UK government bans export of lethal injection drugs to the USA

The UK government will introduce additional controls on the export to the USA of drugs used in lethal injections and is calling on the European Union to follow its lead. The necessary order to extend the controls will be laid before Parliament in the coming days.

Measures will be put in place to stop the export to the USA of three drugs - pancuronium bromide, potassium chloride and sodium pentobarbital. The move builds on the government’s previous action in placing an emergency export control on sodium thiopental.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: "We oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and are clear that British drugs should not be used to carry out lethal injections. That is why we introduced a control on sodium thiopental last year - the first of its kind in the world. And it is also why we are now controlling the export of the other drugs used in lethal injection in the USA.”