08/11/2017 (Agence Europe) – Sherpas from the EU member states in the COREPER committee endorsed on Wednesday 8 November an interinstitutional agreement to set up an accelerated surveillance system for legal highs (new psychoactive substances) (see EUROPE 11797). The European Parliament endorsed the proposal in plenary on 24 October (see EUROPE 11890). The EU Council of Ministers is due to formally adopt new rules shortly on tackling drugs, probably on Friday 10 November, explains a European source. The new rules reduce from twelve to six months the time for member states to implement nationally decisions taken at EU level to ban substances. EU member states will have twelve months to incorporate changes into their legal systems. The updated regulation will apply from the end of this transposition period. (MF)