Initiative of the Kingdom of Sweden with a view to adopting a JHA Council Decision on the transmission of samples of illegal narcotic substances
Date: 2001-01-12
Institutions: Sweden
Subjects: Sweden, exchange of information, narcotic, research body, trans-European network

C 10/4

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Official Journal of the European Communities

12.1.2001

Initiative of the Kingdom of Sweden with a view to adopting a JHA Council Decision on the
transmission of samples of illegal narcotic substances

(2001/C 10/02)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in
particular Articles 30, 31 and 34(2)(c) thereof,

Article 1

Having regard to the initiative of the Kingdom of Sweden (1),

Establishment of a system for the transmission of samples

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (2),

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

(5)

The possibility of legally transmitting samples of seized
illegal narcotic substances between the authorities of the
Member States for the purposes of prevention, detection,
investigation and prosecution of criminal offences would
increase the effectiveness of the fight against drugs.

The fight against drugs is a matter of common concern
for law enforcement and justice authorities in the
Member States.

At present no legally binding rules exist regulating the
legal transmission of seized illegal narcotic substance
samples between the authorities of the Member States.
A system should therefore be created at European Union
level to allow for the legal transmission of such samples.

That system should apply to all forms of transmission
of samples of seized illegal narcotic substances between
Member States. Transmission should be based on agree-
ment between the sending and the receiving Member
State, together with information to other Member States
whose territory is involved.

Agreement between the Member States involved should
be entered into by centralised contact points on the basis
of a standard sample transmission form. Following due
completion of this form, transport should be deemed to
take place legally.

(6)

Transmission should take place in a manner that is
sufficiently secure and guarantees that the transported
samples cannot be abused,

1.
This Decision establishes a system for the legal trans-
mission between Member States of samples of illegal narcotic
substances.

2.
Transmission of samples of illegal narcotic substances
(hereinafter ‘samples’) shall be considered lawful in all Member
States when it is conducted in accordance with this Decision.

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Decision, ‘narcotic substances’ means:

(a)

(b)

(c)

any substance, natural or synthetic, mentioned in Sched-
ules I or II of the United Nations Single Convention on
Narcotic Drugs 1961, and that Convention as amended
by the 1972 Protocol;

any substance mentioned in the revised Schedules I, II, III
and IV of the United Nations Convention on Psychotropic
Substances 1971;

any substance coming under the scope of the decisions
taken or to be taken on the basis of Article 5 of Council
Joint Action 97/396/JHA of 16 June 1997 concerning
the information exchange, risk assessment and the control
of new synthetic drugs (3).

Article 3

National contact points

Each Member State shall designate a national contact

1.
point for the purposes of implementing this Decision.

(1) OJ C ...
(2) OJ C ...

(3) OJ L 167, 25.6.1997, p. 1.

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Information concerning the designated national contact
2.
points,
including subsequent modifications, shall be trans-
mitted to the General Secretariat of the Council which shall
publish the information in the Official Journal.

3.
The national contact points shall be the sole bodies
competent for authorising the transmission of samples under
this Decision.

Article 4

Agreement to transmit samples

1.
The national contact point of the Member State intending
to send a sample and the national contact point of the Member
State intended to receive a sample shall agree on the method
of transport. For this purpose they shall make use of the
sample transmission form set out in the Annex.

2. Where transmission of a sample involves transportation
through the territory of another Member State (‘involved
Member State’), the national contact point of such involved
Member State shall be informed of the planned transport by
the national contact point of the sending Member State. To
that end, each involved Member State shall receive a copy of
the duly completed sample transmission form.

Article 5

Means of transport

4.
The authorities of Member States shall not hinder or
detain any transport accompanied by a duly completed sample
transmission form unless they have doubts as to whether the
sample transmission form has been issued lawfully. In case of
doubts as to the legal status of the sample transmission form,
the national contact point of the Member State detaining the
transport shall, as soon as possible, contact the national
contact points of the Member States responsible for the
completion of the sample transmission form in order to clarify
the issue.

If the means of transport chosen is transport by an
5.
official of the sending or receiving Member State, that official
shall not be permitted to wear a uniform. Further, he or she
shall not have any operational powers and shall not be
permitted to carry out any other missions during the transport.

Article 6

Nature of the sample and its use

A sample shall not exceed the quantity necessary for the

1.
work of law enforcement or judicial authorities.

The use of the sample within the receiving Member State
2.
shall be agreed between the sending and receiving Member
States, it being understood that samples can only be used
for prevention, detection,
investigation and prosecution of
criminal offences.

Article 7

Evaluation

1.
The Member States sending and receiving the sample
shall decide on the means of transport. Transport of samples
shall take place in a sufficiently secure way.

The following means of transport shall be regarded, inter

2.
alia, as sufficiently secure:

(a)

transport by an official of
Member State;

the sending or receiving

(b)

transport by courier;

(c)

transport by diplomatic bag;

1.

This Decision shall be subject to evaluation before ... (*).

2.
For the purpose of the said evaluation the national
contact point of each sending Member State shall hold in
archive a copy of every sample transmission form issued
during at least the previous five years.

Article 8

Entry into force

This Decision shall take effect on [1 September 2001].

(d)

transport by registered (express) mail.

Done at ...

3.
The duly completed sample transmission form referred
to in Article 4 shall accompany the sample during the entire
transport.

For the Council

The President

(*) Five years after the date of entry into effect of this Decision.

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Official Journal of the European Communities

12.1.2001

ANNEX

SAMPLE TRANSMISSION FORM

A. National contact point responsible for sending the sample

A.1. Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A.2. Address:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A.3.

Stamp:

A.4.

Signature and date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

B. Sending authority, receiving authority and intended use of sample in receiving Member State

B.1.

The sample originates from:

B.1.1. Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

B.1.2. Address:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

B.2.

The sample is intended for:

B.2.1. Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

B.2.2. Address:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

B.3.

The sample is intended to be used for:

(a) prevention of criminal offences;

(b) detection of criminal offences;

(c) investigation of criminal offences;

(d) prosecution of criminal offences;

(e) other use.

C. Nature and quantity of sample

C.1.

The sample is of the following nature (indicate exact composition):
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

C.2.

The sample is of the following quantity (indicate exact quantity, i.e. the grams, number of pills, etc.): . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

D. Means of transport and route to be used

D.1. The following means of transport will be used:

(a) transport by an official of the sending or receiving Member State;

(b) transport by courier;

(c) transport by diplomatic bag;

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(d) transport by registered (express) mail;

(e) other means of transport (specify).

D.2. The following route will be used (indicate starting point, destination and general route to be used between
those two points): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

D.3. Where transport is to be by an official of the sending or receiving Member State, indicate the intended
means of transport (train, car, etc.):
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

D.4. National contact points of Member States to be informed pursuant to Article 4(2): . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E. National contact point receiving the sample

E.1. Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E.2. Address:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

E.3.

Stamp:

E.4.

Signature and date: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .