in a shortened plenary meeting, and encouraged Member States to make group or regional statements in the plenary debate. It also approved the theme for the round tables, namely, addressing the major health system challenges, and the procedures for the conduct of the 1 2

See Annex 8. See Annex 9. Document EB105/33. Decision EB104(14).

3 4

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EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

round tables as outlined in the Director-General's report. It further recommended that participation in the round tables should be open to ministers of health or to those designated to represent them personally in the policy discussions. (Eighth meeting, 27 January 2000)

EB105(5)

Date and place of the 106th session of the Executive Board

The Executive Board decided that its 106th session should be convened on Monday, 22 May 2000, at WHO headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, and should close no later than Tuesday, 23 May 2000. (Eighth meeting, 27 January 2000)

EB105(6)

Appointment of a representative of the Executive Board at the Fiftythird World Health Assembly

The Executive Board appointed Or J. Jimenez de la Jara (Chile) to replace Mr Liu Peilong (China) as a representative of the Board at the Fifty-third World Health Assembly, in addition to its Chairman, Or A.J.M. Sulaiman (Oman), ex officio, and Professor J.-F. Girard (France) and Mr N.S. de Silva (Sri Lanka), already appointed at its 104th session. (Eighth meeting, 27 January 2000)

EB105(7)

Working group on Financial Regulations

The Executive Board commended the work of revising the Financial Regulations and, in order to assist the Fifty-third World Health Assembly in reaching a decision, decided to establish an openended working group of interested Member States. The working group would pursue the review ofthe proposals for revision of the Financial Regulations discussed by the Administration, Budget and Finance Committee (ABFC) at its twelfth meeting and by the Executive Board at its 105th session. The working group would hold one or two meetings under the chairmanship of Professor T. Zeltner (Switzerland) and would report to ABFC, which would in turn report to the Fifty-third World Health Assembly on behalf of the Board. (Eighth meeting, 27 January 2000)

EB105(8)

Award of the Sasakawa Health Prize

The Executive Board, having considered the report of the Sasakawa Health Prize Selection Panel, awarded the Sasakawa Health Prize for 2000 to Or Yoav Horn (Israel), Or Oviemo Otu Ovadje (Nigeria) and the Family Planning Association (PLAFAM) (Venezuela). The Board noted that Or Horn and Or Ovadje would receive an amount of US$ 30 000 each and that the Family Planning Association would receive an amount of US$ 40 000 for their outstanding innovative work in health development. (Ninth meeting, 28 January 2000)

RESOLUTIONS AND DECISIONS

EB105(9)

Award of the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize

The Executive Board, having considered the report of the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Selection Panel, awarded the United Arab Emirates Health Foundation Prize for 2000 to Professor Roemwerdiniadi Soedoko (Indonesia) and to the Institute of Nursing (Myanmar) for their outstanding contribution to health development. The Board noted that the laureates would each receive US$ 20 000. (Ninth meeting, 28 January 2000)

EB105(10)

Award of the Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Prize

The Executive Board, having considered the report of the Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Committee, awarded the Dr A.T. Shousha Foundation Prize for 2000 to Dr Seyed Alireza Marandi (Islamic Republic of Iran) for his most significant contribution to the objectives of primary health care in the geographical area in which Dr Shousha served the World Health Organization. (Ninth meeting, 28 January 2000)

EB105(11)

Award of the Jacques Parisot Foundation Fellowship

The Executive Board, having considered the report of the Jacques Parisot Foundation Selection Panel, awarded the Jacques Parisot Foundation Fellowship for 2000 to Dr Laura Papantoniou (Cyprus). (Ninth meeting, 28 January 2000)

EB105(12)

Review of nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WH0 1

The Executive Board, having considered the report of its Standing Committee on Nongovernmental Organizations concerning the review of one-third of the nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WH0, 2 and following up decision EB103(2), reached the decisions set out below. On the basis of the reports of collaboration submitted by 48 nongovernmental organizations, including those for which review had been deferred pending receipt of information, the Board commended the efforts of the organizations to support WHO's work in communicable and noncommunicable diseases, environment as it relates to water and sanitation, chemical and radiation safety, and the prevention of blindness and deafuess, and decided to maintain official relations with them. Concerning the Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, the Board also noted that efforts would be made to encourage interregional cooperation. 1 2

See Annex 10. Document EBlOS/28.

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

Concerning the International Council of Societies of Pathology and the International Society for Preventive Oncology, the Board noted that, although there had been no collaboration, possibilities existed for collaborative activities and therefore decided to maintain official relations with them for one year to enable the preparation of plans for collaboration. In the absence of reports on collaboration from the International Academy of Pathology, International Association of Hydatid Disease, International Organization against Trachoma, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, International Federation for Housing and Planning, International League of Associations for Rheumatology, International Radiation Protection Association, and Rotary International, the Board decided to defer the review of relations until its 107th sessiOn. The. Board, noting the continued efforts to draw up mutually agreed work plans, decided to maintain official relations with the following nongovernmental organizations for a further year: International Alliance of Women, International Federation of Business and Professional Women, International Medical Society of Paraplegia, World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and World Federation of United Nations Associations. Concerning Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum, the Board noted that, although there had been no joint activities during the period under review, a work plan had been agreed upon. The Board decided to maintain official relations with the Collegium. (Ninth meeting, 28 January 2000)

ANNEXES

ANNEX 1

Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization• Report by the Secretariat [EB105/43- 25 January 2000]

1. Resolution WHA44.4 requests the Director-General inter alia to keep the Executive Board informed of progress relating to the Children's Vaccine Initiative. The Children's Vaccine Initiative was established by a group of cosponsors including WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, UNDP and the Rockefeller Foundation after the World Summit for Children (New York, 1990). The Initiative was an international, collective effort, designed to harness new scientific developments in order to increase protection from infectious diseases and to simplify vaccine delivery.

2. Today, about two million children are still dying each year from diseases that can be prevented by currently available vaccines, and several million more lives could be saved if there were effective vaccines against diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. 3. There is now a new commitment of philanthropic foundations, and a renewed commitment of vaccine-producing industries and a variety of public sector institutions to bring these vaccines to current and future generations of children. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) has been established after a series of meetings (World Bank, Washington, March 1998; Bellagio, Italy, March 1999; Seattle, United States of America, July 1999) and a one-year, in-depth review of immunization-related activities undertaken by major interested partners. 4. The Alliance has been set up to fulfil the right of every child to be protected against vaccinepreventable diseases of public health concern. Its mission is to save children's lives and to protect peoples' health through the widespread use of safe vaccines, with a particular focus on the needs of developing countries. 5. The underlying principle of the Alliance is that partners agree on a set of shared objectives to which they will all contribute through joint action. The Alliance is not a new organization; it is a grouping which broadens the partnership for vaccines and immunization and enhances the synergy between the partners' contributions. 6. The strategic objectives of the Alliance are: (i) to improve access to sustainable immunization services; (ii) to expand the use of all existing cost-effective vaccines; (iii) to accelerate the development and introduction of new vaccines; (iv) to accelerate research and development efforts for vaccines and related products specifically needed by developing countries; and (v) to make immunization coverage an integral part of the design and assessment of health systems and international development efforts. Interim targets have been adopted to assure within a specific time-

See resolution EB 105 .R4.

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EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

frame a reduction in the inequalities of access to vaccines and to reduce the preventable disease burden, especially among the poor. 7. The Alliance will operate through the following mechanisms: • a Global Fund for Children's Vaccines to facilitate (i) the financing ofunderutilized and new vaccines; (ii) the strengthening of immunization delivery infrastructure; and (iii) the research and development of priority vaccines for poor populations and countries; • a governing board of initially 12 members, expressing the highest political commitment of partners and providing a forum for decision-making on common objectives and strategies. The Executive Heads of partner organizations, ex officio, act in turn as Chairmen of the Board for a term of two years. The Director-General of WHO has accepted to serve as Chair for the first two years, and the Executive Director of UNICEF, for the second term. Members on the Board include representatives from WHO, UNICEF, the World Bank, industrialized and developing countries, technical agencies, research and development agencies, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; • a coordinating secretariat, facilitating the work of the Board and helping to ensure the involvement and representation of all bodies involved in immunization activities; the secretariat will be housed by UNICEF at its Geneva premises; • a working group consisting of dedicated staff within each of the major partners, to ensure that the decisions of the Board are translated into operational actions appropriate to each lead agency; • task forces of limited duration to address specific issues: three task forces with agreed terms of reference are currently operating - on country coordination under WHO leadership, on advocacy led by UNICEF, and on financing led by the World Bank. In addition, the Board has requested that an analysis of gaps in research and development should be completed within a year; • an international meeting to be held approximately every two years in order to bring together the broader immunization community. 8. It is expected that the Alliance will be publicly launched at the same time as the Global Fund for Children's Vaccines at the end of January 2000, possibly during the World Economic Forum. 9. As a result of the establishment of the Alliance, the partners involved in setting up the Children's Vaccine Initiative have agreed to close it down as of31 December 1999.

ACTION BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD 10. [This paragraph contained a draft resolution which was adopted at the fifth meeting as resolution EB105.R4.]

ANNEX2

Changes to the Regulations for Study and Scientific Groups, Collaborating Institutions and other Mechanisms of Collaboration Amendments to regulations for WHO collaborating centres 1 [EB105/21, Annex 1-24 November 1999]

PRESENT REGULATIONS

AMENDED TEXT (with deletions in square brackets and additions underlined)

Designation

Designation 3.5

3.5 (f) the institution's ability, capacity and readiness to contribute to WHO programme activities, whether in support of country programmes or by participating in international cooperative activities.

