Following the Government’s acceptance of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs recommendation that 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) should be classified as a poison, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Chief Scientist Gino Martini said:
“RPS has raised awareness of the dangers of DNP for many years and wrote to the then Home Secretary Sajid Javid MP suggesting its’ classification as a poison in 2019.
“It’s great news that the Home Office will consult this year on adding DNP to the list of regulated poisons under the 1972 Poisons Act. This means the only legitimate means of sale would be through a registered pharmacy to an individual holding a Home Office licence.
“We welcome the Government’s recognition of the threat of inappropriate supply via online market places and hope that given their acceptance of the ACMD’s recommendations, they take immediate steps to delist DNP products rather than wait for legislative change.
“DNP is an industrial chemical, unfit for human consumption and individuals who sell it as a ‘weight loss aid’ have already caused far too many deaths, harm and heartache for families across the country. Their only aim is to exploit and profit from people with weight loss issues.
“We will respond to this consultation and hope to see DNP included as a poison under the 1972 Act as quickly as possible to help prevent further harm to vulnerable individuals.”
Read the Home Office letter accepting the ACMD’s recommendation.