In what could be a major blow to the death penalty in the United States, England has decided to ban the export of the three drugs that are used in the lethal injection
"cocktail". This is significant as the last domestic maker of the drugs ceased production recently and most states order the drugs from overseas: The ban will mean US prisons will no longer be able to get hold of pentobarbital, pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride, the drugs used in executions.
In November, Britain also blocked exports of the sedative sodium thiopental following a legal challenge from a human rights group.
