EU drug agency: Franz Pietsch again at the top for the fight against drugs!

EU drug agency: Franz Pietsch again at the top for the fight against drugs!

A new milestone in the fight against drug abuse and crime: On December 5, 2024, Franz Pietsch was re -elected as chairman of the EU drug agency Euda for the 2025 to 2028 term. Pietsch, the head of the group of human medicine law in the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, is committed to close cooperation between the EU countries to efficiently overcome drug-related challenges. "The fight against drug abuse can only be successful if the EU countries work closely together," said Pietsch. The Euda, which started its work on July 1, 2024, replaces the European observation center for drugs and drug addiction and has significantly expanded its tasks, including the establishment of a network of criminal and toxicological laboratories to improve the exchange of information about new substances, such as ots.at

expanded skills of the Euda

The new EU agency will be able to react faster and more targeted to new drug-related threats. Burkhard Blienert, the federal addiction and drug representative of the federal government, welcomes the extensive expansion of the tasks through which an effective and data-based drug policy is strengthened. "Drugs endanger the security and health of millions of people worldwide. It is crucial that we are better networked in the international fight against drug crime," said Blienert. The expanded tasks include monitoring and combating drug mixing drugs and the development of warning messages if particularly dangerous substances get on the market, such as the website of the Federal Drugs Representative (