Press Release: Commission extends control over goods which could be used for capital punishment or torture

The European Commission has decided to extend the list of goods subject to export controls, to prevent their use for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

As of 2 December 2011, trade of certain anaesthetics, such as sodium thiopental, which can be used in lethal injections, to countries that have not yet abolished the death penalty, will be tightly controlled. Furthermore, the scope of the EU regulation has been enlarged to include other products such as spike batons that previously were not prohibited.