Food Standard Agency
Other
Action Taken
The National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) continues to prioritise tackling the illegal sale of DNP, sharing intelligence with Border Force, Royal Mail, and Post Office Investigations, and monitoring the internet for illegal sales. This data sharing led to an Operational Instruction being issued to all Border Force Officers and assisted inquiries into a DNP supplier who is being prosecuted. (AI summary)
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Dear Mr Cox, Report into the death of Miss Anna Larissa Elisabeth Phillips. am writing in response to the request made under regulation 28 of the Coroners (Investigations) Regulations 2013 into the death of Miss Anna Phillips, dated the &th February 2017, and the conclusion that her death was caused by an overdose of 2,4 dinitrophenol (DNP) The regulation 28 request was originally sent to Ms Amber Rudd, Secretary of State for the Home Office. The Food Standards Agency is responsible for protecting consumer interests in relation to food and for ensuring that food is safe and what it says it is. The FSA'$ National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) gathers and develops intelligence around the illegal sale of DNP for human consumption to support and co-ordinate enforcement activity by partner agencies: The NFCU continues to take steps to tackle the marketing and sale of 2,4 dinitrophenol. Owing to the dangers it poses to the public tackling the illegal sale of DNP is one of the unit's highest priorities and will continue to be so. Whilst we have had some success in this area and there are encouraging signs that this is beginning to have a deterrent effect on both suppliers and potential users of the chemical there is still work to be done and we will continue t0 direct resource at this issue. Figures on cases of DNP toxicity in the UK are compiled by the National Poisons Information Service (NPIS)_ The NPIS the UK Department of Health approved, and Public Health England commissioned, national service that provides expert advice on all aspects of acute and chronic NATIONALFOOD National Food Crime Unit; Food Standards Agency; CRIME UNIT Aviation House, [25 Kingsway, London; WCZB 6NH. ABour 0 1 015ABL &9
poisoning In 2016, fourteen cases of DNP poisoning were reported, resulting in one fatality. This is in comparison t0 2015 during which there were thiriy-five cases reported with six fatalities The NPIS daia shows steady dlecline in TOXBASE' access and telephone enquiries to the NPIS since the second quarter of 2015_ The decline in reported cases and enquiries of NPIS corresponds with the NFCU targeted operation the sale of DNP for human consumption which is detailed below. The NFCU is aware of only one UK death from DNP toxicity in 2016. In the last few days have been informed of a further death in February 2017 and inquiries continue into the circumstances 0f this fatality: NFCU Activity Communications Campaign #dnpkills This campaign initially ran on Twitter and Facebook between 3Oth April 2015 and Sth May 2015 and reached over four million people_ Additional support was received from Radio and the band Primal Scream. The campaign was also supported by B-Eat; an eating disorder charity, which helped the message to reach those most at risk from DNP misuse. A short video was also produced and shared on social media. The NFCU has continued to promote the #dnpkills message on social media, most recently with the launch of pictorial e-cards warning the of the dangers of DNP. Press releases have also been issued along with information on the FSA website: Operation Sycamore Following fatality in April 2015, the NFCU launched Operation Sycamore which specifically targeted the illegal sale and consumption of DNP_ Having identified numerous overseas-based websites selling DNP for human consumption, the NFCU established an ongoing programme of submitting 'abuse complaints' to domain name registrars under international web usage agreements. As of 24"h March 2017, 31 abuse complaints have been submitted by the NFCU with 21 domain names suspended so far as a direct result: The NFCU proactively engaged with a major online marketplace which hosted multiple sellers of DNP, to highlight the presence of such listings. The website administrators now regularly remove listings which offer DNP for consumption. DNP briefing paper was produced by the NFCU to raise awareness of the issue, promote intelligence sharing and provide guidance on the legal framework for addressing issues with its sale for human consumption. This was well received by partners, prompting one local authority to raise awareness through local newspapers. The database by which health practitioners find information on toxins NATIONAZFOOD National Food Crime Unit; Food Standards Agency, CRIME UNIT Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London; WCZB 6NH. against public Abour 0 1 015ABL&9
