Department of Health
Central Government
Action Taken
The Department of Health acknowledges concerns about DNP and highlights existing actions including FSA's '#dnpkills' campaign, monitoring by the National Poisons Information Service, and warnings issued to GPs and emergency departments; they will continue to consider further actions. (AI summary)
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From Steve Brine MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Public Health and Primary Care Department of Health 39 Victoria Street London SW1H OEU 020 7210 4850 Our reference: PFD 1120118 Mr Geraint Urias Williams HM Senior Coroner Worcestershire Worcestershire Coroner Service The Civic Martins Stourport-on-Severn DY3 8UN 2 4 APR 2018 Thank you for your letter of 15 February to the Secretary of State about the death of Ms Bethany Shipsey. I am responding as Minister with responsibility for health protection and I am grateful for the additional time in which to do s0. Iwas extremely saddened to read of the circumstances surrounding Ms Shipsey' $ death. Please pass my condolences to her family and loved ones. I can only imagine how difficult a time this must be for them_ Inote the conclusion of your Report that Ms Shipsey died following the ingestion of 2,4 dinitrophenol (DNP) and that you wish the Department to consider introducing legislation to make illegal the possession and supply of DNP. Iwould like to assure you that we acknowledge this is an extremely important issue and I share concerns at the toxicity of this substance and its availability to those who may seek to misuse it as a body building Or weight loss aide: Iwould also like to make clear that it is illegal to sell DNP for human consumption. DNP is a chemical compound that has legitimate uses within industry (for example, as a pesticide) but is extremely toxic and is not recommended for human consumption with severe side effects including nausea, vomiting, restlessness, sweating, dizziness, headaches, rapid respiration and irregular heartbeat, possibly leading to coma and death. There is currently no regulation or licencing requirement to possess DNP, nor is there any offence of purchasing it. Iam advised the Home Office has no plans to control the substance under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Way your
As DNP has no medicinal or health benefit;, if it sold for human consumption it becomes by default a food and is dealt with as a dangerous food under the Food Safety Act 1990. The lead for DNP therefore falls to the Food Standards Agency (the FSA): While diet pills and supplements are not typically regarded to be medicines, a product which is intended to treat an adverse medical condition such as obesity is likely to fall within the definition of a medicinal product and would be a matter for the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (the MHRA) Both agencies are aware of the dangers posed by this substance when used for human consumption It might be helpful ifI explain some of the measures taken to eliminate the misuse of DNP and ensure that information is available to both health professionals and members of the highlighting the dangers. The FSA 's National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) has responsibility for tackling the marketing and sale of DNP in the UK and protecting the in this area is one of the NFCU's highest priorities and will continue to be $0. The NFCU has taken a number of actions including: Operation Broguish: Launched in April 2015 to target the illegal sale of DNP for human consumption: The NFCU established an ongoing programme of submitting *abuse complaints to domain registrars under international web usage agreements By March 2017, 31 abuse complaints had been submitted with 21 domain names suspended as a result: The NFCU proactively engaged with Alibaba com, which hosts multiple sellers of DNP, to highlight the presence of sellers providing DNP for human consumption the website now regularly removes such Operation _Sycamore Work to raise awareness among local authorities and law enforcement partners, and opening channels of communication and intelligence sharing with organisations such as UK Anti-Doping, Post Office Investigations and Royal Mail Investigations which will enhance the UK'$ response to any future DNP issues. Closer working with the Border Force and police on importations of DNP that could lead to misuse; and Working with enforcement agencies to bring to justice sellers of DNP for human consumption. public public listings;
Department of Health 1 you will be encouraged by the actions of the NFCU. Iam assured that the NFCU recognises there is more to do and resources continue to be directed at this issue_ More widely, to raise awareness among the public and potential users of this substance, the FSA has run a communications campaign "#dnpkills' since 2015 which has attracted support from a Radio 1 DJ and band Primal Scream, as well as an eating disorder charity (B-Eat): You will be further interested to know that the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS), commissioned by Public Health England (PHE), monitors the enquiries received through TOXBASE (the database by which health practitioners find information 0n toxins) and by telephone on DNP poisonings. Where there has been a notable increase in the number of cases through this data, the FSA and PHE have taken