Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will take steps to introduce legal obligations on retailers based outside Great Britain to report transactions with people in the UK involving substances regulated under the Poisons Act 1972 that they believe to be suspicious.

The reporting function under the Poisons Act 1972 applies to retailers in Great Britain only.

Upon importation Border Force does, however, have the powers to seize or detain if regulated explosive precursors or poisons that do not have the requisite licence or are considered suspicious are identified.

As set out in CONTEST, The United Kingdom’s Strategy for Countering Terrorism, the Government is committed to reducing the ability of terrorists to access and use materials and technology of concern. We continue to keep our policies regarding dangerous substances under review to ensure appropriate regulation and controls are in place to keep the public safe.