(f) the institution's ability, capacity and readiness to contribute, individually and within networks, to WHO programme activities, whether in support of country programmes or by participating in international cooperative activities; (g) the technical and geographical relevance of the institution and its activities to WHO's programme priorities: (h) the successful completion by the institution of at least two years of collaboration with WHO in carrying out jointly planned activities.

See resolution EBI05.R7.

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EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

Management 3.11 Regional Directors shall be responsible for the management of the Organization's collaboration with the centres. Collaborating centres of global compass, however, shall maintain their technical links with the part of the Organization having overall responsibility for the relevant programme

Management 3.11 [Regional Directors shall be responsible for the management of the Organization's] Collaboration with the centres [.] shall be managed by relevant programme officers in that part of the Organization which initiated the designation process, whether at headquarters or in a region. Collaborating centres [of global compass], however, shall maintain their technical links with [the part] all parts of the Organization [having overall responsibility for the relevant programme] relevant to their agreed programme of work.

ANNEXJ

Changes to the Regulations for Expert Advisory Panels and Committees Amendments to regulations for expert committees 1 [EB 105/21, Annex 2 - 24 November 1999] PRESENT REGULATIONS AMENDED TEXT (with deletions in square brackets and additions underlined) 4.2 The Director-General shall select from one or more expert advisory panels the members of an expert committee, taking into consideration the need for adequate representation of different trends of thought, approaches and practical experience in various parts of the world, as well as for an appropriate interdisciplinary balance. In making this selection, the Director-General shall also take into account the desirability of achieving gender balance. The membership of expert committees shall not be restricted by consideration of language, within the range of the official languages of the Organization.

4.2 The Director-General shall select from one or more expert advisory panels the members of an expert committee, taking into consideration the need for adequate representation of different trends of thought, approaches and practical experience in various parts of the world, as well as for an appropriate interdisciplinary balance. The membership of expert committees shall not be restricted by consideration of language, within the range of the official languages of the Organization.

4.6 In the exercise of their functions, the members of expert advisory panels and committees shall act as international experts serving the Organization exclusively; in that capacity they may not request or receive instructions from any government or authority external to the Organization. Furthermore, they shall disclose all circumstances that could give rise to a potential conflict of interest as a result of their membership of an expert committee, in accordance with the mechanisms established by the Director-General for that purpose.

See resolution EBl 05 .R8.

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ANNEX4

Real Estate Fund 1 Report by the Director-General [EB 105/24 - 26 November 1999]

STATUS OF PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKEN BEFORE 31 MAY 2000 Office Project Amount US$ 50 000

UNDERTAKEN

Remarks

The Americas

Replacement of waterproofing of the windows and machinehouse roof of the regional office building Renovation/restructuring of regional office building Construction of a new regional office building in Cairo

Project progressing satisfactorily

South-East Asia

400 000

Some delay in implementation; completion expected by end-1999 Construction work progressing with slight delay. Expected completion by mid-2000. The amount allocated from the Real Estate Fund has been fixed at the level indicated; any costs over that amount will have to be met by the Region from extrabudgetary resources Project completed. Cost overrun as estimated, US$ 460 000 or about 7% of initial estimate. Additional expenditure attributed to technological evolution since first estimate was made in the mid-1990s

Eastern Mediterranean

9 890 000

Headquarters

Replacement of the local area network (LAN)

6 765 000 (original estimate in Swiss francs and subject to exchange rate fluctuations)

See resolution EBIOS.RIO.

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ANNEX4

ESTIMATED REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PERIOD 1 JUNE 2000 TO 31 MAY 2001 Office Project Amount Comments

US$ Africa Replacement ofthe telephone exchange 565 000 The telephone exchanges in the five sites in question are over 10 years old, at the end of their technological life cycle and cannot be easily upgraded. In several sites, it will not be possible to connect the present exchanges to the global private network that is being put into place for voice, fax, video and data transmission. It is also doubtful whether these exchanges are year 2000 compliant. Bearing in mind the age and the condition of these exchanges and the fact that several of them are from different manufacturers, it was decided to ask for a collective tender with a view to having one manufacturer and one maintenance contract for all the exchanges. This collective approach represents cost savings and provides the advantages of a common communications infrastructure that is forward-looking and furthers the "one WHO" concept. At this stage it would not be costeffective to replace the exchanges in the Regional Office for the Americas and the Regional Office for Europe, but this will become necessary in the medium term.

South-East Asia

Replacement ofthe telephone exchange

400 000

Europe

Recabling of the LAN infrastructure to make it year 2000 compliant

78 000

Eastern Mediterranean

Replacement of the telephone exchange

425 000

Western Pacific

Replacement of the telephone exchange

365 000

Headquarters

Replacement of the telephone exchange

1 750 000

1. The telephone exchanges in the regional offices for South-East Asia and for the Western Pacific are most at risk of complete breakdown and are not year 2000 compliant. The Director-General has therefore approved their replacement in accordance with resolution WHA23.14(ii) which authorizes her to use the Real Estate Fund for such projects and report the transactions to the Executive Board. The Director-General has also approved, under the same resolution, replacement of the cabling in the European Region to ensure year 2000 compliance. 2. The Regional Office for Africa has requested use of the Real Estate Fund for the purpose of constructing an office building in Harare. Alternatives are still being investigated.

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

ID.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Total estimated requirements US$ 3 583 000 Unencumbered balance US$ 1 441 279 [see Appendix] Appropriation from casual income US$ 2 141 721

IV.

ACTION BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

3. [This paragraph contained a draft resolution which was adopted at the seventh meeting as resolution EB105.Rl0.]

Appendix REAL ESTATE FUND ESTIMATED SITUATION AS AT 31 DECEMBER 1999 (expressed in US dollars)

1 January 197031 December 1995 1. BALANCEAT1JANUARY INCOME Balance of Revolving Fund for Real Estate Operations (resolution WHA23.14) ................................................................. Casual income appropriated (resolutions WHA23.15, WHA24.23, WHA25.38, WHA28.26, WHA29.28, WHA33.15, WHA34.12, WHA35.12, WHA36.17, WHA37.19, WHA39.5, WHA42.10, WHA43.6, WHA44.29, WHA46.22, WHA47.25, WHA48.22, WHA50.10, WHA50.11, WHA52.15) ........................................... Transfer from Part II of the Working Capital Fund (resolution WHA23.15) ................................................................. Rents collected ...................................................................................... Interest. ................................................................................................. Other..................................................................................................... Total income Total funds available 3. OBLIGATIONS AND EXPECTED OBLIGATIONS .......................... BALANCE AT 31 DECEMBER 1999 ................................................... a

1996-1997 11875 877

1998-19998 13 184 075

Total (from inception)

68 990

~ 32 471436 1 128 414 8 040 246 6 211 955 1 567 47 922 608 47 922 608 36 046 731 11 875 877 10 705 000 (2 049 OOO)b 41 127 436 1 128 414 8 948 765 8 275 205 1 567 59 550 377 58 109 098 1 441 279 ~ ..j::o.

trJ

748 519 1 015 250

160 000 1 048 000

12 468 769 24 344 646 11 160 571 13 184 075

(841 000) 12 343 075 10 901 796b 1 441 279

Estimated on data available in 1999.

b Funds appropriated for six projects in the Regional Office for Africa (resolution WHA50.10) for a total of US$ 1 654 000, for one project in the Regional Office for the Americas (resolution WHA47.25) for US$ 250 000 and for one project in the Regional Office for South-East Asia (resolution WHA45.9) for US$ 145 000 have been refunded to casual income as per resolution WHA52.15 (total refunded US$ 2 049 000).

'W Vt

ANNEX5

Confirmation of amendments to the Staff Rules 1 Report by the Secretariat [EB 105/26 - 26 November 1999]

1. The twenty-fifth annual report of the International Civil Service Commission, 2 being considered by the fifty-fourth session of the United Nations General Assembly, is submitted to the Executive Board in accordance with Article 17 ofthe Commission's statutes. 2. In accordance with Staff Regulation 12.2, amendments to the Staff Rules resulting from decisions taken by the General Assembly on the Commission's report will be submitted for confirmation by the Executive Board in an addendum to this document. 3 The issues under consideration are (a) an adjustment in the base/floor salary scale and (b) adoption of a simplified procedure for revising the rates of staff assessment.

(a)

Base/floor salary scale for the professional and higher categories

3. The Commission has recommended to the General Assembly an upward adjustment of 3.42% of the common system scale, to take effect from 1 March 2000. This adjustment is a routine annual exercise4 designed to bring the base/floor salary scale of organizations of the United Nations system into line with the salaries of the comparator civil service (the United States federal civil service in Washington, D.C.). The adjustment consists of transferring the requisite amount from post adjustment (the cost-of-living element) into salary on a "no loss - no gain" basis. The reason for doing this is to ensure that allowances that are linked to the base/floor salary scale (the mobility and hardship allowance and certain separation payments) keep pace with inflation. The actual transfer procedure is cost neutral. Budgetary implications are minimal; they derive from increases in the above-mentioned allowances, and from small additional costs for those duty stations 5 where, as a result of the exercise, salaries fall below the revised base/floor scale. 6 These additional costs under the regular budget will be absorbed under the appropriate allocations for the 2000-2001 programme budget.

