LONDON — Britain said Thursday that it will block the export of three lethal-injection drugs to the United States and is also urging a Europe-wide ban on American sales of the drugs.
Business Secretary Vince Cable said a block on exports of pentobarbital, pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride would be formalized in a few days.
In November, Britain blocked exports of the sedative sodium thiopental for use in executions after a legal challenge from a human rights group.
“We oppose the death penalty in all circumstances and are clear that British drugs should not be used to carry out lethal injections,” Cable said.
Britain has urged the European Commission to expand the export ban to all European Union nations, Cable added.
Reprieve, the London based prisoner-rights group that sought the ban, welcomed the news, but it said U.S. states imposing the death penalty via lethal injection are now turning to a Danish company, Lundbeck A/S, for supplies of pentobarbital.
Denmark’s foreign minister said she will urge U.S. states such as Texas and Ohio to stop using that drug.
Front Section, Pages 10 on 04/15/2011