action. For example, in 2013the FSA issued warnings about DNP and PHE put out a news story supporting the FSA warnings In addition, educational work was carried out targeting places where DNP might be sold, or promoted, such as gyms. Also in 2013, the chief medical officers wrote to GPs and emergency departments to raise awareness of DNP and its hazards. Following further increase in cases in 2015, warnings were issued and measures taken to increase awareness, and I am advised an associated fall in calls and access to TOXBASE was seen_ I believe that together these actions have, and will continue to have, an impact on the inappropriate use of this substance. I am assured that the NPIS will continue to actively monitor enquiries relating to DNP and that the FSA, NFCU and PHE will continue to consider what further actions could be taken to tackle this issue. Thank you for bringing the circumstances of Ms Bethany Shipsey's death to my attention. I hope that you find this information helpful: As agreed, I am copying this response to Robin Walker MP, who has made representations on this matter to the Department of Health and Social Care. STEVE BRINE hope again
As DNP has no medicinal or health benefit;, if it sold for human consumption it becomes by default a food and is dealt with as a dangerous food under the Food Safety Act 1990. The lead for DNP therefore falls to the Food Standards Agency (the FSA): While diet pills and supplements are not typically regarded to be medicines, a product which is intended to treat an adverse medical condition such as obesity is likely to fall within the definition of a medicinal product and would be a matter for the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (the MHRA) Both agencies are aware of the dangers posed by this substance when used for human consumption It might be helpful ifI explain some of the measures taken to eliminate the misuse of DNP and ensure that information is available to both health professionals and members of the highlighting the dangers. The FSA 's National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) has responsibility for tackling the marketing and sale of DNP in the UK and protecting the in this area is one of the NFCU's highest priorities and will continue to be $0. The NFCU has taken a number of actions including: Operation Broguish: Launched in April 2015 to target the illegal sale of DNP for human consumption: The NFCU established an ongoing programme of submitting *abuse complaints to domain registrars under international web usage agreements By March 2017, 31 abuse complaints had been submitted with 21 domain names suspended as a result: The NFCU proactively engaged with Alibaba com, which hosts multiple sellers of DNP, to highlight the presence of sellers providing DNP for human consumption the website now regularly removes such Operation _Sycamore Work to raise awareness among local authorities and law enforcement partners, and opening channels of communication and intelligence sharing with organisations such as UK Anti-Doping, Post Office Investigations and Royal Mail Investigations which will enhance the UK'$ response to any future DNP issues. Closer working with the Border Force and police on importations of DNP that could lead to misuse; and Working with enforcement agencies to bring to justice sellers of DNP for human consumption. public public listings;
Department of Health 1 you will be encouraged by the actions of the NFCU. Iam assured that the NFCU recognises there is more to do and resources continue to be directed at this issue_ More widely, to raise awareness among the public and potential users of this substance, the FSA has run a communications campaign "#dnpkills' since 2015 which has attracted support from a Radio 1 DJ and band Primal Scream, as well as an eating disorder charity (B-Eat): You will be further interested to know that the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS), commissioned by Public Health England (PHE), monitors the enquiries received through TOXBASE (the database by which health practitioners find information 0n toxins) and by telephone on DNP poisonings. Where there has been a notable increase in the number of cases through this data, the FSA and PHE have taken action. For example, in 2013the FSA issued warnings about DNP and PHE put out a news story supporting the FSA warnings In addition, educational work was carried out targeting places where DNP might be sold, or promoted, such as gyms. Also in 2013, the chief medical officers wrote to GPs and emergency departments to raise awareness of DNP and its hazards. Following further increase in cases in 2015, warnings were issued and measures taken to increase awareness, and I am advised an associated fall in calls and access to TOXBASE was seen_ I believe that together these actions have, and will continue to have, an impact on the inappropriate use of this substance. I am assured that the NPIS will continue to actively monitor enquiries relating to DNP and that the FSA, NFCU and PHE will continue to consider what further actions could be taken to tackle this issue. Thank you for bringing the circumstances of Ms Bethany Shipsey's death to my attention. I hope that you find this information helpful: As agreed, I am copying this response to Robin Walker MP, who has made representations on this matter to the Department of Health and Social Care. STEVE BRINE hope again