Forty-second Expert Committee on Drug Dependence

From October 21-25, the 42nd Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD) will meet in Geneva, Switzerland. The WHO ECDD is mandated by the International Drug Control Conventions to assesses the health risks and potential therapeutic use of psychoactive substances. Depending on the outcome of this assessment, the ECDD will issue recommendations to the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) in Vienna on whether a substance should be placed under international control or not.

WHO Expert Committee meetings are closed to the public, however individuals or representatives of public and private institutions and civil society who wish to present information to committee members on issues related to the meeting agenda are invited to apply to attend the Open Session on Monday, 21st October from 10:00-12:00 at the WHO Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland in Salle D.

It is an opportunity for individuals and partners external to the WHO to listen to an update on current and future activities of the ECDD Secretariat, and to provide comment (either in person or through a written statement) on issues on the ECDD agenda. Individuals may participate in the Open Session in several ways:

• Presenting at the meeting in person

• Sending a pre-recorded video presentation

• Sending a written statement for the consideration of the Committee

• Observing the meeting in person

For more information about the ECDD Open Session, please visit: https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/42nd_ecdd_open-session/en/

To attend the Open Session, you have to register your interest via this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LHJSX8W before October 10th, 2019.