See resolution EB105.Rl3. General Assembly Official Records, Fifty-fourth session: Supplement No. 30 (A/54/30). See Appendix. The base/floor scale was introduced in 1990; adjustments have been made every year since. Afghanistan, Belarus, Ecuador, Niue, Tajikistan(a total of seven WHO staff members).

2 3

4 5

The base/floor scale is part of an integrated package of measures in which negative classes of post adjustment were eliminated.

-36-

ANNEX5

(b)

Simplified procedure for revising staff assessment rates

4. The Commission is proposing a simplified procedure for revising staff assessment rates at the time of the above-mentioned exercise. This would result in: (a) for staff with dependants, a scale comprising four assessable income brackets and corresponding staff assessment rates; (b) for staff without dependants at various grades and steps, staff assessment equal to the difference between gross salary and the corresponding net single salary.

ACTION BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD 5. [This paragraph contained a draft resolution which was adopted at the eighth meeting as resolution EB105.R13.]

Appendix TEXTS OF AMENDED STAFF RULES

[EBIOS/26 Add. I, Annex -7 December 1999]

330. 330.1

SALARIES Gross base salaries shall be subject to the following assessments: 330.1.1 For professional and higher graded staff: 1

Assessable income US$ First 30 000 Next 30 000 Next 30 000 Remaining assessable payments

Staff assessment rates for those with dependants (as defined in Rules 310.5.1 and 310.5.2) % 18 28 34 38

Amounts of staff assessment for those with neither a dependent spouse nor a dependent child would be equal to the differences between the gross salaries at different grades and steps and the corresponding net salaries at the single rate. 330.2 The following schedule of annual gross and annual net base salaries shall apply to all professional category and directors' posts with effect from 1 March 2000: 1

With effect from 1 March 2000.

Salary scale for the professional and higher graded categories showing annual gross salaries and net equivalents after application of staff assessment1 (US dollars) Level D-2 Gross NetD NetS Gross NetD NetS Gross NetD NetS Gross NetD NetS Gross NetD NetS Gross NetD NetS Gross NetD NetS 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

117550 120165 122777 125389 128002 130615 83 081 84 702 86 322 87 941 89 561 91 181 76 325 77 683 79 041 80 398 81 756 83 113 103 763 106 000 108 239 110 471 112 710 114 947 117 185 119 423 121 658 74 533 75 920 77 308 78 692 80 080 81467 82 855 84 242 85 628 68 893 70 112 71 329 72 545 73 763 74 972 76 135 77 297 78 459 91 215 66 753 62 014 75 424 56 380 52 503 61 730 47 342 44 191 50 349 39 251 36 815 38 988 31 071 29 310 93 239 68 008 63 164 77 282 57 606 53 629 63 473 48 492 45 248 51779 40 281 37 749 40 363 32 061 30 221 95 265 69 264 64 267 79 135 58 829 54 751 65 217 49 643 46 307 53 206 41 308 38 680 41 735 33 049 31 131 97 289 70 519 65 370 80 986 60 051 55 872 66 956 50 791 47 364 54 635 42 337 39 612 43 108 34 038 32 043 99313 101335 103361 105385 107408 109434 111458 113481 115505 71774 73 028 74 284 75 539 76 793 78 049 79 304 80 558 81 813 66 471 67 572 68 674 69 776 70 878 71980 73 082 74 183 75 262 82 844 61277 56 996 68 700 51 942 48 422 56 063 43 365 40 543 44 479 35 025 32 953 84 697 62 500 58 116 70 441 53 091 49 479 57 490 44 393 41477 45 851 36 013 33 863 86 552 63 724 59 238 72 182 54 240 50 536 58 919 45 422 42 424 47 226 37 003 34 775 88 406 64 948 60 360 73 926 55 391 51 594 60 377 46 449 43 368 48 599 37 991 35 674 90 279 66 173 61 481 75 668 56 541 52 650 61 938 47 479 44 317 49 969 38 978 36 568 92 252 67 396 62 603 77411 57 691 53 708 63 495 48 507 45 263 51 343 39 967 37 465 94 224 68 619 63 701 79 153 58 841 54 762 65 052 49 534 46 208 96 202 69 845 64 778 80 894 59 990 55 816 66 612 50 564 47 155 98 174 100 148 102 124 71068 72 292 73 517 65 852 66 926 68 002 82 636 61 140 56 870 84 377 62 289 57 923 86 121 63 440 58 977

D-1

'tr:l

P-5

P-4

c < m :j 0 to

>< m

> J~ ....... 0

P-3

g. en

P-2

Ifa ~

P-1

D = Rate applicable to staff members with a dependent spouse or child. S = Rate applicable to staff members with no dependent spouse or child.

This scale will be implemented in conjunction with a consolidation of 3.42% of post adjustment. Post adjustment indices and multipliers at all duty stations will be modified, effective 1 March 2000. Thereafter, changes in post adjustment classifications will be implemented on the basis of the movements of the consolidated post adjustment indices.

ANNEX6

Participation of WHO in the 1986 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations 1 Report by the Secretariat [EBlOS/30- 26 October 1999]

BACKGROUND 1. By resolution 53/100 of 8 December 1998, the General Assembly of the United Nations, inter alia, encouraged States and international organizations that had not yet done so, to become Parties to the 1986 Vienna Convention on the Law ofTreaties between States and International Organizations or between International Organizations (hereafter "1986 Convention"). 2 The resolution was adopted under the agenda item "United Nations Decade of International Law". One of the purposes of the Decade, which ended in 1999, was to promote acceptance of and respect for the principles of international law. Specialized agencies had been invited by the General Assembly to support the Decade and its purposes.

THE 1986 CONVENTION 2. The 1986 Convention was drafted by the International Law Commission of the United Nations and adopted by a diplomatic conference convened by the General Assembly. It regulates most aspects of treaties concluded between States and international organizations or between international organizations. 3 The Convention is open to participation by States and international organizations which have the capacity to conclude international treaties, and will enter into force after 35 States have ratified it or acceded to it. The number of international organizations that become Parties to the Convention does not count towards that figure. As of 24 September 1999, 26 States were Parties to the Convention. The United Nations is the only international organization that has become Party to the Convention. 4 Nine organizations have signed the Convention, including WHO which signed it on 30 April1987.

1 2

See resolution EB105.Rl5.

The text is reproduced in United Nations documentA/CONF.l29115, and is available on request in all official languages. 3 Subject matter includes conclusion of agreements, entry into force, interpretation, effects, reservations, amendments, causes of invalidity and termination, withdrawal, deposit, settlement of disputes.

The United Nations deposited an act of formal confirmation (the equivalent of ratification for States) on 21 December 1998 pursuant to the authorization contained in General Assembly resolution 53/100.

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EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

3. The 1986 Convention complements the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (which was drafted and adopted through the same process as the 1986 Convention), which regulates international treaties concluded between States. This Convention entered into force in 1980 and had 90 Parties as of 24 September 1999. The 1986 Convention follows almost verbatim the provisions of the 1969 Convention, with only a few substantial deviations, for example, regarding settlement of disputes in order to reflect the different status of international organizations under international law. The 1969 Convent~on largely codifies general international law (i.e. unwritten customary law automatically binding on all States) concerning treaties, and the same conclusion is generally accepted as regards the 1986 Convention. Consequently, the provisions and principles of the 1986 Convention are frequently referred to as a reference framework by States and international organizations in their treaty practice, even by non-Parties to it, and even though the Convention is not yet in force.

ATTITUDES OF STATES AND INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS 4. Through their statements during the drafting and adoption process, by becoming contracting Parties, and by referring to it in their practice, many States have supported and availed themselves of the 1986 Convention and its principles and provisions. The relative lack of success of the Convention stems partly from the fact that, precisely because it codifies general international law which in any event is applicable and binding, several States were reluctant to go through potentially cumbersome internal ratification procedures when they could simply refer to the Convention in their treaty practice. Moreover, at the time of adoption, eastern European and some other States were not in favour of the very concept that international organizations could participate in multilateral conventions on a similar footing as States. These philosophical obstacles had led to a loss of momentum, to which the General Assembly reacted through resolution 53/100. They have since been overcome, as evidenced by adoption of the resolution by consensus. 5. International organizations represented at the 1986 Vienna Conference expressed satisfaction that their interests would be safeguarded by the Convention, for example, by largely assimilating them to States for treaty purposes, thus ensuring a remarkable uniformity in legal treatment. However, the earlier attitude of States mentioned above apparently generated so far a degree of caution on the part of organizations. Nevertheless, among the specialized agencies from which information is available, the secretariats of ILO, ICAO and WIPO are in the process of submitting the issue of participation in the 1986 Convention to their governing bodies; the Secretariat of ITU has decided to await the entry into force of the Convention before doing so. The Council of FAO decided in 1998 to postpone consideration until the United Nations had become a Party and the Convention had entered into force. Among related agencies, the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, at its sixteenth session held in September 1999, recommended to the Conference of the States Parties (to be held in May 2000) that its Director-General should be authorized to deposit an instrument of accession to the Convention.

ACTION BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD 6. [This paragraph contained a draft resolution which was adopted at the eighth meeting as resolution EB105.R15.]

