Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions has she had with representatives from Amazon on the online sale of Nitrous Oxide for recreational consumption in the UK.

The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 makes it an offence (with limited exemptions) to intentionally supply psychoactive substances, including nitrous oxide, where the person knows, or is reckless as to whether, the psychoactive substance is likely to be consumed by a person for its psychoactive effects.

There have been no recent discussions with Amazon regarding sales of nitrous oxide for recreational consumption, however Government guidance is available to all retailers to satisfy themselves that they comply with the law. The guidance recommends that retailers, including those operating online, should pay particular attention to the potential for abuse of nitrous oxide, especially where customers seek to buy in bulk or large volumes, and suggests that retailers may wish to carry out age checks to prevent those at highest risk from gaining access to psychoactive substances.

In relation to further steps the Government is taking to reduce the sale of nitrous oxide for recreational use, we intend to establish in law a new duty of care on companies towards their users, overseen by an independent regulator. The duty of care will ensure companies have appropriate systems in place to deal with harmful content on their internet services and keep users safe. Illegal and harmful activity online such as the supply of psychoactive substances for their psychoactive effect will fall within the scope of the planned legislation.