Piperazine based products are classified as Prescription only Medicines in the UK

[albagbr]

So-called "legal highs" are not even legal in the UK. I wonder how long the websites selling these products are going to continue? Seems odd that not one of them bothered to check with the MHRA!


Piperazine based products are classified as Prescription Only Medicines (POM) in the UK. Any products containing salts of the ingredient, e.g. Benzylpiperazine (BZP) would be licensable under the Medicines Act and consequently anyone manufacturing and supplying it legally must hold the rel
evant licences to do so.

Licensing records indicate that Benzylpiperazine has never been licensed by the MHRA as a medicine. Therefore, at present BZP pills would be classified as unlicensed and any advertising and sale would be in contravention of the Act. The MHRA has Enforcement powers and can take action against any organisations or persons found to be in contravention of the law.


Kind Regards,
Central Enquiry Point
Information Centre
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Reputation Comments on this post:

	helpfull to know
	good work

[Alfa]

This was probably a reaction to this media coverage: Magic Mushroom Users Turn to Exotic Alternatives to Get High (UK) and This BBC news item
Several wholesalers and shops have been raided by the MHRA.

[haze]

Seems like the guys selling it all had letters from the Home Office saying it was okay, but the MHRA couldn't care less.

There's some sort of legal battle going on at the moment, so they're carrying on for the time being I think.

There's supposed to be some new energy pill coming out that's BZP free, but I don't think I'm allowed to give you the web address on here.

[adzket]

what about if you possess it for your own use? as befor k was made class c in jan it was only a missuse of medicin and as shuch no action was taken if you had it for your own use.

[Mona Lisa]

Hopefully the MHRA will be overided by the Home Office because, after all, these legal highs are being sold as a harm mimimalisation strategy.

[matti_2003]

They may be marketed as harm minimisation products but Swim will doubt that the home office will see it like that. There hastn't been that much research into piperzines so its hard to argue that they are safer than the illegal drugs that they are being used as an alternative to.

[Alfa]

The UK government has left piperazines alone for a unusual long time. It is typical that they have decided to come into action after the bad media coverage.

[Mona Lisa]

Originally Posted by Alfa

The UK government has left piperazines alone for a unusual long time. It is typical that they have decided to come into action after the bad media coverage.

This is probably true. I also agree that as piperazines haven't been fully tested, that their sale will be completely banned after Parliament resumes in the Autumn. It's the mindset of the British government, unfortunately.

[Abrad]

There's supposed to be some new energy pill coming out that's BZP free, but I don't think I'm allowed to give you the web address on here.

What are they replacing it with?

[haze]

I don't know mate, sorry.
I had the BZP pills from these guys in NZ and they were so good that I'm kinda hopeful on whatever replacement they've got lined up.
Apparently they've been working on it for years.

[Thirdedge]

Probably x-xx. Totally agree Alfa (see post below). Post edited to preserve the legal lifespan of the previously mentioned chemical.

[Alfa]

Probably imensely stupid and solliciting for a very rapid ban on whatever is presented as the replacement. The legal highs are in the spotlights of government and media ATM. Introducing anything as a replacement is an effective way to stay in those spotlights. Haste brings waste.

[Alfa]

I have asked the MHRA for clarification on the legality of piperazines in the UK. Here is their response:

Originally Posted by Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Dear Alfa

Thank you for your recent enquiry to the MHRA requesting clarification
on the legal status of piperzazines. Piperazine and salts are medicinal
products by claim and function. Therefore, in answer to your questions:

* Does the Medicines Act also applies to other piperazines than BZP
and it's salts?(i.e. methyl-BZP, TFMPP, mCPP, PFPP, etc.)

YES


* Which sections of the medicine law apply to piperazines?

Sect 8 of Medicines Act 1968 - re unlicensed manufacture. Schedule 3, SI
3144 The Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc)
Regulations 1994


* Several wholesalers have reported that they have had a visit from
the MHRA regarding BZP. Is the MHRA planning further inspections in UK
headshops?

The MHRA will continue to respond where there is clear evidence that
breaches of medicines legislation are being or have been committed.


Kind Regards,

Central Enquiry Point
Information Centre
Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency
Tel: 020 7084 2000

[Nagognog2]

Perhaps this means we will not be seeing too much more of the people who like to come in here extolling the virtues of these chemicals. They were mostly from the UK. Sounds like they might wind up going down like Al Cappone - for tax evasion.

[Alfa]

Originally Posted by Nagognog2

Sounds like they might wind up going down like Al Cappone - for tax evasion.

I am sure the UK government has collected a large amount of money in taxes on the sales of piperazine pills.

[Alfa]

Medicines Act 1968, Schedule 3, SI 3144:
The Medicines for Human Use (Marketing Authorisations Etc.) Regulations 1994
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si1994/Uksi_19943144_en_1.htm

Reputation Comments on this post:

good work - I gave up long ago

[Mona Lisa]

Last Updated: Tuesday, 15 August 2006, 16:31 GMT 17:31 UK
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
Thousands of pills found in raids

Five men have been arrested after thousands of prescription capsules and £28,000 in cash were seized in raids.
The pep pills and cash, believed to be from the proceeds of crime, were recovered from two houses, a shop and a warehouse in the Cleveland Police area.
The police working with officials from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) carried out the raids on Tuesday. Pep pills are prescribed stimulants containing amphetamine.


This article has been twisted by the BBC into depicting these piperazine Pep pills as coming from the proceeds of crime rather than as a harm mimimalisation solution. I hate the lies created by the media, or at the very least, their ignorance and obvious mistakes here... they contain piperazines rather than amphetamines and are sold in New Zealand as a legal high and have been imported into Britain.

[Abrad]

I don't see how they have twisted anything. They merely stated that the police seized the cash and are treating it as proceeds of crime.

Don't get me started on this so called "harm mimimalisation philosophy". The only philosophy these companys were operating under was one of profit maximisiation.

[Mona Lisa]

Of course these companies want to make profits because they're running a business, after all; but they order their products from New Zealand manufacturers who sell the pills legally there rather than from criminal gangs.

[Abrad]

I have no problem with them making money but when they sell a drug as a "harm minimilisation solution" which may well be more dangerous than the drug it is supposed to replace you are obviously using peoples perceptions about the dangers of MDMA as a marketing technique. This coupled with constant spamming campaigns on many forums (including here).
You should also check the prices chemical suppliers charge for piperizines, this will give you some idea of the profit margins we are talking about. There was even one supplier offering to supply pills in bulk, pressed with well known ecstasy logos (mitsubishi etc.).

[Mona Lisa]

I wasn't aware that the suppliers of piperazines were considering rebranding the pills as fake Mitzibushie's, though it doesn't surprise me. But in that instance, what they are doing is no better or worse than other suppliers selling pills/powder off as MDMA.

You also sensibly point out that these piperazine/'legal' highs could well be more dangerous than the drugs they are supposed to replace; but they have been used relatively safely in New Zealand for the past six years or so.

I'm not here to argue; I just wanted to point out that the BBC are in my opinion manipulating the facts to encourage an outright ban on piperazine products in Britain, which is pissing a lot of people off who want to be able to enjoy something that isn't going to risk them a criminal record.

I feel frustrated because it seems that people on this forum are biased against these substances, especially when they have never tried them first-hand. SWIM has told me that, though they are not as good as MDMA, that some of the better piperazine products produce an intoxication that bears many similarities to mild ecstasy and also lasts longer (with increased empathy, euphoria, more energy, and enhanced music appreciation, along with threshold trippiness).

[Alfa]

There are many that enjoy piperazine products and they surely work. The side effects that often occur on piperazine products does dissappoint users. Nobody likes to be sick after ingesting something they have paid for.
We have grown cautious here due to the endless spamming of piperazine product advertisements.
Suppliers of piperazines are not considering rebranding pills as fake mitsubishies. They have offered piperazine in pills with many well known
XTC logo's stamped in them. They have spammed the net, faxed headshops all around the world. And with result: people have been buying this as a way to make a substantial amount of money quick and in turn XTC users have encountered these pills and got sick. Where one can redose E quite often, this is far from advisable with piperazine products.
I am not against piperazines. It is a shame that people in the UK that do enjoy these products can not keep enjoying them. The sales lasted very long for synthetic drugs. That is remarkable and one can only guess about the motives of the UK government to let it be for all those years. But with the way they have been promoted to the extreme, this seemed unavoidable.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Balanced, objective, level-headed - Alfa for world president!

[Mona Lisa]

I generally agree. It seemed inevitable that they would eventually be banned... but many people I've known have told me that the comedowns off them are milder than from MDMA (or pills sold off as MDMA) if taken in moderation and stacked like records..

[albagbr]

SWIM knows someone with a wholesale price list for the Funk Pills range. The profit on a 2 pill pack (prices seem pretty much the same whichever online headshop you go to) can be up to £3 with up to £10 profit for 6 pill packs (depending on which particular pill it is). Thos obviously doesn't allow for postage and packaging, but still! With a certain nightclub selling over 200 packets an evening - I'd say millionaires are/were being made!

SWIM is really disappointed that these products are illegal. But is guessing due to the flooding of the market, it was only a matter of time.

SWIM is waiting for the next gen of party pills WITHOUT BZP!

[Alfa]

More raids have taken place in UK headshop. I hope to have more news soon.