ANNEX7

Food safety 1 Report by the Director-General [EB105/10- 2 December 1999]

ISSUES 1. Food safety is an essential public health issue for all countries. In recent years a number of extremely serious outbreaks of foodborne diseases have occurred. Many of these outbreaks have involved more that one country, and some more than one continent. Policy-makers and consumers in many countries are re-evaluating their strategy for food safety and the international aspects of public health within that strategy. 2. Foodborne diseases are widespread and represent a serious threat to health in both developing and developed countries, most severely affecting children, pregnant women and the elderly. In addition to the direct health consequences, foodborne disease can impose a substantial strain on health care systems and markedly reduce economic productivity. Millions of children die annually from diarrhoea} diseases, while hundreds of millions suffer from frequent episodes of diarrhoea and its debilitating consequences. Diarrhoea is the most common symptom of foodborne illness, but other serious consequences include kidney failure, brain and nerve disorders, and death. Among the debilitating complications offoodborne disease are reactive arthritis and paralysis. 3. Chemical hazards are a significant source of foodborne illness, though in many cases it is difficult to link the effects with a particular food. The recent dioxins crisis (see paragraph 8 below) is one example of public concern about chemical hazards in food. Other concerns about chemical contamination centre on mycotoxins (e.g. aflatoxins and ochratoxins) and heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium. Chemical contamination may have severe consequences for human health, including mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic effects. 4. Available data indicate that foodborne illness is a huge and growing public health problem. For example, countries with systems for reporting cases of foodborne illness have documented significant increases in the incidence of Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, and other pathogens. Up to 30% of the population in industrialized countries may be affected by foodborne illness each year. In the United States of America, some 76 million cases of foodborne illnesses resulting in 325 000 hospitalizations and 5000 deaths are estimated to occur each year? The medical costs and value of lives lost from just five foodborne infections in England and Wales were estimated in 1996 at £300-700 million annually. In developing countries (excluding China) in 1990, the morbidity and mortality associated with diarrhoea was estimated to be ofthe order of2700 million 1

See resolution EB105.Rl6. Mead PS et al. Food-related illness and death in the United States. Emerging infectious diseases, 1999, 5(5):

607-625.

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EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

cases each year, resulting in 2.4 million deaths below age five. The re-emergence of cholera in Peru in 1991 resulted in the loss of US$ 700 million in fish and fishery products exports. These figures illustrate clearly the negative impact that foodbome illnesses and contamination have on health and development. 5. New pathogens and pathogens not previously associated with food consumption are increasing the risk offoodbome illness. Microorganisms have the ability to change and adapt. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, has been associated with new variant Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (nvCJD) in humans. E. coli 0157:H7 was identified for the first time in 1979. Following the initial outbreak, enterohaemorrhagic E. coli has caused illness and death (especially in children) from the consumption of ground beef, unpasteurized apple cider, milk, lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, and drinking-water in several countries around the world. Salmonella typhimurium DT104 with chromosomally encoded resistance to five commonly prescribed antibiotics has spread through many countries. 6. Modem technologies to increase agricultural production must be evaluated in order not to bring new risks to human health. Biotechnology, hormones and antibiotics are examples of this technology. Public health can benefit enormously from biotechnology's potential to increase the nutrient content of foods, decrease their allergenicity, and improve the efficiency of food production. On the other hand, the potential effects on human health of the consumption of food produced through genetic modification should be further studied. The administration of estrogenic hormones in feed increases the rate of growth in livestock, but concern has been raised about the consumption of meat products containing these hormones. Adding low levels of antibiotics also increases the rate of growth in livestock, but there is concern about the transfer of antibiotic resistance to human pathogens from this practice. 7. Globalization of food trade presents a transnational challenge to food safety authorities, because food contaminated in one country can result in outbreaks of foodborne diseases in another. The latest forecast from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on world trade in food and dairy products reveals a significant increase in terms of both supply and demand on a global scale for the first decade of the next millennium. Globalization of food trade may offer consumers a wider variety of good-quality foods that are accessible, affordable and safe. For example, a consistent finding of studies undertaken so far has been that a diversity of fruits and vegetables in a balanced diet is strongly correlated with improved nutritional status and health. Global food trade is increasing, and with it the potential to disseminate foodbome pathogens between countries and continents. Globalization also provides opportunities for food-exporting countries to earn foreign exchange, which is indispensable for the economic development of many countries and thus for improving the standard of living of many people. 8. Agriculture and food industries are being integrated and consolidated. This consolidation, combined with increasing global trade, means that large amounts of food from a single source are distributed over far greater distances than ever before, creating the possibility for larger and more widespread outbreaks of foodbome illness. The recent dioxins crisis in meat and poultry products provides a case study on the potential for widespread contamination from a single source. Dioxins are carcinogenic by-products of many manufacturing processes and waste incineration which have pronounced toxic effects on the reproductive, endocrine and nervous systems. On this occasion, dioxins entered the food chain when animal fat contaminated with industrial oil was used in livestock feed. More than 1500 farms in Europe received feed from a single source in a two-week time period. This contamination led to serious economic consequences as well as causing widespread "consumer anxiety". The long-term health consequences will need to be monitored and followed up.

ANNEX7

WHO'S ACTIVITIES 9. WHO is the United Nations agency with a specific mandate for the protection of public health. Its role in food safety is to protect the consumer against exposure to adverse effects from hazards in food. Article 2(u) of the WHO Constitution gives a mandate to develop, establish and promote international standards with respect to food. The Organization has always recognized that access to adequate, nutritious, and safe food is a right of each individual. WHO's objective is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health, and an important prerequisite for health is safe food. 10. WHO's most important role is a normative function, including international standard setting, health risk assessment, and the development of a risk analysis framework for the management of public health risk in food and water. 11. The concept of risk analysis has been promoted by WHO as a framework for the development of public policy with regard to the safety of food supply. This consists ofthree components: • Risk assessment - a process of systematic and objective evaluation of all available information pertaining to foodborne hazards. • Risk management - the process of weighing policy alternatives in the light of the results of risk assessment and, if required, selecting and implementing appropriate control options, including regulatory measures. • Risk communication - the interactive exchange of information and opinions concerning risks and risk management among risk assessors, risk managers, consumers, and other interested parties. 12. In resolution WHA16.42 (May 1963), the Sixteenth World Health Assembly approved the establishment of the Joint FAOIWHO Food Standards Programme, with the joint FAOIWHO Codex Alimentarius Commission as its principal organ. The Commission has subsequently elaborated many international standards on food safety. As the international agency dealing with health, WHO bears the main responsibility for the health and safety aspects of Codex Alimentarius activities so that the health of consumers is appropriately protected. 13. WHO has a long history of providing advice on health risk assessment to the Codex Alimentarius Commission and to Member States in relation to the safety hazards in foods. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues (JMPR) are recognized as being in the forefront of current scientific knowledge in risk assessment of food chemicals, and WHO has, in particular, been responsible for their toxicological evaluation. WHO has also convened a series of consultations to assess the safety of food produced by biotechnology and to assess the public health implication of emerging foodborne pathogens (e.g. Salmonella enteritidis, Campylobacter jejuni, enterohaemorrhagic E. coli). 14. WHO has established a global surveillance response system for epidemics. The surveillance component (epidemic intelligence) actively gathers outbreak-related information and disseminates it to regional and country offices for rapid verification. When an outbreak is confirmed and assistance is requested, WHO can immediately respond through field teams (epidemic response team) and coordinate international efforts. 15. WHO provides technical assistance to governments in their efforts to supply their populations with safe and nutritious food. It provides training in the basics of food sanitation through communitybased programmes and the Healthy Marketplaces Initiative. In collaboration with international, regional and national agencies, it also provides technical training in the application of risk analysis, the

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system and other food safety-related skills. In addition, WHO assists national governments in the development and implementation of food legislation, and provides support for the development of information systems that allow countries to monitor food contamination and conduct surveillance of foodborne disease. 16. WHO's integrated approach to food safety incorporates activities in several departments. Externally, its work is conducted in coordination with other international organizations, most notably the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and recently also the World Trade Organization (WTO).

FUTURE DIRECTIONS 17. A better evaluation of the burden of foodborne disease is urgently needed to set priorities for future activities. Available data indicate that foodborne disease has been increasing globally, but more work needs to be done to document disease incidence as well as cause-effect relationships. Where appropriate, Member States should set up systems for laboratory-based surveillance of foodborne disease, covering both outbreaks and sporadic cases, and for monitoring contamination of food. At the request of Member States, WHO will support capacity-building for data collection and surveillance systems. WHO will also initiate work to define a common format for harmonized data collection procedures and to determine the minimal data requirements needed from region to region. These will be important for both international and national food safety initiatives in the future. 18. There is also a need for coordination of the long-term strategic planning of food safety initiatives globally, regionally and nationally. To support this effort, WHO will develop and strengthen its existing activities aimed at obtaining accurate surveillance and monitoring data, including activities that enhance WHO's ability to respond rapidly to emergencies involving contaminated food. The Organization will apply a holistic approach to measures for the reduction of illness, covering the entire cycle of stages before (e.g. the application of sewage sludge to farmland), during and after (e.g. sewage treatment) the traditional food chain concept. It will expand and strengthen its work in providing global leadership in the promotion of food safety as an integral part of public health policy, and support food safety systems and standards for the protection of consumer health. 19. Recognizing that the disease outcome is a real measure of the effectiveness of food safety interventions, WHO will consider developing regional and/or national targets for reduction of the incidence of disease, duly taking into account any international implications this would have. 20. The increased awareness of food safety problems calls for scrutiny of the science base for making food safety decisions at both national and international levels. Chemical risk assessments, which have been carried out by JECF A and JMPR, are extremely valuable for Member States. This work will be strengthened and the results of these bodies' meetings will be made more readily and freely available to Member States. 21. WHO will hold expert consultations on microbiological risk assessment on an ad hoc basis. These expert consultations will review and summarize national risk assessments of microbiological hazards in food and water. The models developed during the process will facilitate the transfer of the technology for risk assessment between countries. For microbiological risk assessment of food in international trade, WHO will establish a new ad hoc expert advisory body in cooperation with FAO, as requested by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. An international strategy and supporting mechanisms for this effort were developed in a joint WHO/FAO consultation in Geneva, Switzerland, in March 1999.

