The European Commission, an executive arm of the European Union has banned the use of sedative sodium thiopental injections for giving death to US prisoners. Any European Union firm which wants to export this sedative would now have to first get it checked from them. If it satisfies them that it would not be used for execution purposes then only it would be given green signal for exportation.

For now, this ruling would be applicable for the 27-member bloc, but gradually they would extend its cover to whole world. This sedative is used at the time when US prisoners are given capital punishment, or are tortured.

The EC said their decision makes it very clear that this drug should not be used for any inhuman purpose or for punishment. They have already banned death penalty in their 27 states, but there are some other US states where it is legally used to give death punishments.

Its only drug maker in the US, Hospira has stopped the production of the drug and has welcomed the move. This drug was also imported from Indian company, Kayem Pharmaceuticals. But as soon as they got to know that their drug was being used for such thing since then they have stopped supplying them.

Other countries which manufacture this drug are Britain, Italy, Germany, Austria and Denmark. Recently, Britain also banned its use. There is already shortage in the market and this ban would surely bring down the number of executions.

There is possibility that US states would start using its alternative, pentobarbital. But its manufacturer, Lundbeck said it would not allow them to misuse their drug. They further affirmed, "Any pharmaceutical company wishing to preserve an ethical reputation must take steps to ensure their drugs are not used to kill prisoners”.