English
The Ministry of Health has initiated a process to align legal regulations on drug control with European standards, while a new National Drug Strategy for the 2024–2027 period is also currently under preparation. According to Minister of Health Sasho Klekovski, these activities are part of the Reform Agenda and aim to bring domestic legislation closer to European Union regulations.
“A working group has been established to align the Law on the Control of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances with EU legislation, and a working arrangement with the EU Drugs Agency is currently being finalized,” stated Klekovski.
He noted that the European Commission has approved a request for expert support through the TAIEX program. Under this initiative, European experts will assist in drafting the new National Drug Strategy, ensuring it is aligned with European policies in this field. The reforms also include strengthening the National Drug Observatory and establishing a system for the early detection of and reporting on the emergence of new psychoactive substances.
The second phase of the process is scheduled for next year and will involve aligning the list of psychoactive substances with European standards, as well as introducing a legal definition for “new psychoactive substance.”