ANNEX7

22. The advance of biotechnology in the food arena presents consumers worldwide with new challenges and questions of both a technical and an ethical nature. In collaboration with international partners, WHO will provide the scientific basis for decisions regarding human health aspects of genetically modified foods. Other considerations relevant to the assessment of this new technology will be explored in collaboration with other agencies. Likewise, the general effect and safety of other new foods or food technologies should be addressed. 23. WHO acknowledges the paramount importance of open and intelligible risk communication between all parties affected by foodborne risk, and will take the lead in global as well as regional communication. Apart from permitting useful dialogue between the stakeholders in the risk analysis process, such communication will strengthen information sharing and consumer education and build reliability into the process, which in turn will lead to improved food safety practices in domestic settings. 24. In many countries of the world, the emergence of a food safety agenda has underlined the need for strengthening local technical and scientific capabilities, and for additional educational tools pertinent to each level of society. In developed countries, WHO will promote the concept that strengthening local technical and scientific capability in the food safety area in developing countries can be mutually beneficial, a concept that is consistent with the WTO Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures. In strengthening food safety activities, WHO through its regional offices will seek to respond to the differing food production conditions in different countries as well as the variation in societal and cultural settings and traditional foods. Likewise, WHO will substantially increase its technical cooperation activities with developing countries in order to protect the health of consumers through the production of safe food for both local consumption and export. 25. WHO will advocate the importance of food safety as a priority public health concern in order to sensitize policy-makers in Member States by emphasizing the public health and economic gains to be achieved through increased input in this area. Important outcomes of this investment can be: alleviation of human suffering and prevention of loss of lives; lower cost of medical treatment and reduction of sick leave; increased marketability of food; and promotion oftourism. 26. WHO will further develop its capacity to respond immediately to international and national food safety emergencies and to give scientific and technical advice to assist governments in crisis management. 27. An important prerequisite for food safety initiatives is the realization that they are intersectoral issues involving public health, agriculture, fisheries, trade, education, environment and other sectors, and that cooperation between these sectors is essential. WHO will expand its partnerships and work with international organizations, civil society, academia and industry involved in the food safety area. 28. The current working relationship between WHO and FAO under the Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme is being reviewed with a view to increasing WHO's scientific and public health role in the work of the Codex Alimentarius. WHO will continue, in close collaboration with WTO, to advocate that Member States fulfil their obligations to take health considerations into account in the globalization of trade.

AGENDA FOR THE FUTURE 29. The above directions for the future provide the basis for an integrated WHO food safety initiative. The key areas to be addressed include public health advocacy, research and training, and monitoring and evaluation, all based upon sound scientific evidence. Expanded partnerships with Member States and with other international organizations will be sought.

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

30.

The key activities under this integrated food safety initiative will be: (a) to support Member States in the development and assessment of national control strategies, recognizing their intersectoral nature and focusing on major foodborne pathogens, such as salmonella and campylobacter, while developing the concept of setting targets for reduction of the incidence of disease; (b) in collaboration with other international organizations, to work towards integrating food safety as one of the essential public health functions with the goal of developing sustainable, integrated food safety systems for health risk reduction along the entire feed-food chain, beginning with primary production in agriculture and following through to the consumer; (c) to support Member States in the identification, assessment and containment of foodborne diseases and provide scientific advice during international and national food safety emergencies; (d) to lead the development of a global strategy for the surveillance of foodborne diseases and for efficient gathering and sharing of information by countries and regions; (e) to provide technical assistance to developing countries in assessing the burden on health and prioritizing disease control strategies through the development of laboratory-based foodborne disease surveillance systems and monitoring of contaminants in food; (f) to advocate to Member States the fulfilment of their obligation to take health considerations into account in the globalization of trade, in cooperation with WTO;

(g) to support the development of science in the assessment of risks related to food, encourage research on the identification of risk factors for the increase of foodborne diseases, and promote sentinel and other studies to assess the public health impact of foodborne diseases; (h) to establish an ad hoc expert advisory body on microbiological risk assessment;

(i) to support and provide the scientific basis for decisions regarding genetically modified foods through the addition of a specialized staff member, and in so doing specifically address human health considerations; (j) to advocate communication in readily understandable form among all parties affected by foodborne risk, to permit useful dialogue between all stakeholders in the risk analysis process, including consumers.

ACTION BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD 31. [This paragraph contained a draft resolution which was adopted at the ninth meeting as resolution EB105.Rl6.]

ANNEX8

Draft policy on extrabudgetary resources 1 [EB105/9, Annex- 17 December 1999]

WHO will raise voluntary contributions for its work on the basis of the guidance set out below. • An integrated budget. Our extrabudgetary - or voluntary - funding should remain clearly identifiable, but will form part of an integrated programme budget; funding will be used to meet the goals and targets in the budget. • Working through priorities. We will raise funds mainly for a limited number of programme priorities as identified in the budget (recognizing that the priorities may change over time). We will work with donors and partners to identify matches between their priorities and ours. The distribution of resources to global, regional or country programmes will depend primarily on the requirements for delivery of programme goals and targets. • A more secure resource base. Wherever possible we will ask for donations to match the full period of the biennial budget. We will ask for pledges to be made sufficiently in advance to allow for sensible planning with the regular budget resources. We will seek to avoid detailed earmarking of donations. • A wider resource base. We want to broaden the range of donors, with more Member States contributing, and greater involvement of the public and private sectors. We will implement this policy along the lines described below. • A partnership approach. We will seek to develop partnerships with donors in order to create an atmosphere of shared responsibilities and outcomes. We will make public our guidelines on avoiding conflicts of interest regarding voluntary funding. • Governing body involvement. The governing bodies will be informed on developments affecting voluntary funding and have an opportunity to debate them. • Coordination of work with donors and recipients. A strengthened Department of Resource Mobilization will liaise with donors, organize bilateral review meetings with major donors, and Meetings of Interested Parties 2 for the exchange of views and information with its partners. Draft terms of reference for the Meetings of Interested Parties, outlining the position vis-a-vis the Director-General and the governing bodies as well as the technical and managerial aspects involved, will be submitted to the Executive Board at its 106th session in May 2000. 1 2

See decision EB105(2).

Meetings of Interested Parties will comprise both donors and recipients, and their work should be used to inform the debates of the governing bodies. Ib.eir work should be regularly evaluated.

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EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

• Coordination within WHO. A resource mobilization team, comprising cluster and regional representatives, will ensure the sharing of information with, and coordinated approaches to, donors. A donor profile database will be established, together with a proposal tracking system. Staff within and outside headquarters will be trained in areas such as project development and presentation. Resource mobilization will be planned and incorporated into work plans. • Clarity on programme support costs. A paper suggesting possible new approaches for the charging and use of the programme support costs that arise from voluntary funding will be submitted to the Executive Board at its 106th session in May 2000. • Monitoring and reporting. A new accounts structure will provide a clearer view of where contributions are spent, and will enable donors and governing bodies easily to follow contributions. Ultimately, an integrated reporting system will make it possible to provide all donors to a programme with progress and financial reports.

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Guidelines for the WHO review of dependence-producing psychoactive substances for international control1 Report by the Secretariat [EBlOS/16- 5 November 1999)

1. Both the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, assign to WHO the obligation to review dependence-producing psychoactive substances, and to make recommendations to the United Nations concerning the need for, and appropriate levels of, international control for these substances. In the light of experience gained over the years, and following the guidance of the Executive Board, WHO developed a procedure for this review in 1986, which was revised and adopted by the Board at its eighty-fifth session in 1990. 2. At its 103rd session in 1999, the Board, recognizing the need to update the guidelines and, in particular, to clarify the roles of the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988, and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, requested the Director-General to review and revise the guidelines as necessary, for adoption by the Board at a future session. 2 3. In response to this request, a working group was convened in September 1999, to review and revise the guidelines. The revised guidelines, based on the outcome of the working group, and as amended by the Executive Board at its 105th session, are contained in the Appendix. 4. The new guidelines will set the principles and procedures that WHO should apply in reviewing dependence-producing psychoactive substances for international control in the future, beginning with the 32nd meeting ofthe WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (June 2000). Implementation of the new guidelines will call for further strengthening of coordination with the Secretariat of the International Narcotics Control Board, as described below. 5. The following paragraphs indicate major changes from the previous guidelines.

6. Clarification of the roles of different conventions. The roles of the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988, and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971, have been clarified, recognizing that the control measures required under the two Conventions may partially overlap in certain situations. Although WHO is not given any formal role to play in implementation of the 1988 Convention, practical guidance is provided with a view to avoiding unnecessary duplication of controls. Similar guidance is given with regard to the relationship between the 1988 Convention and the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961. The successful application of this new procedure will require further 1 2

See decision EB105(3). Decision EB103(5).