The briefing has also been shared with other law enforcement partners. Subsequent Iiaison with potential stakeholders has opened channels of communication and intelligence sharing with organisations such as UK Anti-Doping, which will enhance the UK's response to any future DNP issues. NFCU Officers have also met with Royal Mail and Post Office Investigations to brief and provide profile on DNP consignments, countries of origin and routing to assist in detection of imported consignments This engagement has come to fruition recently in assisting in our inquiries into a DNP supplier who is prosecuted. In the light of the death of Miss Phillips NFCU officers will contact the Royal Mail and Post Office again to ensure this issue remains current: Examination of evidence seized during operations targeting DNP suppliers has revealed information on companies supplying DNP to the UK, and likely importation routes. This data was passed to the Border Force and as a direct result an Operational Instruction was issued to all Border Force Officers, briefing them on DNP and requiring details of seizures to be reported to the NFCU. Border Force now works with the NFCU and police to ensure consignments of DNP suspected of imported for marketing and sale for human consumption are stopped at the border and referred to the NFCU or police for enforcement action: Operation Sycamore enabled the NFCU to identify three specific suppliers of DNP within the UK Investigations are on-going with criminal justice disposal highly likely in the next few months_ Much of the market for DNP is via the internet which brings its own set of challenges, especially as most of the websites are neither hosted nor operated from within the UK Nonetheless the NFCU is actively seeking out opportunities to make interventions including regular monitoring of the internet to identify those websites selling DNP_ Please do not hesitate to contact me ifyou require any further information:
poisoning In 2016, fourteen cases of DNP poisoning were reported, resulting in one fatality. This is in comparison t0 2015 during which there were thiriy-five cases reported with six fatalities The NPIS daia shows steady dlecline in TOXBASE' access and telephone enquiries to the NPIS since the second quarter of 2015_ The decline in reported cases and enquiries of NPIS corresponds with the NFCU targeted operation the sale of DNP for human consumption which is detailed below. The NFCU is aware of only one UK death from DNP toxicity in 2016. In the last few days have been informed of a further death in February 2017 and inquiries continue into the circumstances 0f this fatality: NFCU Activity Communications Campaign #dnpkills This campaign initially ran on Twitter and Facebook between 3Oth April 2015 and Sth May 2015 and reached over four million people_ Additional support was received from Radio and the band Primal Scream. The campaign was also supported by B-Eat; an eating disorder charity, which helped the message to reach those most at risk from DNP misuse. A short video was also produced and shared on social media. The NFCU has continued to promote the #dnpkills message on social media, most recently with the launch of pictorial e-cards warning the of the dangers of DNP. Press releases have also been issued along with information on the FSA website: Operation Sycamore Following fatality in April 2015, the NFCU launched Operation Sycamore which specifically targeted the illegal sale and consumption of DNP_ Having identified numerous overseas-based websites selling DNP for human consumption, the NFCU established an ongoing programme of submitting 'abuse complaints' to domain name registrars under international web usage agreements. As of 24"h March 2017, 31 abuse complaints have been submitted by the NFCU with 21 domain names suspended so far as a direct result: The NFCU proactively engaged with a major online marketplace which hosted multiple sellers of DNP, to highlight the presence of such listings. The website administrators now regularly remove listings which offer DNP for consumption. DNP briefing paper was produced by the NFCU to raise awareness of the issue, promote intelligence sharing and provide guidance on the legal framework for addressing issues with its sale for human consumption. This was well received by partners, prompting one local authority to raise awareness through local newspapers. The database by which health practitioners find information on toxins NATIONAZFOOD National Food Crime Unit; Food Standards Agency, CRIME UNIT Aviation House, 125 Kingsway, London; WCZB 6NH. against public Abour 0 1 015ABL&9
The briefing has also been shared with other law enforcement partners. Subsequent Iiaison with potential stakeholders has opened channels of communication and intelligence sharing with organisations such as UK Anti-Doping, which will enhance the UK's response to any future DNP issues. NFCU Officers have also met with Royal Mail and Post Office Investigations to brief and provide profile on DNP consignments, countries of origin and routing to assist in detection of imported consignments This engagement has come to fruition recently in assisting in our inquiries into a DNP supplier who is prosecuted. In the light of the death of Miss Phillips NFCU officers will contact the Royal Mail and Post Office again to ensure this issue remains current: Examination of evidence seized during operations targeting DNP suppliers has revealed information on companies supplying DNP to the UK, and likely importation routes. This data was passed to the Border Force and as a direct result an Operational Instruction was issued to all Border Force Officers, briefing them on DNP and requiring details of seizures to be reported to the NFCU. Border Force now works with the NFCU and police to ensure consignments of DNP suspected of imported for marketing and sale for human consumption are stopped at the border and referred to the NFCU or police for enforcement action: Operation Sycamore enabled the NFCU to identify three specific suppliers of DNP within the UK Investigations are on-going with criminal justice disposal highly likely in the next few months_ Much of the market for DNP is via the internet which brings its own set of challenges, especially as most of the websites are neither hosted nor operated from within the UK Nonetheless the NFCU is actively seeking out opportunities to make interventions including regular monitoring of the internet to identify those websites selling DNP_ Please do not hesitate to contact me ifyou require any further information: