Around 100 people are executed every year in the US |
New EU
restrictions on the export of sedatives will make it harder for authorities in
the United States to get hold of sedatives used to carry out lethal injections.
That could lead to delays for those on death row.
The
European Union is reported to be close to banning exports of a sedative used to
carry out lethal injections in the United States. According to a report by the
German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung, the export of Thiopental Natrium would in
future only be permitted under special license.
In the USA,
where some 100 people are executed every year, there has been a recent scarcity
of Thiopental after its US manufacturer, Hospira, refused to sanction its use
for executions and withdrew it from the market.
The
substance is mainly used in the states of Ohio and Washington, and is also a
key ingredient of the deadly cocktail used in 33 other US states.
Germany's
former health minister and current economy minister, Philipp Rösler, has called
on German manufacturers to not to sell the product to the US.
According
to the Süddeutsche Zeitung, a number of anesthetic substances are to be
included in the new EU export regulations, which is to be published on Friday.
Author:
Joanna Impey (AFP, dpa, epd)
Editor: Andreas Illmer
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