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EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

strengthening of coordination between WHO and the International Narcotics Control Board, which is given the mandate to formulate scheduling recommendations with regard, under the 1988 Convention, to chemicals frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. 7. Rationalization of the structure. The structure of the previous guidelines has been maintained except where specific problems were identified. For example, the order of Section IV and several others was unsystematic and information on single topics was presented in a confusing manner in different sections. These sections have therefore been rearranged as subsections under "WHO review procedure" in the order of the actual sequence of events. 8. Clarification of the function of the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence and that of the WHO Secretariat. There was no clear distinction between the function of the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence and that of the WHO Secretariat. This has been clarified wherever there was ambiguity. 9. Unification of the scheduling criteria. Scheduling criteria were given in different sections in the previous guidelines. The new guidelines set out comprehensive and consolidated information on scheduling under the subsection "Assessment for scheduling by the Expert Committee". They also clarify that there is only one set of scheduling criteria, but different judgement criteria should apply to pre-review (whether or not WHO has information that may justify the scheduling of the substance) and to critical review (whether or not the scheduling criteria are indeed met). 10. Updating to incorporate recent decisions and recommendations. Decisions of the Board on partial modification of the previous guidelines 1 and a recommendation of the Expert Committee on how to interpret the scheduling criteria2 have been incorporated into the relevant sections. 11. Clarification concerning the publication of documents. Ambiguous statements in the previous guidelines with regard to transparency and disclosure of information have been changed to clarify the scope of information to be disclosed to the general public and the discussion documents to be shared only with the parties directly concerned.

ACTION BY THE EXECUTIVE BOARD 12. [This paragraph contained a draft decision which was adopted at the sixth meeting as decision EB105(3).]

1 2

Decisions EB93(16) and EB103(5). WHO Technical Report Series, No. 856, 1995.

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Appendix GUIDELINES FOR THE WHO REVIEW OF DEPENDENCE-PRODUCING PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES FOR INTERNATIONAL CONTROL

CONTENTS Page

I. 11.

Mandate Underlying principles Provisions of the conventions WHO review procedure Information collection Pre-review Pre-review data sheet Critical review Critical review document Preliminary review of exempted preparations containing psychotropic substances Expert Committee on Drug Dependence Experts collaborating in the WHO review Assessment for scheduling by the Expert Committee Assessment of exempted preparations by the Expert Committee

52 52 53 54 54 54 54 54 54 56 56 57 57 60 60 60 61

Ill.

IV.

V. VI. VII.

Communication ofWHO recommendations Publication of documents related to the WHO review Abbreviations and definitions

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

MANDATE

1. The World Health Organization (WHO) is the specialized agency designated for the evaluation of the medical, scientific and public health aspects of psychoactive substances under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961 (the 1961 Convention), as amended by the 1972 Protocol, and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971 (the 1971 Convention). A procedure for this assessment has been developed pursuant to resolutions of the Health Assembly and of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND). This document sets out guidelines dealing with the underlying principles of the review procedure, working arrangements within the WHO Secretariat and with external bodies, and the nature of the documentation to be prepared. The guidelines cover WHO's responsibilities under Article 3 of the 1961 Convention and Article 2 of the 1971 Convention concerning whether or not to recommend international control of substances, as well as the assessment of exempted preparations under Article 3 of the 1971 Convention. Common terms and abbreviations are listed in Section VII. 2. The Thirty-third World Health Assembly, by resolution WHA33.27 (1980), requested the Director-General "to promote the initiation and strengthening of national and international programmes for the assessment, scheduling, control and appropriate use of narcotic and psychotropic substances including those of plant origin, and to support such programmes by the development of appropriate guidelines", and further ''to strengthen the coordination between the WHO programmes relating to narcotic and psychotropic substances, those dealing with drug policy and management, and other related programmes, and to strengthen collaboration with interested nongovernmental organizations". 3. In the light of experience gained over later years, and following the guidance of the Executive Board, 1 WHO developed a procedure for the evaluation and assessment of narcotic and psychotropic substances for decisions on international control in consultation with CND in 1986, 2 which was revised in 1990. 3 Amendments and decisions subsequently adopted by the Executive Board in 19944 and 19995 have laid the foundation for another revision of the procedure as presented in this document.

11.

UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES

4. The review procedure uses relevant information, systematically collected and screened through continuing WHO collaboration with scientific institutions, health services and regulatory agencies, government health and law enforcement authorities, and relevant intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations. 5. The relevant information is collected, analysed and compiled for each psychoactive substance as the basis of review by the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence and its advice to the DirectorGeneral.

1 2

Resolution EB73.Rll. Decision EB77(3). Decision EB85(10). Decision EB93(16). Decision EB103(5).

4 5

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IlL

PROVISIONS OF THE CONVENTIONS

6. The 1961 and 1971 conventions entrust WHO with the responsibility of reviewing and assessing any substance which may need to be included in one of their schedules. Such a review can be initiated by a notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations by a Party to the Conventions or by WH0. 1 The assessment by WHO is forwarded to CND which has the responsibility of taking the decision concerning the international control of a psychoactive substance under the provisions of the Conventions? 7. The basis for the scheduling recommendation made by WHO is an evaluation of whether specific criteria set forth in the Conventions have been met. Under the provisions of the 1961 Convention, CND must accept or refuse the WHO recommendation as a whole, whereas in the case of the 1971 Convention it may accept a WHO proposal but may also decide to place a substance in a schedule other than that recommended by WHO. With respect to control under the 1971 Convention, WHO's assessment is determinative for scientific and medical matters, but CND may also take into account legal, administrative, economic, social and other factors in reaching its decision. Under the provisions of both Conventions, a Party which disagrees with CND' s decision may request a review of such a decision by the Economic and Social Council; the Council may confirm, alter or reverse CND's decision. 8. Under the provisions of Article 3 of the 1971 Convention, a Party may exempt from specific control measures a preparation containing one or more scheduled substances if the preparation is compounded in such a way that it presents no, or a negligible, risk of abuse. In order to do so, it must address a notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations who in turn sends a copy of the notification to other Parties and to WHO. If a Party or WHO has information which it believes requires that the exemption of a preparation should be terminated, it should notify the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations accordingly and submit information in support of that decision. WHO reviews the data submitted by Parties which wish to avail themselves of this provision for exemption 3 under the 1971 Convention by applying specific guidelines that have been approved by CND. 9. Under the provisions of the 1961 Convention, preparations of narcotic drugs exempted from specific control measures are listed in Schedule Ill. New exemptions can be made only by including a preparation in Schedule Ill, and relevant proposals are reviewed by WHO in the same way as those for single substances. 10. The United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988 (the 1988 Convention), entered into force in November 1990. Article 12 of the 1988 Convention places under international control substances frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances. These substances are listed in Table I and Table 11 of the Convention. WHO has no formal role to play in the scheduling of such substances under the 1988 Convention. However, it is possible that the same substance may be considered for control simultaneously under the 1961 Convention, the 1971 Convention, or the 1988 Convention. Guidance

1 The Director-General represents WHO for the purpose of receiving notifications tlllder the international drug control conventions and of making recommendations concerning the international control of psychoacti ve substances tlllder those conventions on the basis of recommendations and advice provided to him or her as described in these guidelines.

The scheduling process is covered by the provisions of Article 3 of the 1961 Convention and Articles 2 and 17.2 of the 1971 Convention. The scheduling process is described in detail in the commentaries on these conventions, published by the United Nations. The specific WHO procedure for review of exempted preparations was developed in accordance with the Commission's guidelines for exemption. These guidelines, which were largely based on recommendations made by WHO, were approved by CND at its Eighth special session and are set forth in its resolution l(S-Vlll). See the report of the Commission in Economic and Social Cotlllcil, Official Records, 1984, Supplement No. 3 (document FJCN. 7/1984/13). 3

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

on how to deal with such a situation is provided in paragraphs 34, 35, 42 and 43 under the subsection on assessment for scheduling by the Expert Committee.

IV.

WHO REVIEW PROCEDURE

11. The WHO review of dependence-producing psychoactive substances for international control includes the routine collection of information by the Secretariat, and the pre-review and critical review conducted by the Expert Committee. The review of exempted preparations notified by a Party involves a preliminary review by the Secretariat and an assessment by the Expert Committee. The time schedule for the review procedure should be set by the Secretariat bearing in mind the calendar of CND and its procedural requirements.

Information collection 12. The Secretariat should routinely collect from the literature, WHO programmes, WHO collaborating centres, national health and drug control authorities, intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, and research and academic institutions, information related to psychoactive substances considered to have abuse potential.

Pre-review 13. Pre-review is conducted by the Expert Committee in order to determine whether a psychoactive substance should be subjected to a critical review in the context of its international control under either the 1961 or the 1971 Convention. A proposal to pre-review a substance can be submitted to the Expert Committee with supporting information either by (1) the Secretariat, (2) any member of the Expert Committee, or (3) representatives of other organizations invited to participate in the Expert Committee meeting. The Expert Committee shall recommend critical review if it has found that WHO has information that may justify the scheduling of the substance. In view of Article 2, paragraph 4(b) of the 1971 Convention, this will require, in the case of a psychotropic substance, that the substance causes significant public health and social problems in more than one country.

