Written question asked by Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Neville-Jones (Conservative) on Tuesday, 26 April 2011.

Opiate Poppy Production

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is the extent and value of legal poppy production for opiate medicines in the United Kingdom.

Answer: The Home Office is aware that the planned acreage under poppy cultivation for the purposes of extracting morphine in 2011 is 2,200 hectares. The monetary value of the poppies grown for medicinal products is a commercial matter between the growers and their customers. The cultivation of poppy seed (papaver somiferum) in the United Kingdom is not subject to control under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971; a Home Office licence is not required to cultivate poppies. Given that cultivation of the poppy is not an activity that requires a licence, no licences have been issued or refused. However, a refined product of poppy cultivation—concentrate of poppy straw—is a controlled drug and a Home Office licence issued under the 1971 MDA will be required to possess or supply this product.

Secondary information