ii. iii. organise concrete measures to minimize the personal, social and economic impact of Drugs and HIV. A National Drug Secretariat, operating under the Ministry of Defence and Rodrigues will follow up on proposals made by the Council. 195. The import of precursor items (chemicals that are primarily legitimate, but can be misused to form drugs) is now being controlled through the establishment of a quota system. Both direct and indirect precursors are listed in the Dangerous Drugs Act. There is a total control on the nature, range and quantities of Dangerous Drugs being imported in the country. The Pharmacy Board exercises this function through the issue of permits for importation of pharmaceutical products by the private and public sectors. At a national level, all imports are subjected to an import permit. On or before the 31st December of each year, the maximum quantities of Dangerous Drugs that an importer may bring into the country during the next calendar year are determined by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life. 196. Clearance of drugs is submitted on the production of an export permit from the producing country and on the vetting of the invoice. Importing is strictly limited to wholesale pharmacies, government health and agricultural services and forensic laboratories. 197. Synthetic Cannabinoids are already listed in Schedule I Part II of the Dangerous Drugs Act, as prohibited substances. These Regulations came into force on 10 October 2013. In September 2015 and in 2019, other New Psychoactive Substances (Recreational Drugs) of high potential of abuse have also been classified under the respective schedules of the Dangerous Drugs Act. Moreover, the Government is currently working on the scheduling of a further new list of synthetic drugs to exercise better control. 198. As at date around 8000 injecting drug users have been induced on methadone and around 5000 beneficiaries are on the maintenance programme and accessing their daily doses at 44 dispensing points throughout the country including in the Prisons. Initiation on methadone is being carried out on a day care basis at two methadone centres namely at Ste.Croix and Mahebourg for male injecting drug users and at Bouloux AHC, Cassis for female injecting drug users. Methadone treatment is provided to prison inmates who have already been induced on methadone in the community. Methadone induction is also carried out in the prison. 199. The Needle Exchange Programme is a Government led outreach programme targeting people Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in view to curb the trend of HIV infection among injecting drug users. As at date 47 sites are operational throughout the island in areas where there is concentration of Injecting Drug Users. 36 sites are run by the Ministry of Health and Quality of Life through 2 mobile caravans on weekdays. 11 sites are run by NGO CUT. (7 fixed street based Needle Exchange Programme + 4 sites through mobile caravan). 100