Worry words

ModTools flags up offers or requests that contain 'worry words'. These posts are flagged for moderation, whether or not the member is already on moderation, so volunteers can review the post and check for any concerns. Advice is available on Central, or directly from the guidance links below. Things to look out for include:

Explosive precursors

Explosive precursors are substances that could be used to illegally manufacture explosives.

• From 26 May 2015, anyone wanting to acquire or import these chemicals needs a licence issued by the Home Office, and an associated photo ID.
• From 3 March 2016, anyone wanting to possess or use these chemicals needs a licence issued by the Home Office, and an associated photo ID.
• Businesses selling or supplying these chemicals must report suspicious transactions and significant losses or thefts.

The most likely (though still unlikely) offers and requests to watch out for:

Regulated substances

Substances people are only allowed to buy (or, in our case, offer/ask for) above a certain concentration if they hold a licence - for example yellow phosphorus, or concentrated acids.

Reportable substances

Substances where suspicious acquisitions should be reported. What counts as suspicious depends on the amount and whether there's a plausible explanation - for example, potassium nitrate can legitimately be used for smoking sausages, but acquiring enough to smoke more sausages than Poland eats in a year would be suspicious, and should be reported.

Links

• Home Office guidance: licensing for home users of poisons and explosive precursors
• Home Office guidance on licensed transactions for internet retailers of poisons and explosives precursors
• Home Office guidance on supplying explosive precursors

Fireworks

It's been decided that Fireworks shouldn't be allowed as an offer or request on Freegle.

Medicines

We have a page about Drugs, medicines and supplements.

Drugs for human consumption

In summary, we shouldn't allow drugs or medicines for human consumption to be offered on our communities. That includes:

• Prescription Only Medicines (POM), which can be sold by a pharmacist if prescribed by a doctor.
• Pharmacy medicines, which may be sold by a pharmacist without a prescription.
• General sales list medicines (GSL), which may be sold without a prescription in any shop.

Veterinary medicines

In summary, we shouldn't allow most veterinary drugs or medicines.

Medicines carrying any of the distribution categories below cannot be offered via Freegle:

• POM-V - prescription only medicines, which may only be supplied by a veterinary surgeon or pharmacist in accordance with a prescription from a veterinary surgeon.
• POM-VPS - prescription only medicines, which may only be supplied by a veterinary surgeon, pharmacist or suitably qualified person (SQP) in accordance with a prescription from one of these persons.
• NFA-VPS - medicines that may only be supplied by a veterinary surgeon, pharmacist or SQP.

Medicines carrying the following distribution category can be offered via Freegle:

• AVM-GSL - there are no legal restrictions in the Veterinary Medicines Regulations for the retail supply of veterinary medicines classified as AVM-GSL ("over the counter" medicine), but a responsible approach to supplying them is still expected.

Other items

For other items that might raise concerns, see the list at Specific items.