Medicines that cannot be parallel exported from the UK or hoarded
Published on: 13th November 2019 | Updated on: 21st May 2024
On 3rd October 2019 The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued a list of medicines which must not be parallel exported from the UK. This action has been taken to ensure the continued supply of medicines to meet the needs of UK patients.
Latest update 21/05/2024 – The following 6 products have been added to the list:
- Azithromycin
- Carbamazepine 100mg/5ml oral suspension
- Clarithromycin
- Co-trimoxazole
- Erythromycin
- Pancreatin
DHSC and the MHRA have written to medicine manufacturers and wholesalers to remind them of their responsibilities to ensure the continued supply of medicines to meet the needs of UK patients. The letter also includes the list of medicinal products which “cannot be supplied for parallel export or parallel distribution from the UK or hoarded (held back)” for the time being.
The list (click here to access the list on the MHRA website), which will be reviewed on an ongoing basis, contains any product that meets the following criteria:
- the medicine is required to meet the needs of UK patients;
- the medicine is either being parallel exported or is at threat of being parallel exported; and
- the export of that medicine is either contributing to, or may contribute to, a shortage of that medicine in the UK.
Read the DHSC/MHRA letter to holders of a wholesale dealer licence
Any manufacturer or wholesaler found parallel exporting one or more of these medicines could face the immediate suspension of their wholesaler dealer licence.
All updates
- Azithromycin
- Carbamazepine 100mg/5ml oral suspension
- Clarithromycin
- Co-trimoxazole
- Erythromycin
- Pancreatin
Added
- Tirzepatide
Removed
- Alfentanil
- Amoxicillin
- Argipressin
- Azithromycin
- Ceftriaxone,
- Clarithromycin
- Clonidine
- Co-amoxiclav
- Codeine
- Conjugated oestrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate
- Dalteparin
- Diamorphine
- Erythromycin
- Estradiol + Levonorgestrel
- Estriol
- Flucloxacillin
- Gentamicin
- Haloperidol
- Insulin degludec + Liraglutide
- Ketamine
- Levofloxacin
- Lorazepam
- Metaraminol
- Nadolol
- Noradrenaline
- Pantoprazole
- Phenoxymethylpenicillin
- Potassium chloride / Potassium bicarbonate
- Progesterone
- Propofol
- Remifentanil
- Rocuronium
- Tinzaparin
- Voriconazole
Amended
- Exenatide (pharmaceutical form)
- Vinblastine 10mg/10ml solution for injection vials
- Aztreonam powder for solution for injection vials
- Vitamin B substances with ascorbic acid.
- Salbutamol nebuliser liquid unit dose vials
- Iodixanol solution for injection
- Iohexol solution for injection
- Nadolol 80mg tablets
- Potassium chloride / Potassium bicarbonate effervescent tablets
- Sodium dihydrogen phosphate anhydrous effervescent tablets
- Olanzapine embonate powder and solvent for suspension for injection
- Atomoxetine all forms
- Bumetanide all tablets
- Dexamfetamine sulfate all forms
- Guanfacine all forms
- Hyoscine hydrobromide 1.5mg patches
- Lisdexamfetamine mesylate all forms
- Methylphenidate hydrochloride all forms
- Bupivacaine + Fentanyl 312.5mg/250ml (0.125%) + 500micrograms/250ml, 625mg/500ml (0.125%) + 1mg/500ml solution for infusion
- Diamorphine, all solution for injection
- Human corticotrophin releasing hormone (hCRH) (Unlicenced) all
- Ketamine all solution for injection
- Levobupivacaine all infusion
- Permethrin 5% Cream
- Semaglutide, all strengths, tablets;
- Dulaglutide, all strengths, solution for injection;
- Exenatide, all strengths, solution for injection;
- Liraglutide, 6mg/ml, solution for injection;
- Insulin degludec + Liraglutide, 100units/ml + 3.6mg/ml, solution for injection.
