The first global meeting of the International Network on Drug Legislation (INLOD) took place in Vienna, Austria, on June 24-25, 2025. The Office for Combating Drugs of the Government of the Republic of Serbia participated in this event.
This innovative meeting brought together representatives of member states, parliamentarians, experts, and international organizations with the goal of establishing a network of international legislators and parliamentarians. The network aims to provide them with the necessary tools and resources to improve global coordination, knowledge exchange, and capacity building to promote effective legislation addressing the global issue of synthetic drugs.

During the discussions, the importance of creating innovative cooperation mechanisms among member states was emphasized, alongside the strength of international treaties, experts, and policymakers within countries. INLOD aims to carry out a wide range of activities designed to support legislators in developing effective responses to the global challenge of synthetic drugs, including: guidelines on legislative options, collaborative meetings, the “Next Generation Policy Makers” program, a network of policymakers, partnerships with academic institutions, and engagement of experts within the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Representatives of the Office for Combating Drugs of the Government of the Republic of Serbia, Ms. Nina Grba and Ms. Mia Matić, also participated in the meeting, presenting Serbia’s statеmеnts in two thematic discussions.

Ms. Matić spoke in the second session titled “Multilateralism and the role of Parliaments in effective response to synthetic drugs”. In her speech, she highlighted the importance of the Office for Combating Drugs as the national coordinating body in the field of drug control and emphasized the significance of multilateral and multisectoral cooperation. She described the work of multidisciplinary teams operating in seven local communities across the Republic of Serbia. Special attention was given to the timely exchange of data, the early warning mechanism implemented by the Ministry of Health, as well as the involvement of local authorities and civil society in prevention, treatment, and reintegration.

In the third session on “Legislative Responses to Support Effective Measures in the Fight Against Drugs,” Ms. Grba presented Serbia’s position, noting that the Law on Controlled Psychoactive Substances is currently in force in Serbia and is undergoing revision to improve the legal framework. She mentioned that the Director of the Office for Combating Drugs actively participates in the expert working group to ensure alignment with international standards and support effective interventions. During this session, she also highlighted the special role of the National Center in Mitrovo Polje, recognized regionally as a center of excellence for training in the detection and deactivation of illegal laboratories. The center cooperates with international partners such as INCB, DEA, EUROPOL, and CEPOL and hosts a national team composed of professionals from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, specializing in dismantling illegal drug production laboratories.