Freedom of Information on how many seizures of medicines have been made in the last 12 months for medicines that do not require any form of import licence or prescription, and are not banned medicines or controlled drugs (FOI 22/431)
Published 1 June 2022
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FOI 22/431
10th March 2022
Dear
Thank you for your communication to the MHRA in relation to a Freedom of Information request for the details of:
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How many seizures of medicines have been made in the last 12 months for medicines that do not require any form of import licence or prescription, and are not banned medicines or controlled drugs, relating to individuals purchasing privately from outside the UK. For comparison, the number of seizures that took place in the 2 years preceding the ‘Covid 19 pandemic.’
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The total number of seizures and retentions in respect of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine in the last 12 months. For comparison, the total number of seizures and retentions of the same medicines in the 2 years preceding the ‘Covid 19 pandemic’
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The documentation and all communications between any and all parties that legitimises such seizures and retentions, and provides the rationale, the instruction and the intended outcome from same.
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An explanation of what has happened to all medicines seized in the periods detailed above, identifying if there have been any differences of approach in the periods specified
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- The figures below relate to seizures notified to us by Border Force of unlicensed medicines (not including controlled drugs) made at point of entry into the UK.
UKBF SEIZURES 03/03/2021-25/02/2022
| Total seizures (doses) | |
|---|---|
| 6,320,344 |
UKBF SEIZURES 01/04/2019-31/03/2020
| Total seizures (doses) | |
|---|---|
| 4,345,026 | |
UKBF SEIZURES 01/04/2018-31/03/2019
| Total seizures (doses) | |
|---|---|
| 5,963,463 |
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- Please see below the seizures of ivermectin:
Seizures of ivermectin Feb 2021 to Feb 2022: 120,250 doses
Seizures of ivermectin pre-pandemic: Nil
Seizures of hydroxychloroquine Feb 2021 to Feb 2022: 10,620 doses
Seizures of hydroxychloroquine preceding Covid 19 pandemic: Nil
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- Please find the Template notifications attached.
The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 provide a framework for the control of medicinal products in the UK
Specifically, Regulation 17 (1) of the Human Medicine Regulations 2012 provides a requirement for a person importing a medicinal product to hold a manufacturer’s licence. An exemption is provided at 17(6) for a person who imports a medicinal product “for administration to himself or herself or to any other person who is a member of that person’s household”. Beyond that, a breach of the requirements constitutes an offence under Regulation 34(1) of the regulations.
- Seizures determined to be more than reasonable personal importation quantities have been destroyed.
A number of contested seizures have been released to the importer on the grounds that they were deemed, upon review, to be for personal use. Reviews of some contested seizures are on-going.
If you have a query about this letter, please do not hesitate to contact us at <IE&SFOI@mhra.gov.uk>
If you are unhappy with our decision, you may ask for it to be reviewed. That review will be undertaken by a senior member of the Agency who has not previously been involved in your request. If you wish to pursue that option please email: info@mhra.gov.uk
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, we are not able to accept delivery of any documents or correspondence by post or courier to any of our offices.
After that, if you remain dissatisfied, you may write to the Information Commissioner at;
The Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
They will make a decision on whether or not we have interpreted the FOIA correctly in handling your request.
Yours sincerely
MHRA Customer Experience Centre
Communications and engagement team
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 4PU
Telephone 020 3080 6000