Exchange of experience between Member States on the drug khat

Question for written answer to the Commission

Olle Schmidt (ALDE): Khat is a plant with amphetamine-like qualities which is grown in Kenya. In most EU Member States it is classified as a controlled substance and banned. And yet every day between one and two tonnes of khat cross the border between Germany and Denmark alone. Most of this is transported on to drug abusers in Sweden.

The United Kingdom and the Netherlands, on the other hand, have not yet classified khat as a controlled substance. Khat is perishable, and has to be consumed within 48 hours of harvesting. Accordingly, smuggling to Sweden is possible because the drug can be flown in to Amsterdam and London – legally – and then smuggled on to Sweden by car – illegally. If the EU Member States could harmonise their attitude to khat the influx would be choked off.

The Dutch Justice Minister Ivo Opstelten recently raised the possibility of the Netherlands reclassifying khat as an illegal drug.

What is being done, and what can be done, to offer the Netherlands information and help in their assessment process, e.g. by sharing experience, statistics, best practice or information on how Dutch legislation is thought likely to benefit the fight against drugs in other Member States?