- Progesterone, 100mg oral capsules
- Glucagon: all strengths; powder for injection, solution for injection.
- Nirmatrelvir and ritonavir
- Molnupiravir
- Flucloxacillin
- Oseltamivir
- Zanamivir.
- Amoxicillin oral suspension and oral solution
- Phenoxymethylpenicillin (Penicillin V) oral suspension and oral solution.
- Anakinra
- Budesonide
- Calcium chloride
- Colestyramine
- Dexmedetomidine
- Epoprostenol
- Milrinone
- Rifampicin
- Rivaroxaban
- Salbutamol
Insulin human has been removed as this is the same product as insulin soluble human.
A further 4 products have been added to the list. These are:
- Amoxicillin
- Cefalexin
- Phenoxymethylpenicillin (Penicillin V)
- Azithromycin oral suspension.
- Alteplase
- Tenecteplase.
- Albumin human
- Adrenaline
- Amikacin
- Amoxicillin
- Anidulafungin
- Bupropion
- Caspofungin
- Cefalexin
- Ceftazidime + Avibactam
- Dabigatran etexilate
- Dapagliflozin
- Dobutamine
- Esmolol
- Flucloxacillin
- Glyceryl trinitrate
- Granisetron
- Ketamine
- Lansoprazole
- Magnesium Sulfate
- Metoclopramide
- Micafungin
- Morphine
- Ondansetron
- Potassium bicarbonate + Potassium chloride
- Potassium chloride + Glucose + Sodium chloride
- Potassium chloride + Sodium chloride
- Ranitidine
- Ruxolitinib
- Sodium chloride
- Sodium dihydrogen phosphate
- Sodium lactate and Terlipressin.
Two medicines have been added to the list:
- Conjugated oestrogens
- medroxyprogesterone acetate and Estriol.
- Amiodarone – solution for injection.
- Aclidinium bromide
- Aclidinium bromide + Formoterol
- Amiodarone
- Bambuterol
- Beclometasone + Formoterol
- Beclometasone + Formoterol + Glycopyrronium bromide
- Benralizumab
- Ciclesonide
- Edoxaban
- Exenatide
- Fluticasone + Formoterol
- Fluticasone + Salmeterol
- Fluticasone + Umeclidinium bromide + Vilanterol
- Fluticasone + Vilanterol
- Formoterol
- Insulin aspart
- Insulin aspart biphasic
- Insulin degludec
- Insulin degludec + Liraglutide
- Insulin detemir
- Insulin glargine
- Insulin glargine + Lixisenatide
- Insulin glulisine
- Insulin isophane biphasic human
- Insulin isophane biphasic porcine
- Insulin isophane bovine
- Insulin isophane human
- Insulin isophane porcine
- Insulin lispro
- Insulin lispro biphasic
- Insulin mixed bovine
- Insulin protamine zinc bovine
- Insulin soluble bovine
- Insulin soluble porcine
- Insulin zinc crystalline human
- Insulin zinc mixed human
- Lithium carbonate
- Lopinavir + Ritonavir
- Mesalazine
- Norethisterone
- Oseltamivir
- Pneumococcal vaccine
- Roflumilast
- Semaglutide
- Ticagrelor
- Tiotropium
- Tiotropium + Olodaterol.
Bupropion tablets added to the restricted export list.
- Atenolol
- Beclometasone
- Bisoprolol
- Budesonide + Formoterol
- Buprenorphine
- Buprenorphine
- Chloroquine phosphate
- Digoxin
- Estradiol + Norethisterone acetate
- Fluticasone
- Ondansetron
- Plasma-Lyte
- Salbutamol + Beclometasone
- Sodium chloride
- Granisetron
- Ibuprofen
- Ipratropium
- Labetalol
- Lisinopril
- Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate
- Metoprolol
- Mometasone
- Nedocromil
- Terbutaline
- Terbutaline
- Prednisolone
- Salbutamol + Ipratropium
- Salmeterol
- Sodium cromoglicate
- Sodium cromoglicate + Salbutamol.
