The UK’s trade body for the compressed gases sector BCGA has welcomed a response from the Home Office regarding its campaign to ban retail sales of Nitrous Oxide.
BCGA Chief Executive, Ellen Daniels wrote to new Home Secretary, Suella Braverman MP in September, urging her to consider implementing a ban on direct-to-consumer sales of Nitrous Oxide, while protecting its legitimate use in industry and healthcare.
The move followed previous engagement with former Home Secretary Priti Patel MP, who requested a review of Nitrous Oxide and its status in law by the independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) in September last year.
Ms Daniels said: “We have received a response to our letter from the Rt Hon Chris Philip MP, Minister for Crime, Policing and Fire at the Home Office, who has assured us that the Government will consider ACMD’s advice carefully before deciding how to proceed.
“We are hopeful that ACMD will recognise that while Nitrous Oxide has many legitimate uses, allowing the gas to be sold directly to members of the public is putting consumers at risk.”
The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) has been campaigning for retail sales of Nitrous Oxide to be banned since March 2020.
Ms Daniels added: “The aim is simply to protect legitimate uses of the gas in industry, in areas including professional catering and healthcare, and reduce the sales of Nitrous Oxide to members of the public, which can lead to its misuse.
“We look forward to hearing the results of the ACMD review of Nitrous Oxide and hope that it reflects some of the concerns that we have put before the Government over the last two years.”
ENDS
Notes To Editors – About BCGA
The ‘invisible industry’ underpinning a safe, successful and healthy nation – industrial and medical gases are essential to the existence and wellbeing of thousands of people in the UK every day.
Industrial gases perform a wide-ranging role, supporting the manufacture of information technology, as well as key UK industrial sectors including steelmaking, refining, welding, chemical processing and electronics. They also help keep homes warm, water clean and food nutritious, appealing and affordable – while medical gases play a critical role in applications including respiratory care, pain therapies and anaesthesia.
The British Compressed Gases Association (BCGA) is the UK membership body for this critical industry.
Press release issued by Jane Shepherd, Shepherd PR Limited, 01538 308685, 07985 129315.
05/2022
