Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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153. To ask the Minister for Health the action the Government will take to halt the online trade in illegal medicines, in view of a recent fatality. [26728/15]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) is the competent authority in Ireland for human medicines. The HPRA, in cooperation with the Revenue’s Customs Service, An Garda Síochána and other international regulatory and law enforcement agencies, actively monitors the online movements and supply of prescription and illicit medicines to Ireland. The HPRA uses a range of enforcement powers to tackle this activity including seizing product and taking prosecutions.

In April 2015, following coverage in the British press of the death of a young woman that was linked to Dinitrophenol (DNP), a warning was issued by the HPRA highlighting to consumers the dangers of taking slimming products purchased online. DNP is a highly toxic substance not fit for human consumption, which can cause serious harm and death. Subsequently, following the death of a young Irish man suspected of having taken the same product, another warning was issued by the HPRA in June.

The HPRA’s enforcement officers and An Garda Síochána are liaising regarding their respective investigations into the supply of the DNP product and the events surrounding this recent death. They continue to work together to monitor and investigate instances of supply of illegal medicines via the internet.

On July 1 the EU logo signifying the legitimacy of websites of pharmacies and medicines retailers was introduced in order to place controls upon, and reduce the significant health risk posed by, falsified medicines. Members of the public are strongly urged not to purchase medicines from an internet site which does not have the EU internet logo. In Ireland these controls apply to pharmacies/retailers involved in the internet supply of non-prescription medicines. The internet supply of prescription medicines continues to remain prohibited in Ireland on grounds of public health protection.

I would reiterate the advice of the HPRA and recommend against the purchase of any prescription, or unauthorised medicines online. Further information can be found in the HPRA’s leaflet, “The Dangers of Buying Prescription Medicines Online”. For those already in possession of such products, consumers who feel any ill effects from taking any products purchased online should contact their doctor immediately. Any remaining product should not be taken.