FOI release

Freedom of Information request the domain names suspended by Nominet on behalf of MHRA such as that provided by PIPCU and FACA

Published 26 May 2022

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FOI 21/1203

12th November 2021

Dear,

Thank you for your communication to the MHRA in relation to a Freedom of Information request for :

  1. Is any information available from MHRA in respect to the domain names suspended by Nominet on behalf of MHRA as a very recent example?

  2. Any MHRA domain name suspension policy such as that provided by PIPCU?

  3. Any historic records and or ongoing feed of domain names suspended along with reason for suspensions such as that provided by the FACA? (The link provided does not relate to domain name suspension as far as I can see).

Please see below the response to your questions.

  1. In the last 12 months MHRA have instigated the suspension of 32 domain names on the UK domain tree. Initially a request for suspension is made to the Registrar of the domain name and if no action is taken, a request is made to Nominet. All requests relate to domains that are breaching UK legislation, most commonly the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.

  2. We would like to inform you that we do not have a suspension policy.

  3. We are unable to provide you with the requested information as it is exempted under Section 30:

• Section 30 – Investigations: the information you have requested concerns an active Agency investigation and it is therefore exempt under section 30 of the FOI Act, which concerns investigations and proceedings conducted by public authorities. Section 30 is a qualified exemption, which means that we have considered whether the public interest in releasing the information is outweighed by the public interest in not giving the information

If you have a query about this letter, please do not hesitate to contact us at IE&SFOI@mhra.gov.uk

If you are unhappy with our decision, you may ask for it to be reviewed. That review will be undertaken by a senior member of the Agency who has not previously been involved in your request. If you wish to pursue that option please email: info@mhra.gov.uk

Due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, we are not able to accept delivery of any documents or correspondence by post or courier to any of our offices.

After that, if you remain dissatisfied, you may write to the Information Commissioner at; The Information Commissioner’s Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire

SK9 5AF

They will make a decision on whether or not we have interpreted the FOIA correctly in handling your request.

Yours sincerely

MHRA Customer Service Centre

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