Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to further regulate the sale of nitrous oxide cannisters.

Since November 2023, nitrous oxide has been controlled as a Class C drug under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. Under the Act, it is an offence to produce, supply, offer to supply, possess, possess with intent to supply, import or export nitrous oxide where it is intended for wrongful inhalation. This applies to all sizes of canister. Illicit possession of nitrous oxide carries a penalty of up to two years’ imprisonment and illicit supply carries a penalty of up to 14 years’ imprisonment.

According to data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales, since the introduction of these controls use of nitrous oxide has decreased with prevalence among 16- to 59-year-olds falling from 0.9% to 0.5% in the year ending March 2025. Among 16- to 24-year-olds, use has fallen to its lowest level since records began.

The Government will continue to keep the legislation under review but there are no current plans to introduce further regulation of the sale of nitrous oxide.