Sep
26
Brits Target Propofol Exports to U.S.
Posted by Clif Burns at 7:01 pm on September 26, 2012
Category: Foreign Export Controls
The United Kingdom’s Department for Business Innovation and Skills (UK-BIS) recently released a notice to exporters with regard to exports of propofol from the U.K. to the United States. Propofol is probably best known these days as the sedative that cancelled Michael Jackson’s final tour. But the export ban is not the result of any special solicitude for The Gloved One or other substance-abusing American pop stars. (After Amy Winehouse, I think that Great Britain would be in no position to get on its high horse about chemically dependent pop stars in other countries.)
What caused the U.K. to overlook its special relationship with the United States and instead treat us as a naughty child unworthy of one of its pharmaceutical exports were news reports that the state of Missouri planned to use propofol as part of its lethal injection cocktail when executing prisoners. There are no indications that that this action by the United Kingdom has caused the State of Missouri to reconsider its position on capital punishment. Propofol is available generically and is produced worldwide.
My favorite part of the notice is this:
This control reflects the Government’s opposition to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. Following consultation with applicable industry and other bodies, we assessed that the trade between the UK and the USA in propofol appears to be negligible, and therefore we expect the impact on UK businesses to be low.
These moral reservations, of course, came to late to save Admiral Bing whom the British unceremoniously shot, as Voltaire said, “pour encourager les autres.” Â Best of all, these moral reservations come at no cost to British industry because, apparently, propofol isn’t actually being exported in any measurable amounts from the U.K. to the U.S. Millionaires are also similarly admirable when they state their profound opposition to stealing pennies from toddlers.
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8 Comments:
Interesting that Brits can still export propofol to countries other than the US. Have a nice day!
I find it amusing you calling out the UK for taking a moral stance against other countries and using its trade controls to do so when this is the mechanism the USA is most famous for. I find it refreshing that the UK is willing to take a stand, but then I would seen as I am against the death penalty and I’m a Brit.
If you read my blog, you will be aware that I call out the United States on this as well, such as the absurdity of the U.S., which still executes people, in controlling the export of execution devices to other countries, including those that don’t permit the death penalty, a penalty which I, like many other people in the U.S., oppose.
To the credit of the U.S. the EAR, ITAR, NISPOM, BATFE regs are published and for the most part a transparent system. Of course it isn’t perfect, but we try. If the Brits are happy with their system, and it reflects the will of their people, then I have no problem with them taking a moral stance. I also happen to believe that the death penalty is a moral deterrent and punishment, so I am personally at peace with the U.S. position. If the people choose to continue with the implementation through their government, so be it. Kudos to Mr. Burns, as always, for shining the light of truth on this. I appreciate it when he informs us (and more often than not with a touch of laudable humor). Now it is up to the people of both sides to decide if they wish to make changes, continue course, or simply ponder a future move. In the grand scheme of economics and life/liberty/pursuit of happiness however I believe that this is very low on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. But here is the gem in this story in my opinion: Unintended repercussions can be educational and sometimes lead us to a wiser or more equitable conclusion and/or solution.
Clif really – “it’s special relationship”? Grammar check, please
Don’t make fun of my typos, Joan, and I won’t make fun of the unorthodox punctuation in your comment! 🙂 Seriously, though, thanks for the catch. I usually go back and check for that particular error and a few other common ones that are also easy to make if you’re not paying attention when you type. Usually Jim Bartlett is on the phone pointing it out to me seconds after a post goes live.
Next thing you know, they’ll be requiring a license for rope.
Hi Clif, fair enough. As long as any “calling out” is across the board. Excuse my knee-jerk response 🙂
