The administrative board of the EU drug agency EUDA today re-elected Franz Pietsch as chairman for the term of office from 2025 to 2028. Pietsch is head of the human medicine law group in the Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection.
EUDA supports Member States in addressing drug-related challenges. For example, it provides warning messages when new substances come onto the market. For this purpose, a network of forensic and toxicology laboratories is currently being set up. EUDA also advises member states on the development and implementation of national strategies and measures.
Pietsch had been a member of the board of directors of the predecessor organization EMCDDA, the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, since 2002. He has been chairman of the board since 2022. In July 2024, the previous drug monitoring center was converted into the new EU drug agency with significantly expanded tasks.
„The fight against drug abuse and drug addiction can only be successful if the EU states work closely together. You can learn from each other and react more quickly to new challenges together“, explains Pietsch. He sees the primary goals due to the expansion of the mandate in particular as establishing the EU laboratory network and the agency’s scientific research work.
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