Pre-review data sheet 14. The supporting information required for pre-review is a short (two- to three-page) summary of relevant information, presented in a form acceptable to the Expert Committee.

Critical review 15. Critical review is conducted by the Expert Committee in any of the following cases: (1) there has been notification from a Party to the 1961 or the 1971 Convention concerning the scheduling of a substance; (2) there has been an explicit request from CND to review a substance; (3) pre-review of a substance has resulted in a recommendation for critical review as indicated in paragraph 13 above; (4) information is brought to WHO's attention that a substance is clandestinely manufactured, of especially serious risk to public health and society, and of no recognized therapeutic use by any Member State. If therapeutic use of the substance is confirmed subsequently by any Member State in respect of case (4), the substance shall be subjected to a pre-review.

Critical review document 16. The Secretariat prepares the critical review document which is a summary of available data compiled for use by the Expert Committee in assessing individual substances. In the preparation of the

ANNEX9

critical review document, the Secretariat collects and assembles data on the substances selected for critical review, and requests information on these substances through a questionnaire to ministers of health of Member States and to other relevant collaborating information sources. The Secretariat may also be assisted by advisers and ad hoc working groups in order to produce a balanced document. 17. The critical review document is sent for information and comments to governments, institutions and organizations which have directly and substantially collabonited in its preparation or which have requested it. Examples include international narcotics control organs and relevant governmental, intergovernmental, and nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO. To help ensure that all material submitted to the Expert Committee is up to date, the Secretary of the Committee will circulate the agenda of the next meeting to those collaborating information sources. 18. When preparing the critical review document, the Secretariat should include, where feasible, information under the following headings: (1) substance identification by International Nonproprietary Name (INN), chemical or other common name and trade names, other identifying characteristics, Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) registry number

(2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9)

chemistry general pharmacology toxicology, including adverse reactions in humans pharmacokinetics dependence potential epidemiology of use and abuse, with an estimate of the abuse potential of the substance nature and magnitude of public health problems national control

(10) therapeutic and industrial use ( 11) production, consumption and international trade (12) illicit manufacture and illicit traffic, and related information (13) current international controls in place and their impact.

19. If abundant, the information presented under each heading will be limited to that which is essential and consistent with the need to facilitate assessment by the Expert Committee. 20. Not all the headings listed above may be covered in all instances or to the same extent. For example, it may not be possible to cover (4), (5), (7), (8), (10) and (11) for new hallucinogenic substances. The production of data in such circumstances may not be justifiable on ethical grounds. If, for any reason, the Expert Committee bases its assessment on limited data, it would need to provide full justification for reaching conclusions on incomplete data.

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

21. The confidentiality of information received by WHO for use in the review will be respected to the maximum if so requested by the provider. In this case, appropriate arrangements will be made for the Expert Committee to have access to the information used to prepare the critical review.

Preliminary review of exempted preparations containing psychotropic substances 22. The Secretariat should review the notification of exemption received from a Party to the 1971 Convention in order to ascertain whether the preparation containing a psychotropic substance is for domestic use only, or is being exported outside the exempting country. Where the preparation is for domestic use only, and if the exempting Party gives assurance in its notification that, to the best of its knowledge, there is no significant abuse, the Secretariat will assume that the exemption does not require an evaluation by the Expert Committee. However, if WHO receives evidence of national abuse, or information that the preparation may constitute a public health and social problem to another Party (e.g. illicit trade and/or abuse), the exemption is evaluated by the Expert Committee.

Expert Committee on Drug Dependence 23. Membership. The Expert Committee usually has a membership of 10, chosen by the DirectorGeneral in accordance with the regulations for expert committees. 24. Secretariat. The Expert Committee is assisted by a secretariat, composed of a secretary and staff members from appropriate WHO programmes, consultants and temporary advisers, as required. The functions of Secretary are executed by a technical officer competent in the subject concerned. Consultants and temporary advisers may, as appropriate, be chosen from WHO collaborating centres. 25. Other organizations. Representatives of the United Nations International Drug Control Programme (UNDCP), the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) and Interpol are invited to attend meetings of the Expert Committee. Representatives of appropriate nongovernmental organizations in official relations with WHO are also invited. 26. Information meeting. Before the start of the Expert Committee's meeting, the secretariat may decide, when requested by interested nongovernmental organizations, to convene an information meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to permit these organizations to present additional information concerning the reviewed substances to the members of the Committee and to clarify written submissions. Requests for such a meeting should be submitted at least 10 working days before the start of the Expert Committee's meeting and should be accompanied by reasons for the request and relevant new information. The decision of the secretariat shall be communicated within five working days to the requesting nongovernmental organization. Representatives ofUNDCP, INCB and Interpol are also invited to this information meeting. 27. Procedure. The regulations and rules of procedure for expert committees, adopted by the Health Assembly, are applicable. 1 28. Functions. The function of the Expert Committee is to review information available to it on psychoactive substances being considered for international control and on exempted preparations, and to advise the Director-General of WHO on such control. The advice of the Expert Committee concerns scientific, medical and public health findings and must comply with the criteria set down in the Conventions. Specific responsibilities of the Expert Committee within these functions are: (1) prereview: to select a substance for a critical review; (2) critical review: to assess the dependenceproducing capability, the likelihood of abuse and of causing public health and social problems, and 1 Regulations for Expert Advisory Panels and Committees, adopted by resolution WHA35.10, as amended by decis10n WHA45(10) and resolution WHA49.29.

ANNEX9

usefulness in medical therapy of each selected substance; (3) assessment of exempted preparations: to assess the need to terminate notified exemptions of preparations under the 1971 Convention.

Experts collaborating in the WHO review 29. Experts collaborating in the review should have a well-documented scientific career at a high level and professional background, and should represent relevant behavioural, pharmacological, pharmaceutical, medical, biological or epidemiological disciplines, as well as public health administration. Scientists representing industrial research may be asked to collaborate as advisers in WHO ad hoc working groups, as appropriate, but they are not invited to participate in the Expert Committee meeting. 30. The selection of experts to collaborate in the WHO review is given careful consideration so as to avoid conflict of interests. Similar considerations shall apply to all concerned with the process. In this connection, experts invited to participate in the WHO review and, in particular, in the work of the Expert Committee, sign a statement concerning potential conflicts of interest.

Assessment for scheduling by the Expert Committee 31. This subsection applies to the critical review by the Expert Committee. However, the scheduling criteria described herein are equally valid for the Expert Committee to draw a conclusion from the prereview, which should be based on its judgement as to whether WHO has information that may justify the scheduling of that substance. 32. The Expert Committee bases its deliberations mainly on the documents provided by the secretariat: these consist of the critical review document, and any comments received by the secretariat concerning the critical review. They are forwarded to the members of the Expert Committee, in so far as it is possible to do so, at least three weeks before their meeting. The Expert Committee may have for consideration additional information presented in accordance with the procedure set forth in paragraph 26 above. Where feasible, and subject to the provision of paragraph 21 above, the information on which the critical review is based is made available to the Expert Committee as required. 33. The Expert Committee, when deciding whether to recommend international control after completion of its discussions, first decides, with regard to the 1961 Convention, whether the substance has morphine-like, cocaine-like, or cannabis-like effects or is convertible into a scheduled substance having such effects. If so, it then determines, in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 3(iii) of that Convention, if the substance: (1) is liable to similar abuse and productive of similar ill-effects as the substances in Schedule I or Schedule 11; or (2) is convertible into a substance already in Schedule I or Schedule 11. 34. After reviewing a substance which is convertible into a narcotic drug and which therefore can be placed in Schedule I or 11 of the 1961 Convention, if the Expert Committee is not proposing it for inclusion in a schedule of the 1961 Convention, the WHO Secretariat should convey the relevant information to the INCB secretariat. 35. If a substance invoked in the preceding paragraph has been placed in a table of the 1988 Convention, the Expert Committee should be guided by the principle that, for the practical application of controls, it is not advisable to place the same substance under more than one convention, and different stereoisomers of the same substance should not be controlled under different conventions. Any proposal for a change in the existing status of the substance should be made only if specific new control measures are necessary in order to decrease the extent or likelihood of abuse or the use of the

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

substance in illicit drug manufacturing, and will not unduly limit its availability for legitimate medical and scientific purposes. 36. Ifthe substance meets the criteria for inclusion in Schedule I of the 1961 Convention described above, the Expert Committee should further consider whether the drug meets the requirements for inclusion in Schedule IV in accordance with Article 3, paragraph 5 of that Convention. 37. If the Expert Committee finds that the psychoactive substance does not meet the criteria described in paragraph 33 and cannot therefore be appropriately controlled under the 1961 Convention, it makes its recommendations in terms of the 1971 Convention. 38. In considering the scheduling under the 1971 Convention, the Expert Committee determines, in accordance with Article 2, paragraph 4, whether: (1) the substance has the capacity to produce (a) a state of dependence, and (b) central nervous system stimulation or depression, resulting in hallucinations or disturbances in motor function, thinking, behaviour, perception or mood; or (2) the substance has the capacity to produce similar abuse and similar ill-effects as a substance in Schedules I, 11, Ill or IV; and (3) there is sufficient evidence that the substance is being or is likely to be abused so as to constitute a public health and social problem warranting the placing of the substance under international control. 39. The Commentary on that Convention spells out the following considerations to be taken into account in such an evaluation: 1 (i) " ... an assessment of the substance ... should not only comprise the factual results of [WHO's] examination ... but also an evaluation of the data which it may have found in the light of such considerations of public health as it may consider appropriate ... " (page 58, paragraph 41); (ii) " ... extent or likelihood of abuse must be established ... in order to be able to determine whether ... [this] ... constitutes a public health and social problem warranting the placing of the substance under international control ... " (page 58, paragraph 42); (iii) " ... the degree of seriousness of the public health and social problem ... must be assessed ... [so that the Commission on Narcotic Drugs could] ... weigh the dangerous properties of the substance against the non-medical considerations (economic, social, legal, administrative and other factors) mentioned in Article 2, paragraph 5 ... "(page 59, paragraph 43); (iv) " ... the degree of usefulness ofthe substance in medical therapy ... [means] not only its potential beneficial effects, its value in the case of grave medical indications and the extent and frequency of its employment, but also the intensity of its dangerous properties ... and other harmful side-effects may have to be taken into account ... " (page 60, paragraph 44); (v) " ... together with recommendations on control measures, if any, that would be appropriate in the light of the assessment ... WHO will be guided by its views of the degree of risk to public health which the substance presents and its usefulness in medical therapy ... " (page 61, paragraph 49). 1

Commentary on the Convention on Psychotropic Substances. New York, United Nations, 1976.