- dabigatran etexilate
- semaglutide.
The date of restriction is 00:00am at the start of 7 November 2020.
27 medicines have been removed from the list of medicines that cannot be parallel exported from the UK. They are:
- Alprostadil
- Azathioprine
- Colecalciferol + Calcium carbonate
- Conjugated oestrogens
- Conjugated oestrogens + Bazedoxifene
- Conjugated oestrogens + Medroxyprogesterone
- Dabigatran
- Doxycycline
- Enoxaparin
- Estradiol + Dydrogesterone
- Estradiol + Medroxyprogesterone
- Estradiol + Norgestrel
- Estriol
- Furosemide
- Hepatitis A + B vaccine
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Levonorgestrel
- Measles + Mumps + Rubella vaccine
- Medroxyprogesterone
- Meropenem
- Misoprostol
- Omeprazole
- Ospemifene
- Prazosin
- Progesterone
- Teicoplanin
- Tibolone.
2 medicines have been added to the list:
- Influenza vaccine
- Anakinra.
The pharmaceutical forms for Co-trimoxazole and Hydrocortisone have been updated.
- Alprostadil
- Azathioprine
- Colecalciferol + Calcium carbonate
- Conjugated oestrogens
- Conjugated oestrogens + Bazedoxifene
- Conjugated oestrogens + Medroxyprogesterone
- Dabigatran
- Doxycycline
- Enoxaparin
- Estradiol + Dydrogesterone
- Estradiol + Medroxyprogesterone
- Estradiol + Norgestrel
- Estriol
- Furosemide
- Hepatitis A + B vaccine
- Hydroxychloroquine
- Levonorgestrel
- Measles + Mumps + Rubella vaccine
- Medroxyprogesterone
- Meropenem
- Misoprostol
- Omeprazole
- Ospemifene
- Prazosin
- Progesterone
- Teicoplanin
- Tibolone.
2 medicines have been added to the list:
- Influenza vaccine
- Anakinra.
The pharmaceutical forms for Co-trimoxazole and Hydrocortisone have been updated.
- Aclidinium bromide
- Aclidinium bromide + Formoterol
- Atenolol
- Azithromycin
- Bambuterol
- Benralizumab
- Bisoprolol
- Buprenorphine
- Ceftazidime + Avibactam
- Cyclizine
- Dabigatran etexilate
- Dapagliflozin
- Dexamethasone
- Digoxin
- Exenatide
- Glycopyrronium bromide
- Haloperidol
- Hyoscine butylbromide
- Ibuprofen
- Labetalol
- Lisinopril
- Metaramino
- Metoprolol
- Pantoprazole
- Roflumilast
- Ruxolitinib
- Sarilumab
- Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate
- Ticagrelor
- Tiotropium
- Tiotropium + Olodaterol and Tocilizumab.
- Cefalexin
- Codeine
- Co-trimoxazole
- Diamorphine
- Doxycycline
- Ipratropium
- Salbutamol
- Prochlorperazine
- Salbutamol + Beclometasone
- Salbutamol + Ipratropium Terbutaline,
- Beclometasone
- Beclometasone + Formoterol
- Beclometasone + Formoterol + Glycopyrronium bromide
- Budesonide
- Budesonide + Formoterol
- Fluticasone
- Fluticasone + Formoterol
- Fluticasone + Salmeterol
- Fluticasone + Umeclidinium bromide + Vilanterol
- Fluticasone + Vilanterol
- Ciclesonide
- Mometasone
- Salmeterol
- Formoterol
- Sodium cromoglicate
- Sodium cromoglicate + Salbutamol
- Nedocromil
- Edoxaban
- Midazolam
- Buprenorphine
- Levomepromazine
- Mesalazine
- Colecalciferol + Calcium carbonate
- Insulin aspart
- Insulin aspart biphasic
- Insulin degludec
- Insulin degludec + Liraglutide
- Insulin detemir
- Insulin glargine
- Insulin glargine + Lixisenatide
- Insulin glulisine
- Insulin human
- Insulin isophane biphasic human
- Insulin isophane biphasic porcine
- Insulin isophane bovine
- Insulin isophane human
- Insulin isophane porcine
- Insulin lispro
- Insulin lispro biphasic
- Insulin mixed bovine
- Insulin protamine zinc bovine
- Insulin soluble bovine
- Insulin soluble human
- Insulin soluble porcine
- Insulin zinc crystalline human
- Insulin zinc mixed human.
