TURKEY: CMEA REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 005867 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INL, EUR/SE, SA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR PREL TU SUBJECT: TURKEY: CMEA REPORTING REQUIREMENTS REF: STATE 155254 ¶1. Summary: This cable details Embassy Ankara's assessment of Turkey's imports of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine as requested in reftel. Embassy Ankara and our Turkish government contacts have no information which indicates Turkey's imports of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine are used for anything other than the licit production of pharmaceuticals. We have also briefed MFA officials on the the issue. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Turkey does not produce either ephedrine or pseudoephedrine domestically. In order to import ephedrine or pseudoephedrine, Turkish chemical and pharmaceutical companies must obtain an import permit through the Ministry of Health (MOH). Within MOH, the Department of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and Drug Precursors (DNPD) has established specific mechanisms for tracking and monitoring these chemicals after import. Importers using the chemicals for the manufacture of pharmaceutical products must supply detailed information on end use, whereas importers distributing to other entities must indicate to whom the chemicals are distributed and how they are used. The DNPD is the liaison for Turkey to the INCB. ¶3. (SBU) According to MOH officials, the importation of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine to Turkey is strictly for licit purposes; both are used in the production of pharmaceuticals. Turkey has a significant pharmaceutical industry, exporting to more than seventy countries. In 2005, Turkey's pharmaceutical exports reached 282 million dollars. Turkish pharmaceutical products meet ninety percent of the local consumer demand. At ninety-two dollars per capita, Turkey is one of the countries with the lowest per capita pharmaceuticals consumption. Medicines containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are produced in tablet, syrup, and ampule forms. Consumption of cough and cold medicines account for 8.5% of the market share, whereas analgesics and migraine products make up 9.5%. MOH insists there is no export of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine from Turkey, either in pure form or in finished products such as cold medicines. ¶4. (SBU) MOH estimated that in 2005 945,702 boxes of tablets and 371,100 of boxes in ampule form of medicine containing ephedrine were produced totaling 3,099 kilograms. As for consumption of these products in 2005, MOH estimated 876,879 boxes of tablets and 221,100 �00A;boxes in ampul form totaling 2,160 kilograms. 2005 estimates for the production of pseudoephedrine were 1,331,484 in tablet form and 2,706,236 in syrup form totaling 4,483 kilograms. As for consumption, MOH estimated 1,496,992 in tablet form and 2,551,482 in syrup form totaling 4,641 kilograms. ¶5. (SBU) According to MOH statistics, in 2005 Turkey imported 2,501 kg of ephedrine and 20,783 kg of pseudoephedrine. MOH officials expressed skepticism about the data we provided (from the INL web site) which differed slightly from the above. MOH stands by its import figures which they are also reporting to the INCB. MOH officials explained that total imports of pseudoephredine and ephedrine are considerably higher than total production and consumption because production and consumption data are for pure ephedrine and pseudoephedrine medicines only - they do not include medicines which combine ephedrine or pseudoephedrine with other drugs. ¶6. (SBU) DEA-Ankara indicates there is no known diversion of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine to the illicit market. Turkish drug traffickers are not involved in methamphetamine production, nor is there a consumer market for methamphetamine in Turkey or surrounding countries. ¶7. (SBU) In March 2006, DEA queried the Turkish National Police (TNP) and Turkish Customs officials regarding seizures of ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. Turkish officials acknowledged past seizures but emphasized they were uncommon. DEA officials indicated that prior seizures normally involved quantities of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine destined for Russia. DEA is unaware of any recent reports of seizures. ¶8. (SBU) Both ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are listed chemicals in the 1988 UN Convention, to which Turkey is a signatory. Turkey's Regulation on Controlled Chemicals, effective as of June 16, 2004, decrees that the import, export and internal distribution of all controlled substances must be approved by MOH. A prescription is required to purchase any medications containing ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in Turkey. However, MOH officials acknowledge that physicians continuing use of self-copied and serial numbered prescription forms (red for narcotics and green for psychotropic substances) in Turkey may occasionally lead to individuals' use of controlled substances for illicit purposes. Officials expressed the need for technical and financial assistance to create an electronic prescription database system to guard against theft of prescriptions and fraudulent prescriptions. ANKARA 00005867 002 OF 002 ¶9. (SBU) Although Turkey does not have a professional equivalent to DEA's Diversion Investigator, the MOH, TNP, Jandarma, and Customs have well-trained personnel who work effectively on chemical-related issues. Moreover, MOH is authorized to deny or rescind permission to import specific shipments of ephedrine or pseudoepehdrine if it suspects they will be diverted for illicit use. ¶10. (SBU) Acetic anhydride, a chemical used in heroin processing, is of primary concern for law enforcement officials in Turkey. Given Turkey's active participation in international chemical control programs such as Operations Purple/Topaz, DEA is confident that Turkish officials would likely use their contacts from these programs to immediately notify a destination country and/or the appropriate international authorities regarding possible diversion of a shipment of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. ¶11. (SBU) We have also alerted MFA officials to the CMEA and the link to USG assistance programs, using reftel talking points. Vakur Erkul, the Americas Desk Head of Department undertook to ensure we had all the information we needed. WILSON#