The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7227 p801
7 December 2002

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The Freedom of Information Act 2000 and other reports (more)

Information disclosure clause in Medicines Act could be repealed

Section 118 of the Medicines Act 1968, which makes it a criminal offence to disclose information relating to the licensing of medicines, could be repealed under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Section 118 says that if anyone discloses information about manufacturing processes or trade secrets obtained or given to them in pursuance of the Medicines Act then they could face up to two years in prison. The Lord Chancellor's Department (LCD) announced last week that Section 118 is included on its list of legislation which prohibits the disclosure of information and that is being studied for repeal.

"Ministers at both the Department of Health and the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs favour the repeal of Section 118, which would remove a blanket ban on releasing information concerning clinical trials and replace that with the exemptions and public interest tests in the Freedom of Information Act," the LCD said.

Of 381 items identified by the LCD, 97 are to be repealed or amended and four, including Section 118, are to be the subject of further consultation. "Repeal or amendment [of Section 118] will impact on a significant number of bodies and individuals. The Government will therefore consult with those likely to be affected before announcing a decision," the LCD says in its second annual report on how the Freedom of Information Act is being implemented.

Copies of the Freedom of Information Act and associated reports can be found here.