Powers and Composition of the Board

The Board's "enforcement measures" and powers under the Single Convention are as follows.

1. It can ask for explanation from a government if it believes that the aims of the Convention are being seriously endangered by the country's failure to carry out the provisions of the Convention. The IN CB can bring the matter to the attention of the parties, the Commission, or ECOSOC if the country proves intransigent and the situation is not remed ied.

2. It can recommend embargoes, that is, it can recommend to parties that they stop the import or export of drugs (or both) from or to a country if other sanctions fail to bring about the desired result.

3. It can publish a report and submit it to ECOSOC, which can circulate it among parties.

4. It can authorize new countries to produce opium for export (in amounts not exceeding five tons annually) or recommend against such production.

5. Through the operation of the estimates and statistical returns system, it can require the limitation of manufacture or importation.

The Permanent Central Board was composed of eight experts, appointed in their personal capacity, first by the League of Nations Council, and later by ECOSOC for five-year periods. The procedure for appointment was one whereby each signatory of the 1925 Convention, each member of the Council, Germany, and the United States would submit two names each for the candidature.

The Drug Supervisory Body was composed of four members, appoin-ted by each of the following: The A dvisory Opium Committee, the PCB, the International Health Office in Paris, and the Health Committee of the League of Nations. After 1946 the appointing bodies were the Commission on N arcotic Drugs and the PCB, which appointed one member each, and WHO, which appointed two. The members were appointed in their personal capacities.

The International N arcotics Control Board consists, under the Single Convention, of eleven members elected in their personal capacity by ECOSOC for a three-year term on the following basis: three members with medical, pharmacological, or pharmaceutical experience from a list of at least five persons nominated by WHO, and eight members from a list of candidates nominated by UN members and by parties which are not UN members. Under the protocol of 1972 amending the Single Convention, the Board is to comprise thirteen members to be elected by ECOSOC as follows: three members with medical, pharmacological, or pharmaceutical experience from a list of at least five persons nominated by WHO; and ten members from a list of persons nominated by UN members and by parties which are not members of the UN. The members are to serve for a period of five years and may be reelected.