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40. The more specific criteria for proposing to include a substance for control in a particular Schedule go back to considerations by the Expert Committee in its seventeenth report. 1 They are as follows: For inclusion in Schedule I: Substances whose liability to abuse constitutes an especially serious risk to public health and which have very limited, if any, therapeutic usefulness. For inclusion in Schedule 11: Substances whose liability to abuse constitutes a substantial risk to public health and which have little to moderate therapeutic usefulness. For inclusion in Schedule Ill: Substances whose liability to abuse constitutes a substantial risk to public health and which have moderate to great therapeutic usefulness. For inclusion in Schedule IV: Substances whose liability to abuse constitutes a smaller but still significant risk to public health and which have a therapeutic usefulness from little to great. 41. Different from the text of the 1971 Convention, the criteria given in paragraph 40, do not specifically address the dimension of social problems, although the 1971 Convention does. It is also noted that the above criteria do not cover all cases. In order to fill these gaps, the Expert Committee agreed that the "risk to public health" in the above criteria should be interpreted to mean both social and public health problems, and drafted the following supplementary guidelines at its 29th meeting: 2 In cases where the above criteria apply only in part, the scheduling recommendation should be made with a higher regard to the risk to public health than to therapeutic usefulness.

Notwithstanding the above, recommendations for inclusion in Schedule I should be made only when the above criteria are fully met, with respect to both therapeutic usefulness and the risk to public health. 42. In the case of a review of a psychoactive substance which is already included in Table I or Table 11 of the 1988 Convention, or has already been recommended by INCB for inclusion therein, the Expert Committee should be guided by the principle that, for the practical application of controls, it is not advisable to place the same substance under more than one convention, and different stereoisomers of the same substance should not be controlled under different conventions. Any proposal for a change in the existing status of the substance should be made only if specific new control measures are necessary in order to decrease the extent or likelihood of abuse, and will not unduly limit its availability for legitimate medical and scientific purposes. 43. Ifthe advice of the Expert Committee is to include a substance mentioned in paragraph 35 or paragraph 42, i.e. that is already in Table I or Table 11 of the 1988 Convention, the WHO Secretariat will take steps to coordinate its proceedings with the INCB secretariat. Such steps will enable INCB to

1 2

WHO Technical Report Series, No. 437, 1970. WHO Technical Report Series, No. 856, 1995.

EXECUTIVE BOARD, 105th SESSION

review the possibility of recommending deletion of the substance from the Table of the 1988 Convention before WHO communicates its recommendation to the United Nations. If both WHO and INCB make such recommendations, CND could consider the two proposals simultaneously. 44. The Expert Committee prepares a summary assessment of each substance reviewed, giving a description of its findings on the extent or likelihood of abuse, the degree of seriousness of the public health and social problem, and the degree of usefulness of the substance in medical therapy, together with the advice on the control measures, if any, that would be appropriate in the light of its assessment. The Expert Committee will advise the Director-General on its assessment and recommendation.

Assessment of exempted preparations by the Expert Committee 45. The assessment of exempted preparations by the Expert Committee should evaluate the following elements: (1) conformity with the requirements of Article 3, paragraph 2, of the 1971 Convention concerning abuse liability and recoverability of the psychotropic substances as well as with CND resolution 1(S-VIII); and (2) the evidence available to WHO that the preparation may constitute a public health and social problem to an importing country or to a country where it is illicitly traded. On conclusion of the assessment, the Expert Committee advises the Director-General accordingly.

COMMUNICATION OF WHO RECOMMENDATIONS

46. After receiving the advice of the Expert Committee (see subsection "Assessment for scheduling by the Expert Committee"), the Director-General will, as appropriate, communicate his or her recommendation to the United Nations. Copies of the recommendation are made available to Member States upon request and concurrently on the WHO Internet site. 47. Any recommendation(s) to change or terminate an ·exemption (see subsection "Assessment of exempted preparations by the Expert Committee") is communicated by the Director-General to the exempting Party if the abuse problem is limited to the country of origin of the preparation or to the United Nations if the problems are widespread.

VI.

PUBLICATION OF DOCUMENTS RELATED TO THE WHO REVIEW

48. The recommendations ofthe Expert Committeeare reported to the WHO Executive Board for information, and the report of the Expert Committee is published in the WHO Technical Report Series. The publication of any other document prepared for the Expert Committee is subject to Rule 4.15 of the Regulations for Expert Advisory Panels and Committees adopted by the Health Assembly, which states that the Director-General may publish or authorize the publication of any document prepared for an expert committee, with due recognition of authorship if applicable. 1

Resolution WHA35.10.

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VII. ABBREVIATIONS AND DEFINITIONS CND The Commission on Narcotic Drugs, a functional commission of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. In this document, "the Expert Committee" refers to the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. The First World Health Assembly decided, by resolution WHA1.25 (1948), to establish the Expert Committee on Habit-Forming Drugs which, since its sixteenth meeting (1968), is named the Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. International Narcotics Control Board; designated as "Board" in the text ofthe 1988 Convention. International Criminal Police Organization. A State which is a member ofWHO. Any of the substances in Schedules I and 11 of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol Amending the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. A formal communication addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations by a Party to an international drug control convention or by WHO, or by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to a Party to an international drug control convention or to WHO. In the context of the present guidelines, reference to a notification means a notification relating to the scheduling of a substance under the provisions of either Article 3 of the Single Convention or Articles 2 and 3 of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances. A State which has become a Party to an international drug control convention, through signature, ratification, accession, or succession. Any substance, natural or synthetic, or any natural substance material, which has psychoactive properties. In the present guidelines the term psychoactive substance is used also for those substances which are at present not under international control. Any substance, natural or synthetic, in Schedule I, 11, Ill or IV of the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971. Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, 1961, as amended by the 1972 Protocol. Convention on Psychotropic Substances, 1971. United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, 1988. United Nations International Drug Control Programme.

Expert Committee

lNCB

Interpol Member State Narcotic drug

Notification

Party

Psychoactive substance

Psychotropic substance

The 1961 Convention

The 1971 Convention The 1988 Convention

UNDCP

ANNEX 10

Nongovernmental organizations maintained in official relations with WHO by virtue of resolution EB105.R18 and decision EB105(12) [EBlOS/28, Annex- 28 January 2000]

Association ofthe Institutes and Schools of Tropical Medicine in Europe Christoffel-Blindenmission Collegium Internationale Neuro-Psychopharmacologicum European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals FDI World Dental Federation Global Crop Protection Federation Helen Keller Worldwide Inter-American Association of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering International Academy of Pathology International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness International Air Transport Association International Alliance ofWomen International Association for Dental Research International Association for Suicide Prevention International Association for the Study of Pain International Association of Hydatid Disease International Association of Logopedics and Phoniatrics International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Monitoring Systems International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection International Commission on Radiological Protection International Consultation on Urological Diseases International Council of Societies of Pathology International Cystic Fibrosis (Mucoviscidosis) Association International Diabetes Federation International Eye Foundation International Federation for Housing and Planning International Federation of Business and Professional Women International Federation of Hydrotherapy and Climatotherapy International Federation of Ophthalmological Societies International Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies International Federation of Sports Medicine International League against Epilepsy International League of Associations for Rheumatology International Leprosy Association International Life Sciences Institute International Medical Society of Paraplegia International Organization against Trachoma

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ANNEX 10

International Physicians for the Prevention ofNuclear War International Radiation Protection Association International Society for Preventive Oncology International Society ofNurses in Cancer Care International Solid Waste Association International Union against Cancer International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease International Union for Conservation ofNature and Natural Resources (World Conservation Union) International Union of Immunological Societies International Union of Local Authorities International Union ofNutritional Sciences International Union ofToxicology Project ORBIS International, Inc. (ORBIS International) Rotary International Thalassaemia International Federation The International Association of Lions Clubs The Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind (Sight Savers International) World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts World Blind Union World Federation of Associations of Poisons Centres and Clinical Toxicology Centres World Federation ofHemophilia World Federation of the Deaf World Federation of United Nations Associations World Heart Federation World Hypertension League World Veterinary Association

Key facts

Organisation World Health Organization (WHO)

Document type Governing Bodies documents

Adoption date December 31, 2000

Source World Health Organization