No. Kratom is not legally permitted in the United Kingdom. The Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 prohibits all psychoactive substances except those explicitly exempted, and kratom is not among them. UK Border Force enforces this restriction, seizing imports at ports.
Key Regulations for Kratom in United Kingdom
- Prohibition under Psychoactive Substances Act 2016: Kratom’s psychoactive effects (primarily via mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine) classify it as a controlled substance, banning its production, supply, or possession with intent to supply.
- Border Force Enforcement: All kratom shipments entering the UK are confiscated under the 2016 Act, with no legal import pathways. Civil penalties or criminal charges may apply to violators.
- No Medical or Research Exemptions: Despite lobbying from harm-reduction advocates, the UK’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) has not recommended kratom for medical use, leaving no legal avenues for its use or distribution.
The Home Office’s 2023 drug strategy reaffirms this stance, with no scheduled reviews for kratom’s legal status prior to 2026. Vendors and consumers risk prosecution under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 if kratom is linked to controlled substance offenses.