CELEX: 21995A1230(10)
Language: en
Date: 1995-12-18 00:00:00
Title: Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Bolivia on precursors and chemical substances frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances

Avis juridique important

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21995A1230(10)

Agreement between the European Community and the Republic of Bolivia on precursors and chemical substances frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances  

Official Journal L 324 , 30/12/1995 P. 0003 - 0009

AGREEMENTbetween the European Community and the Republic of Bolivia on  precursors and chemical substances frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or  psychotropic substancesTHE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY, hereinafter referred to as the 'Community', on the one part, andTHE REPUBLIC OF BOLIVIA, hereinafter referred to as 'Bolivia', on the other part, hereinafter referred to as the 'Contracting Parties', DETERMINED to prevent and combat the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs and psychotropic  substances by controlling the supply of precursors and chemical substances frequently used for such  purposes; ACKNOWLEDGING Article 12 of the United Nations Convention of 1988 against Illicit Traffic in  Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances; AGREEING with the final Report of the Chemical Action Task Force (CATF), approved by the London G-7  Economic Summit on 15 July 1991, which recommended the strengthening of international cooperation  by the conclusion of bilateral agreements, in particular between regions and countries involved in  export, import and transit of these chemical substances; CONVINCED that international trade constitutes a specific risk factor and that only cooperation  arrangements between the regions concerned can prevent this danger, in particular by linking export  and import controls; AFFIRMING their common commitment to setting up assistance and cooperation mechanisms between  Bolivia and the Community in order to combat the diversion of controlled substances to illicit  purposes, in harmony with the orientations and actions decided at international level; RECOGNIZING that these chemical substances are also mainly and widely used for legitimate purposes  and that international trade must not be hindered by excessive monitoring procedures; HAVE DECIDED to conclude an Agreement for the control of precursors and chemical substances  frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, and, to  this end, have designated as their plenipotentiaries: THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITY: THE REPUBLIC OF BOLIVIA: WHO, having exchanged credentials of their full powers, found in good and due form, HAVE AGREED AS FOLLOWS: Article 1 Scope of the agreement1. This Agreement sets out measures to  strengthen administrative cooperation between the Contracting Parties to prevent the diversion of  substances frequently used in the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances,  without prejudice to the due recognition of the legitimate interests of trade and industry. 2. For this purpose, the Contracting Parties shall assist each other, as set out in this Agreement,  notably in: - monitoring the trade between them in controlled substances, with the aim of preventing their  diversion to illicit purposes, - providing mutual administrative assistance ensuring that the provisions of the relevant substance  trade control legislation are correctly applied. 3. Without prejudice to possible amendments which might be adopted within the competence of the  Joint Follow-up Group, this Agreement applies to the chemical substances listed in the Annex to the  1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances as  amended, hereinafter referred to as 'controlled substances'. Article 2 Trade monitoring1. The Contracting Parties shall consult and inform each other on  their own initiative of any suspicion that controlled substances may be diverted to the illicit  manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, in particular when a shipment occurs in  unusual quantities or under unusual circumstances. 2. With regard to the controlled substances listed in Annex A to this Agreement, the competent  authority of the exporting Contracting Party shall, at the same time as the export authorization is  issued and prior to the departure of the consignment, forward a copy of the export authorization to  the competent authority of the importing Contracting Party. Specific information shall be provided  where the operator benefits, in the exporting country, from an open individual authorization  covering multiple export operations. 3. With regard to the controlled substances listed in Annex B to this Agreement, the export shall  be authorized only when the importing Contracting Party has given its consent. 4. The Contracting Parties undertake to provide, reciprocally and in good time, due feedback on any  information provided or measure requested under this Article. 5. When implementing the abovementioned trade control measures, the legitimate interests of trade  shall be duly respected. In particular, in cases covered by paragraph 3, the reply by the importing  Contracting Party shall be provided within 15 working days after the reception of the message from  the exporting Contracting Party. The absence of a reply within this delay shall be deemed as  granting an import authorization. The refusal to grant an import authorization shall be notified in  writing to the exporting Contracting Party within this delay and must be substantiated. Article 3 Suspension of shipment1. Without prejudice to any possible implementation of technical  enforcement measures, shipments shall be suspended if, in the opinion of either Contracting Party,  there are reasonable grounds to believe that controlled substances may be diverted to the illicit  manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances, or where, in the cases described in  Article 2 (3), the importing Contracting Party requests the suspension. 2. The Contracting Parties shall cooperate in supplying each other with any information relating to  presumed diversion operations. Article 4 Mutual administrative assistance1. The Contracting Parties shall supply to each other,  either on their own initiative or on request, any information to prevent the diversion of  controlled substances to the illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances and  shall investigate cases of suspected diversion. Where necessary they shall adopt appropriate  precautionary measures to prevent diversion. 2. Any request for information or precautionary measures shall be complied with as promptly as  possible. 3. Requests for administrative assistance shall be executed in accordance with the laws,  regulations and other legal instruments of the requested Contracting Party. 4. Officials of a Contracting Party may, with the agreement of the other Contracting Party, be  present at the inquiries carried out in the territory of the latter. 5. The Contracting Parties shall assist each other to facilitate the provision of evidence. 6. Administrative assistance provided under this Article shall not prejudice the rules governing  mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, nor shall it apply to information obtained under  powers exercised at the request of a judicial authority, unless the authority so agrees. 7. Information may be requested in respect of chemical substances which are frequently used in the  illicit manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances but which are not included in the  scope of this Agreement. Article 5 Information exchange and confidentiality1. Any information communicated in whatsoever  form pursuant to this Agreement shall be of a confidential or restricted nature, depending on the  rules applicable in each of the Contracting Parties. It shall be covered by the obligation of  official secrecy and shall enjoy the protection extended to similar information under the relevant  laws of the Contracting Party which received it and the corresponding provisions applying to the  Community authorities. 2. Data relating to persons may be exchanged only where the receiving Contracting Party undertakes  to protect such data in at least an equivalent way to the one applicable to that particular case in  the supplying Contracting Party liable to supply them. 3. Information obtained shall be used solely for the purposes of this Agreement. Where one of the  Contracting Parties requests the use of such information for other purposes, it shall ask for the  prior written consent of the authority which furnished the information. Moreover, such use shall be  subject to any restrictions laid down by that authority. 4. Paragraph 3 shall not impede the use of information in any judicial or administrative  proceedings subsequently instituted for failure to comply substance control legislation. The  competent authority which supplied that information shall be notified of such use. Article 6 Exceptions to the obligation to provide assistance1. The Contracting Parties may  refuse to give assistance as provided for in this Agreement, where to do so would: (a) be likely to prejudice the sovereignty of Bolivia or of a Member State of the Community; (b) be likely to prejudice public policy, security or other essential interests, in particular the  cases referred to in Article 5 (2); or(c) violate an industrial, commercial or professional  secret. 2. If one Contracting Party requests assistance which it could not supply itself entirely or  partially upon a similar request, it shall state this situation in its request. The other  Contracting Party shall then decide in what form it can comply with the request. 3. If assistance is refused, the decision and its explanatory reasons shall be notified without  delay to the other Contracting Party. Article 7 Technical and scientific cooperationThe Contracting Parties shall cooperate in the  identification of new diversion methods as well as appropriate countermeasures, including technical  cooperation to strengthen administrative and enforcement structures in this field and promote  cooperation with trade and industry. Such technical cooperation may concern, in particular,  training and exchange programmes for the officials concerned as well as the equipment necessary for  the implementation of this Agreement. Article 8 Implementation measures1. The Contracting Parties shall endeavour to implement this  Agreement in taking into account the necessity of a consistent approach of substance control  legislation for the entire inter-American region. 2. Each Contracting Party shall appoint a competent authority or competent authorities to  coordinate the application of this Agreement. These authorities shall communicate directly with one  another for the purposes of this Agreement. 3. The Contracting Parties shall keep each other informed of the provisions which they adopt for  the implementation of this Agreement. Article 9 Joint Follow-Up Group1. A Joint Follow-up Group on the control of precursors and  chemical substances is hereby established, hereinafter referred to as 'the Joint Follow-up Group',  in which each Contracting Party to this Agreement shall be represented. 2. The Joint Follow-up Group shall act by mutual agreement. It shall normally meet once a year,  with the date, place and programme being fixed by mutual agreement. To the extent possible, these  meetings shall be organized simultaneously with those of other joint committees or joint groups  established between the Community and other Member States of the Organization of American States. Extraordinary meetings of the Joint Follow-up Group may be convened by agreement of the Contracting  Parties. 3. The Joint Follow-up Group shall adopt it own rules of procedure. Article 10 Role of the Joint Follow-Up Group1. The Joint Follow-up Group shall administer this  Agreement and ensure its proper implementation. For this purpose: - it shall study and develop the necessary means to ensure the correct functioning of the present  Agreement, - it shall be regularly informed by the Contracting Parties of their experience in applying this  Agreement, - in the cases provided for in paragraph 2, it shall take decisions, - in the cases provided for in paragraph 3, it shall make recommendations, - it shall study and develop the technical assistance measures referred to in Article 7, - it shall study and develop other possible forms of cooperation in matters relating to precursors  and chemical substances. 2. The Joint Follow-up Group shall adopt by mutual consent decisions to amend Annexes A and B. Such decisions shall be implemented by the Contracting Parties in accordance with their own  legislation. If, in the Joint Follow-up Group, a representative of a Contracting Party has accepted a decision  subject to the completion of the procedures necessary for that purpose, the decision shall enter  into force, if no date is contained therein, on the first day of the second month after such a  completion is notified. 3. The Joint Follow-up Group shall recommend to the Contracting Parties: (a) amendments to this Agreement; (b) any other measure required for the application of this Agreement. Article 11 Other agreements1. Without prejudice to the provisions of the Treaty establishing the  European Community, the provisions of this Agreement shall replace the provisions of bilateral  agreements which have been concluded between individual or several Member States of the Community  and Bolivia if they are incompatible with the former. These bilateral agreements shall not  prejudice Community provisions governing the communication between the competent administrative  authorities within the Community of any information obtained in matters covered by this Agreement  which could be of Community interest. 2. The Contracting Parties will also notify each other of any measures in substance control matters  taken with other countries. Article 12 Entry into force1. This Agreement shall enter into force on the first day of the  second month following the date of the deposit of the last instrument of ratification, acceptance  or approval, according to the rules applicable for each Contracting Party. 2. The instruments referred to in paragraph 1 shall be deposited with the General Secretariat of  the Council of the European Union, which shall act as depositary. 3. The Depositary shall notify to the Contracting Parties the date of deposit of the instruments  referred to in paragraph 1 for each Contracting Party and the date of the entry into force of this  Agreement. Article 13 Duration and denunciation1. This Agreement shall be concluded for five years and,  unless otherwise disposed, it will be tacitly renewable for successive periods of the same  duration. 2. This Agreement may be amended by mutual consent of the Contracting Parties. 3. Either Contracting Party may withdraw from this Agreement provided it gives 12 months' prior  notice in writing to the other Contracting Party. Article 14 Authentic textsThis Agreement, which is drawn up in duplicate in the Danish, Dutch,  English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Swedish languages, all  texts being equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the General Secretariat of the  Council of the European Union, which shall deliver a certified copy thereof to each Contracting  Party. Hecho en Madrid, el dieciocho de diciembre de mil novecientos noventa y cinco. Udfaerdiget i Madrid den attende december nitten hundrede og femoghalvfems. Geschehen zu Madrid am achtzehnten Dezember neunzehnhundertfuenfundneunzig. ¸ãéíaa óôç Ìáaeñssôç, óôéò aeaaêáïêôþ AEaaêaaìâñssïõ ÷ssëéá aaííéáêueóéá aaíaaíÞíôá ðÝíôaa. Done at Madrid on the eighteenth day of December in the year one thousand nine hundred and  ninety-five. Fait à Madrid, le dix-huit décembre mil neuf cent quatre-vingt-quinze. Fatto a Madrid, addì diciotto dicembre millenovecentonovantacinque. Gedaan te Madrid, de achttiende december negentienhonderd vijfennegentig. Feito em Madrid, em dezoito de Dezembro de mil novecentos e noventa e cinco. Tehty Madridissa kahdeksantenatoista paeivaenae joulukuuta vuonna  tuhatyhdeksaensataayhdeksaenkymmentaeviisi. Som skedde i Madrid den artonde december nittonhundranittiofem. Por la Comunidad EuropeaFor Det Europaeiske FaellesskabFuer die Europaeische GemeinschaftÃéá ôçí  AAõñùðáúêÞ ÊïéíueôçôáFor the European CommunityPour la Communauté européennePer la Comunità  europeaVoor de Europese GemeenschapPela Comunidade EuropeiaEuroopan yhteisoen puolestaFoer  Europeiska gemenskapen>REFERENCE TO A FILM>Por la República de BoliviaFor Republikken  BoliviaFuer die Republik BolivienÃéá ôç AEçìïêñáôssá ÂïëéâssáòFor the Republic of BoliviaPour la  république de BoliviePer la Repubblica di BoliviaVoor de Republiek BoliviaPela República da  BolíviaBolivian tasavallan puolestaFoer Republiken Bolivia>REFERENCE TO A FILM> ANNEX A Substances subject to the measures referred to in Article 2 (2) Methyl ethyl  ketoneToluenePotassium permanganateSulphuric acidAcetoneEthyl etherHydrochloric acidAcetic  anhydrideAnthranilic acidPhenylacetic acidPiperidine ANNEX B Substances subject to the measures referred to in Article 2 (3)