The pharmaceutical forms of several medicines have been updated to clarify which pharmaceutical forms are included in the restrictions.
- Accusol 35
- Albumin
- Alfentanil
- Amikacin
- Amiodarone
- Amoxicillin
- Anidulafungin
- Argipressin
- Atracurium
- Calcium
- Caspofungin
- Ceftazidime
- Ceftriaxone
- Cefuroxime
- Cisatracurium
- Clarithromycin
- Clonidine
- Co-amoxiclav
- Cyclizine
- Dalteparin
- Dexmedetomidine
- Dobutamine
- Enoxaparin
- Epoprostenol
- Erythromycin
- Esmolol
- Esomeprazole
- Fentanyl
- Flucloxacillin
- Furosemide
- Plasma-Lyte
- Gentamicin
- Glyceryl trinitrate
- Granisetron
- Heparin sodium
- Hydrocortisone
- Hemolactol
- Hemosol B0
- Insulin
- Ketamine
- Lansoprazole
- Levofloxacin
- Linezolid
- Lorazepam
- Lactasol
- Magnesium
- Meropenem
- Metoclopramide
- Micafungin
- Midazolam
- Milrinone
- Morphine
- Morphine sulfate
- Monosul
- Noradrenaline
- Omeprazole
- Ondansetron
- Ondansetron
- Oxycodone
- Pantoprazole
- Paracetamol
- Piperacillin
- Potassium chloride
- Prednisolone
- Propofol
- Prismasol 4
- PrismOcal B22
- Prismocitrate 18/0
- Potassium chloride
- Ranitidine
- Remifentanil
- Rifampicin
- Rocuronium
- Sodium chloride
- Sodium dihydrogen phosphate
- Sodium lactate
- Suxamethonium
- Teicoplanin
- Terlipressin
- Tinzaparin
- Vancomycin
- Voriconazole.
The date of restriction is 00:00am at the start of 21 March 2020.
One medicine has been added to the list of medicines that cannot be parallel exported from the UK:
- Hydroxychloroquine
The date of restriction is 00:00am at the start of 14 March 2020.
Three medicines have been added to the list of medicines that cannot be parallel exported from the UK:
- Lopinavir + Ritonavir
- Chloroquine phosphate
- Azathioprine.
The date of restriction is 00:00am at the start of 26 February 2020.
Inconsistencies in the naming of medicines have been addressed and names now follow the ‘Dictionary of medicines and devices (dm+d)’. The restrictions are on the virtual therapeutic moiety (VTM) unless the actual medicinal product (AMP) is listed.
One medicine has been removed from the list of medicines that cannot be parallel exported from the UK:
- Alogliptin
Two medicines have been added to the list of medicines that cannot be parallel exported from the UK:
- colestyramine sachets
- fluticasone propionate nasules.
One medicine has been added to the list of medicines that cannot be parallel exported from the UK:
- hepatitis A and B vaccine.
The date of restriction is 00:00am at the start of 14 November 2019.
Four medicines have been added to the list of medicines that cannot be parallel exported from the UK:
- alogliptin/metformin
- pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
- measles, mumps and rubella vaccine
- misoprostol.
The date of restriction is 00:00am at the start of 6 November 2019.
Four medicines have been added to the list of medicines that cannot be parallel exported from the UK: alprostadil, beclometasone dipropionate, noresthisterone and ranitidine. The date of restriction is 00:00am at the start of 18 October 2019.
For more information on this topic please email comms.team@cpe.org.uk