header-logo header-logo

A class apart

07 January 2010 / Roger Birch
Issue: 7399 / Categories: Features , Regulatory
printer mail-detail

Roger Birch on the misperceptions in defining medicinal products

There are a number of serious misperceptions upon which products are caught by the definition of what is a medicinal product. This is a serious matter and leads to confusion among members of the public and those who sell such substances which they believe are not caught by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, Sch 2.

The Medicines Act 1968 (MA 1968) seems to be forgotten when a particular product is being offered for sale and/or placed on the market.

Let us take the substance BZP as an example.

On the 20 March 2007 a press release was issued by MHRA. They stated that BZP (PEP) pills are dangerous and illegal The press release then states that “any other pills containing Piperazine…or its salts or derivatives would be classified as unlicensed…”.

There then appears in the Mail Online an article dated the 20 March 2007 where the MHRA state that “people are being bamboozled into thinking that BZP is safe because they are being billed

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Gilson Gray—Linda Pope

Gilson Gray—Linda Pope

Partner joins family law team inLondon

Jackson Lees Group—five promotions

Jackson Lees Group—five promotions

Private client division announces five new partners

Taylor Wessing—Max Millington

Taylor Wessing—Max Millington

Banking and finance team welcomes partner in London

NEWS
Transferring anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing supervision to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) could create extra paperwork and increase costs for clients, lawyers have warned 
In this week's NLJ, Bhavini Patel of Howard Kennedy LLP reports on Almacantar v De Valk [2025], a landmark Upper Tribunal ruling extending protection for leaseholders under the Building Safety Act 2022
Writing in NLJ this week, Hanna Basha and Jamie Hurworth of Payne Hicks Beach dissect TV chef John Torode’s startling decision to identify himself in a racism investigation he denied. In an age of ‘cancel culture’, they argue, self-disclosure can both protect and imperil reputations
As he steps down as Chancellor of the High Court, Sir Julian Flaux reflects on over 40 years in law, citing independence, impartiality and integrity as guiding principles. In a special interview with Grania Langdon-Down for NLJ, Sir Julian highlights morale, mentorship and openness as key to a thriving judiciary
Dinsdale v Fowell is a High Court case entangling bigamy, intestacy and modern family structures, examined in this week's NLJ by Shivi Rajput of Stowe Family Law
back-to-top-scroll