Measures Taken with Respect to Drug Control in Africa
Burkina Faso
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
None reported.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled licensing system for both narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Difficulties are encountered when processing the import of psychotropic substances listed in Schedule
IV of the 1971 Convention. No manufacture of either psychotropic substances or narcotic drugs was
reported.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. It was reported in 1990, however,
that the control for prescriptions of psychotropic substances was not strictly adhered to in all cases.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law requires warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet information to
safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: None reported.
Chad
Laws and regulations:
None reported.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a licensing system. No manufacture of psychotropic substances or narcotic drugs was reported.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law requires warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet information to
safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: None reported.
Cote D'Ivoire
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
In July 1988, a law relating to suppression of illicit traffic and illicit use of narcotic drugs,
psychotropic substances and other poisonous substances was enacted.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is no government controlled licensing system. In 1993, it was reported that such a licensing
system existed. No manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances was reported.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law requires warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet information to
safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: In 1988, a number of regulations and administrative measures were
passed so as to make drug trafficking seem less attractive, including an increase in prison terms from
5 to 20 years and confiscation of assets linked to drug traffic.
Egypt
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
None reported.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled licensing system. No manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic
substances was reported for 1992.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law requires warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet information to
safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs but not on those containing psychotropic
substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: None reported.
Ethiopia
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
None reported.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government controlled licensing system. No manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic
substances or narcotic drugs was reported for 1993.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law requires warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet information to
safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: For 1988, the creation of a National Committee was reported having
taken place. Members of the Committee were representatives of the Police, Customs, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.
Gabon
No Information Available
Ghana
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
None reported.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled licensing system. Diversion of psychotropic substances into illicit
channels was reported for 1992 and 1993. The psychotropic substances diazepam and phenobarbitone were
reported having been manufactured in 1993. No manufacture of narcotic drugs was reported. All
manufacturers are located in Accra.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law requires warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet information to
safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: None reported.
Kenya
No Information Available
Mali
No Information Available
Mauritius
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
None reported.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled system. No manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances
was reported.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law does not require warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet
information to safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic
substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: Since 1992, pharmacies and private clinics are systematically
inspected to ensure strict enforcement of prescription requirements and over-prescribing and irrational
use of controlled drugs so detected is referred to the Medical Council for action against doctors.
Morocco
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
None reported.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled licensing system. No manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic
substances was reported.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law requires warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet information to
safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: None reported.
Namibia
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
None reported.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled licensing system. No manufacture of psychotropic substances and
narcotic drugs was reported.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law requires warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet information to
safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: An Inter-Ministerial Drug Committee was reported having been
established in 1991.
Nigeria
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
In 1992, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (Amendment) Decree No 15 was enacted, granting wider
powers to the Agency and authorizing officers to bear arms.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled licensing system. However, despite its existence, unauthorized people,
occasionally, engage in trade in and distribution of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Drugs
are either smuggled into the country or imported with forged import authorizations. Inadequate
technical aids to enforce laws on smuggling hamper effective monitoring of drug movements. In
particular, amphetamine and pemoline tablets continue to be exported to Nigeria using fictitious
descriptions such as "chloroquine tablets " or "multivitamins". No manufacture of narcotic drugs or
psychotropic substances was reported.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: Both narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances are usually classified as
"poisons" under national regulations. The law requires that all drugs classified as "poisons" bear a
warning label indicating the instance.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: In 1989, an Inter-Ministerial Committee was established under the
auspices of the Ministry of External Affairs to examine the involvement of Nigerian citizens as
couriers of narcotic drugs. Members of the Committee came from the Ministries of Health, Justice,
External Affairs, Information, Internal Affairs, as well as, from security agencies, such as, police,
customs, immigration, sea and airport authorities. The recommendations of that committee led to the
creation of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency-NDLEA. (see II above)
Rwanda
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
None reported.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled licensing system for both narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
No manufacture of psychotropic substances and narcotic drugs takes place.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law does not require warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet
information to safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic
substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: None reported.
Senegal
No Information Available
South Africa
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
A Medicines and Related Substances Control Amendment Act was enacted in 1991 in order to bring South
African legislation in line with the international control measures of the 1988 Convention.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled licensing system for both narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
However, some substances in schedules III and IV of the 1971 Convention are not subject to the
licensing system but to other control measures. Codeine, fentanyl, morphine, pholcodine and safentanil
(all narcotic drugs) and alprazolam (psychotropic substance) were reported being manufactured in 1993.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law requires warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet information to
safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported for 1993. In 1990, 2 non-treaty
substances were put under national control: 4-methylaminorex was not to be possessed or used except if
the Director-General of the Department of National Health and Population Development issued a permit
for use of the substance for analytical purposes. Similarly, nabilone could only be used upon approval
by the Director-General to a medical practitioner for the treatment of a particular patient.
(iv) Other administrative measures: 1991: In order to urge compliance with conditions set for receiving
import or export permits, import and export permits were refused to importers and exporters of
narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances who did not comply with the permit conditions. A year
earlier, importers and exporters were requested to sign a declaration to the effect that they
personally endorse the control measures as laid out in the Medicinal and Related Substances Control Act
and the 1961 and 1971 Conventions.
Sudan
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
None reported.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled licensing system. It was noted that the effectiveness of the licensing
system could be further improved by upgrading existing inspection facilities. No manufacture of
narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances was reported.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law does not require warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet
information to safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic
substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: None reported.
Uganda
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
None reported.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled licensing system for both narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
However, some exporting countries of psychotropic substances do not comply with the import permit
requirement for the controlled substances from the importers in Uganda. No manufacture of psychotropic
substances and narcotic drugs takes place.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law does not require warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet
information to safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic
substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: In 1990, the Ministry of Health reviewed the national drug policy.
One of the recommendations was that the penalty for possession of narcotic drugs should be raised from
six months to 10 years jail term on conviction.
United Republic of Tanzania
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
In 1991, the Proceeds of Crime Act which provides for seizure and forfeiture of proceeds from dealing
in drugs and the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Act providing for international action on matters
relating, inter alia, to drug trafficking, were enacted.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled licensing system. Chlorpromazine, diazepam, diozepan, promethazine and
phenobarbitone (psychotropic substances) were reported being manufactured during 1991. No
manufacture of narcotic drugs was reported.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law requires warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet information to
safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: By a Prohibition Order of 1989, cultivation and
trafficking in khat was prohibited.
(iv) Other administrative measures: In 1991, The Customs and Sales Tax Department set up a new unit
directly under the Commissioner to deal with drug control activities.
Zambia
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
None reported.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled licensing system for both narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
No manufacture of psychotropic substances and narcotic drugs takes place.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: There is a prescription requirement for supply or dispensation of
preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law requires warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet information to
safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(iii) Control of non-treaty substances, if any: None reported.
(iv) Other administrative measures: In 1989, the Government of Zambia established the Drug Enforcement
Commission, housed within the Ministry of Home Affairs, to deal with all matters related to drug abuse
and traffickers.
Zimbabwe
Recently enacted laws and regulations:
None reported.
Licensing system for manufacture, trade and distribution:
There is a government-controlled system of licensing. In applying the system, difficulties were
experienced with imports of narcotic drugs. No manufacture of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances
was reported.
Control system:
(i) Prescription requirement: Prescription is a requirement for supply and dispensation of preparations
containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
(ii) Warnings on packages: The law requires warnings on packages or accompanying leaflet information to
safeguard the users of preparations containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.