In 1993, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) was created (Council Regulation (EEC) No 302/93 of 8 February 1993 on the establishment of a European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction), acting as a central reference point for drug-related information for the European Union as well as for its Member States. Information gathering is done through, among others, national information centres in each Member State, called "National Focal Points". In 1995, the Scientific Institute of Public Health (IPH) was appointed by the Minister of Public Health as the Belgian National REITOX Focal Point.