# Medicines that you cannot export from the UK or hoard

Source: https://www.keypedia.com/records/uk_mhra_guidance/uk-mhra/a5186ace-cc4f-4257-a6ca-2a9575e4416f
Type: Guidance
Published: October 2, 2019
Updated: July 2, 2026

> The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) provides clear guidelines regarding the prohibition of exporting or hoarding specific medicines within the United Kingdom. This policy is designed to ensure a consistent supply of essential treatments for domestic patients and applies to all entities holding a wholesale dealer licence. The regulatory framework governing these restrictions is primarily Regulation 43(2) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. Compliance with these rules is a mandatory condition for maintaining a licence. Since January 1, 2021, additional restrictions have impacted the export of branded medicines to the European Economic Area (EEA) due to changes in intellectual property exhaustion and parallel trade agreements. The main violations identified include the unauthorized parallel export of restricted drugs and the hoarding of supplies. Such actions are considered serious breaches of licensing conditions. The MHRA warns that contravening these regulations may result in immediate regulatory intervention, including the suspension of the organization's wholesale dealer licence. To remain compliant, wholesalers are required to regularly monitor the updated restricted medicines list and ensure their trading practices align with legal standards. For clarification on specific restrictions, dealers must contact the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) via the provided official channels.

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## Content

This document lists the medicines that cannot be exported from the UK or hoarded. The list is updated regularly. The government has produced guidance on export and hoarding of restricted medicines . In October 2019, a letter to holders of a wholesale dealer licence (PDF, 52KB) was sent out about the restrictions on parallel exports. As of 1 January 2021, you may no longer be able to export branded medicines that have been placed on the UK market to countries in the European Economic Area (EEA). Check the guidance on the exhaustion of intellectual property rights and parallel trade . Hoarding or exporting a medicine on the list is considered a breach of regulation 43(2) of the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 and a contravention of the wholesale dealer licence, and may lead to regulatory action by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which could include immediate suspension of the wholesale dealer licence. If you have any questions about the restrictions, email restrictedmedicines@dhsc.gov.uk .

## Attachments

- [List of medicines that cannot be exported from the UK or hoarded](https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6a467666732d8e7ce5f53b9d/restricted-medicines-list-2-july-2026.csv)